Art

Ron’s Place: Birkenhead flat of outsider art granted Grade II listing – The Guardian

Published

5 months ago

April 5, 2024

A ground-floor rented flat in Birkenhead which was crafted over a period of 30 years into an extraordinary palace of outsider art has been given Grade II-listed status.

The flat in Wirral, known as Ron’s Place, is thought to be the UK’s only example of outsider art to be nationally listed.

From the outside it looks like what it is: an attractive but unremarkable Victorian semi-detached house. Inside, the late Ron Gittins created a remarkable fantasy world with brightly coloured historical murals, handmade costumes, and fireplaces sculpted into a minotaur, a lion’s head and a Roman altar.

To step inside the flat is something else. Jaws generally drop. It’s not conventionally great art, but that’s not the point.

One fan is the Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker. “A small number of people on this planet have known for a while that Ron’s Place is a very special place – but from now on it is official,” he said.

“The work of one unique gentleman in the north of England has been recognised nationally. Globally even. Hallelujah!!”

The flat was saved from being stripped of its interiors when campaigners managed to buy the whole house a year ago, thanks to Tamsin Wimhurst, who read about it in the Guardian.

Gittins’ niece Jan Williams said the idea of it being listed was originally a “ploy” to put off other bidders. For it to actually happen “is absolutely brilliant … it has been a long old journey”.

Williams said she thought her uncle would be “absolutely thrilled. He just felt he was on to something, that he was on a mission to create. He said to my dad once: ‘I will not be ignored.’

“Just how audacious is it to stick a great big concrete minotaur fireplace in your rented flat. Other people fret about Blu-Tack stains on the wall.”

Gittins, who died in 2019, aged 79, was a complicated character who most people would have regarded as eccentric.

Alison Bailey Smith, a volunteer and neighbour, used to bump into him when she was pushing her young children round in their pram. He usually had a wig on and gaiters flapping around above his wellington boots which he had fashioned from newspaper. He also had a pram.

“I never thought to look inside it but apparently he was going off to the local DIY shop to buy concrete or cement to make his amazing structures,” she said.

Like most people, she had no idea what Gittins was up to inside his flat. “I could see that there was creative stuff in the garden and there were two totem poles outside his front door which were interesting.

“His front garden was full of junk but it wasn’t junk, it was his art store, really.”

After Gittins died and she went inside the flat, Bailey Smith said she could hardly believe her eyes. “It was incredible, absolutely incredible … those fireplaces, the colours, the proportions in the murals. You have to see it really to believe it. Who does that in a rental property? It is important that it’s protected because there is nowhere else like it.”

The listing by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England (HE), is a recognition of “Ron’s creation as an examplar in this country of large-scale outsider art”.

It gives Ron’s Place extra protection as well as helping to unlock new sources of funding for the custodians hoping to use the property to inspire creativity and improve wellbeing.

The flat is not yet open to the public but it is hoped that small guided tours will be possible in a year’s time.

Catherine Croft, the director of the Twentieth Century Society, said Ron’s Place was “2oth century heritage unlike any other, the first example of outsider art to be nationally listed”.

Outsider art is a term often applied to work done by people on the margins of society, making art for themselves not an audience. There are many individual examples of the genre in UK gallery collections, including the Tate and the Whitworth in Manchester, but entire properties like Ron’s Place are more commonly found in Europe and the US.

Martin Wallace is a Ron’s Place patron and film-maker who made an outside art documentary series with Cocker. He said to go in the flat was “a rare and strangely beautiful immersive experience”.

“I’ve spent time in many outsider art environments around the globe and Ron’s Place ranks with the best of them,” he said.

Other examples of outsider art around the world

Das Junkerhaus, Lemgo, Germany

Handyman Karl Junker (1850-1912) was regarded as a solitary, eccentric man who had few visitors.

The strange house he created, with unique paintings and sculpture, was his life’s work and has been called “one of the quirkiest, most idiosyncratic architectural sites in Germany, if not Europe”.

Watts Towers, Los Angeles

In a poor suburb of the city are 17 tower-like structures created by Saboto “Simon” Rodia, a semi-literate Italian immigrant who worked alone on them from 1921 to 1954.

Rodia covered steel bar frames in concrete and whatever items he found, including broken bottles, tiles and old crockery. The closest Rodia ever came to explaining his work was to say: “I had in mind to do something big and I did it.”

Le Palais Idéal, Hauterives, France

Ferdinand Cheval was a village postal worker who built a fantasy palace from rocks he found in the village.

The resulting structure is strange, like “a Monet painting with small pebbles”, according to one visitor, and “like an insight into an archaeologist’s unconscious,” said another.

Garden of Eden, Lucas, Kansas, US

Retired civil war veteran and free thinker SP Dinsmoor began constructing his cabin home and sculpture garden in 1907.

He hoped his art would continue for ever as an appeal for a more just society. To that end, he built a pyramid mausoleum with a glass-fronted concrete coffin where his embalmed corpse keeps watch.

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Art

Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

18 hours ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.

Art

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

Published

2 weeks ago

September 2, 2024

Harry Miller

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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com

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Art

Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed

Published

4 weeks ago

August 18, 2024

Harry Miller

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”

On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”

The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.

Blaze in the West Wing

The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.

About Somerset House

Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.

Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.

Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.

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