Art

‘Surreal’: northeastern Ontario artist Christi Belcourt receives postage stamp, Order of Canada

Published

3 months ago

July 2, 2024

Visual artist Christi Belcourt says the final days of June, 2024 were “surreal” after she was invested into the Order of Canada, became the first Métis artist to have her work displayed at Rideau Hall – the official residence of the governor general of Canada – and was honoured by Canada Post with a postage stamp bearing her image,

Belcourt, who has lived along the coast of Lake Huron for the past 25 years, also recently received the Order of Gabriel DuMont given out by the Gabriel DuMont Institute to those who have served or continue to serve the Métis of Canada with distinction. It is among the Métis Nation’s highest civilian honours.

“That was very touching and overwhelming because that came from my community,” Belcourt said.

“And then this week, of course, with my face on the stamp — I tried to negotiate to get just my art on a stamp. I’m the kind of person that likes to be behind the camera, not in front of it.”

Belcourt said the stamp’s unveiling ceremony, which was attended by family members and old friends, was “a very touching moment.”

No stranger to acclaim

Belcourt is no stranger to acclaim.

Her beadwork-inspired art hangs in the National Gallery of Canada.

She’s been an Ontario Arts Council Indigenous Arts Award Laureate, and she’s received a Governor General’s Innovation Award and two honourary doctorates from Algoma University and Wilfred Laurier University.

The painting on display at Rideau Hall is called “Honouring My Spirit Helpers” and is on loan from Toronto’s Seventh Generation Midwives, Belcourt explained.

“It looks like a symphony of flowers emerging out of one pile of rocks, which, for people who do know, it will look like sweat lodge rocks, which is a sacred ceremony that we do,” she said.

A Christi Belcourt painting. — “Joy” by Christi Belcourt. (Illustration by Christi Belcourt/Colouring by Alyssa Trick)

“There’s roots that go deep into this pile of ground. And then this pile of ground is surrounded by a level of water that has plants and fish and two muskrats, which talks about our creation story about Muskrat and how Muskrat brought the earth up when the world was flooded.”

The piece is around 10 feet wide, she added.

It’s being hung in the Rideau Hall ballroom.

“It matches the wall perfectly, which was really surprising,” Belcourt said.

Love for her country

Asked how she felt about receiving the Order of Canada from a country she often takes to task, Belcourt said she loves the country and wants to see it do better.

“I love every single tree. I love every single body of water. I love every river to the depths of my soul. I have nothing but compassion for every single person,” she said.

“We need to raise the ODSP. We need to do all sorts of things to make this a better place. And I won’t stop speaking about that.”

She urged people to consider how global demand for electric vehicles and other electronics may be complicating the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was the world’s largest cobalt miner in 2022, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration.

“I believe that there are technologies that are out there that can help the world,” she said. “But I also believe that we can’t … commit human rights abuses on our way to do it.”

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Art

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

Published

2 days 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

2 weeks 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.