Art

See the art inspired by the Wabanaki creation story

Published

2 years ago

March 19, 2023

The art may display a stillness, but Spasaqsit Possesom, also known as Ron Tremblay, said everything that went into the work is very much alive.

That includes some of his own work, on display at the George Fry Gallery on Queen Street in Fredericton as part of an exhibit produced by Indigenous students, alumni and faculty from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design.

The exhibit, ‘It started with a thought,’ is a reference to how all creation stories start with a thought, said artist Lisa-Maude Aubin-Bérubé.

“This is us making our own creation stories about our mediums,” she said.

Wabanaki artworks on display at Fredericton’s George Fry Gallery

‘This is us making our own creation stories’: Students at New Brunswick College of Craft and Design showcase their work.

According to the exhibition’s website, Wabanaki oral tradition holds that the world was created with a single thought from a mystical being.

The exhibit, on display until March 28, features both the traditional and the modern, such as painting, photography, quillwork, wood carving, beadwork and digital illustration.

Artists used everyday objects and materials from nature, such ash and sweetgrass, to create their pieces.

Scroll through CBC contributor Ann Paul’s photos and watch CBC videojournalist Aniekan Etuhube’s video above to learn more about the art.

A woman with long, brown hair wearing a black sweater stands next to an illustration of a woman making a basket. — Emma Hassencahl-Perley, who’s also the exhibit curator, created this digital illustration called Breadwinner for the exhibition. (Ann Paul/CBC)

A wooden paddle with painted blue flowers on it rests on a pile of pine branches. — The George Fry Gallery, located at 408 Queen Street, is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Eyewear carved from wood rests on white fabric. — Rob Johnston made this piece, called Annguak (Present), using butternut, tung oil, leather, seal skin and glass beads. (Ann Paul/CBC)

A long, white strip of fabric with an embroidered deer and deer tracks rests on a deer antler. — This piece by Lisa-Maude Aubin-Bérubé, called Nutaptuwet, is about tracking a deer. It’s a Wampum using materials sinew, deer antler and leather. (Ann Paul/CBC)

A woman with long black hair stands next to a piece of art made using birch bark. — Natasha Sacobie used porcupine quills and birch bark to create this piece called Strength in Sadness. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Blue beadwork with green leaves on it sits on the left. A red hat with blue trim is on the right. — The Wabanaki art exhibit will be on display until March 28. (Ann Paul/CBC)

A man stands between a blue acrylic drawing and a photo of the moon. — Spasaqsit Possesom’s exhibition pieces include Possesomuwin (left), an acrylic on canvas, and Hunter’s Moon Rising, a digital photograph. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Ann’s Eye

Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick. Click here or on the image below to see more of her work.

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Art

A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last

Published

3 weeks ago

September 26, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.

More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.

The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.

They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.

“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”

It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.

Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”

Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.

“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.

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Art

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

Published

1 month 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.