The installation of a temporary piece of public art in the Parksville Forum is going to be more expensive than anticipated, according to a Parksville city staff verbal report at the Feb. 3 council meeting.
Council had approved a $3,500 budget for the installation of the piece in 2020, in honour of the city’s 75th birthday, and directed staff to seek seek approval from the building owners at 100 Jensen Ave. at the Oct. 17, 2019 council meeting.
Now city staff are saying that the project will cost considerably more than that.
The public art in question is the centerpiece from the McMillan Arts Centre’s Soft Shore exhibit.
The piece is a glass herring ball made by Robert Held surrounded by steel bull kelp made by Nelson Shaw with glass salmon by Christopher Smith.
Parksville city director of operations Vaughn Figueira says staff have met with the artists as well as the owners of the building to speak logistics.
“It’s a bit more of a complicated issue than initially thought,” said Figueira.
Part of the installation involves suspending 750 pounds of glass from the ceiling, which would be lit from above and below.
Because of this, Figueira said there are structural, logistic, electrical, liability and public safety issues to consider.
The installation will also require a metal fence to be constructed around it to keep children from climbing on it. This will also mean that holes have to be drilled into the floor.
Location was another main issue. The only place that could be agreed upon with building owners was the sunken area near the finance wickets.
“There would be an impact on the taxpayer time, when the public is lined up in that area. We’d have to sort of redirect them, and figure out a way to do it. We could accommodate them, but that would have to be sorted out,” said Figueira.
Of the $3,500 allocated, $1,000 of which was originally earmarked to cover staff time. Chief administrative officer Keeva Kehler says they’ve already spent more than that.
“We have to look at some permanent holes in the floor essentially to put the railings in, and some permanent structural changes to allow the 750 pounds to be hung from the trusses. I’m thinking we’re not going to be able to get that done for 10 times the price of what we’re originally thinking,” said Kehler.
Kehler also said that the city could not purchase the art without going through a competitive open bidding process and considering other pieces from the community as well as abroad.
Coun. Al Greir and Mayor Ed Mayne both voiced opposition to the project.
“The location that they want to put it in, in my view is not even secondary, it’s way out there as far as what it would look like. It would look like hell, sitting over there in my mind,” said Mayne.
“I could find better use for the money that we’re going to spend to put it up. Then we’re going to have the holes in the floors when it’s all over, then we’re going to have a fence … The problems seem to get more and more and more. … Let’s just call it a day and say it was a great idea, it’s just not going to work rather than keep on going on it.”
Coun. Mark O’Brien proposed several ideas but ultimately agreed that the money spent would probably not be worth it for a temporary installation.
Coun. Marilyn Wilson gave notice that she would propose a motion at the next council meeting that staff meet with the artists to discuss the issue further.
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.
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.
