After months of vetting, U.K.-based artist Gerry Judah’s sculpture depicting a splash of water was selected by a local seven-member jury.
A 70-foot-tall steel sculpture called Spirit of Water will be the focal point of the expanded BMO Centre’s outdoor plaza.
Officials from the Calgary Municipal Land Corp. (CMLC) and Calgary Stampede showed off miniature models depicting the future $2.25-million public art piece on Wednesday, while also introducing its creator, U.K.-based artist Gerry Judah.
The sculpture, weighing more than 50,000 kilograms, will depict a blue splash of water. It was created using more than 200 vertical steel tubes, according to a city news release.
The process of identifying public art for the BMO Centre expansion first began in 2021, according to CMLC, garnering responses from 218 artists and artist groups from around the world.
After a months-long vetting process, 39 advanced to a review by a volunteer jury of 11 local experts in art and placemaking.
That was eventually whittled down to a shortlist of six finalists, who were then invited to submit more detailed proposals. Following several days of presentations and 14 hours of deliberations, the jury’s voting members recommended Judah’s submission.
“Public art has always been a big part of the thinking behind this project,” said Kate Thompson, CMLC president and CEO. “Because we are all starting to see the architecture come to life and getting so familiar with the shape and scale of this project, when we started and saw the design for this project and landed on the design … we knew public art in this 40,000-square-foot outdoor plaza would be a really key ingredient in the overall project.”
Judah is a U.K.-based artist specializing in large-scale sculptures and three-dimensional drawings.
Born in India but raised in London, U.K., his other pieces have been hosted at festivals, museums and in public realms across the United States, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, as well as his own country. His online portfolio features sculptures that date as far back as the 1970s.
Visitors to the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex would likely be familiar with Judah’s stylistic designs. Over the years, he has created several large-scale sculptures for that festival on behalf of Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Ford, Rolls-Royce, Honda, Toyota, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo, Lotus, Mazda, BMW and Aston Martin.
Some of his other notable sculpture projects include Drift in Dallas, Texas, and The Scroll in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. That piece is 120 feet tall and was described on Archello.com as a “contemporary interpretation of the ancient Arabic scrolls — a single, spiralling sculpture that loops toward the sky.”
“It’s essential to everything,” he said. “Water and water symbols have also been an integral part of ancient societies and cultures. It further remains one of the most important elements of nature, and one that continues to hold its importance, both as a physical object and as a symbolic representation of various universal concepts.”
Spirit of Water will reflect “the power of water from above” as it splashes down and out, the artist added.
“I’m very proud for the opportunity to have worked with CMLC and the Calgary Stampede to bring this piece to life in such an exciting and important time for Calgary’s revitalization,” he said. “It is my hope that Spirit of Water will capture the spirit of this particular place in Calgary.”
The BMO Centre expansion’s public art budget of $2.25 million includes all fees and expenses related to fabrication costs, delivery and installation of Spirit of Water.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek said public art is the “narrative of who we are.”
“That’s why pieces like this are significant in our journey forward as a city that is future-proofing itself and making itself accessible to the world,” she said.
Local firm Heavy Industries will work with Judah and the BMO Centre project team to install the sculpture next spring.
The expanded BMO Centre is slated to open in 2024.
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.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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.
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