Art

‘The timing seems right’: New N.W.T. arts centre in the works

Published

2 years ago

November 3, 2022

A new art gallery in Yellowknife may become a reality — pending the next steps.

The Friends of the Northwest Territories Art Gallery board voted to proceed with the planning stage at the last meeting on Oct. 27. A feasibility study was tabled outlining the benefits a gallery would bring to the territory.

“It seems like a really exciting opportunity and the timing seems right,” said Adrian Bell, the board’s business development director.

The need for a non-commercial art gallery in the N.W.T. has long been in discussion.

It was the main topic of an all-candidates forum during the city of Yellowknife election. Artists living in the territory have moved away to further their careers. And, a group called YK ARCC (Yellowknife artist-run centre-less centre) launched a mobile art trailer in 2019 to help fill the need.

Earlier this year, a new visitors centre debuted in Yellowknife with a non-commercial space to the excitement of artists and advocates, but questions were raised about who would govern the space and how long artists would need to wait to have their work displayed.

Charitable status needed

The Friends of the Northwest Territories Art Gallery feasibility study shows a 29,000 square foot building with a Category A designation.

At the very start of the planning process, Bell said it was too early to “talk numbers” of how much funding might be secured — and it is all contingent on “other pieces falling into place.”

“A big piece of the puzzle is applying for charitable status through the CRA [Canada Revenue Agency], so that’s going to require quite a bit of time and energy,” Bell said.

Once the board has charitable status, they will start looking at potential locations, figure out who “the various players are” and secure more funding.

Students explore the mobile art gallery parked outside of their school in Behchoko, N.W.T., in a file photo. (Submitted by Sarah Swan)

“And then at some point in the not too distant future, a more formal sort of facility plan, analysis of sites and what should be included in the building,” Bell said.

While it is also too early to talk hard deadlines, Bell said he is hopeful to be building at the end of year four of the process.

Operational costs a hurdle

With beginning pieces of the puzzle starting to come together, Bell said the biggest hurdle he could foresee is the operational costs of the proposed arts centre.

“There’s going to be a shortfall, it has to be filled from governments and fundraising, so that’s really the biggest obstacle is determining how to do that,” Bell said.

But despite the unknowns, the board said it is excited to move forward with planning, especially with all the various artists in the territory needing a place to call home for their art.

“There is a real appetite for more art, more northern art, and we really just haven’t had a facility where that could be … really enhanced ” Bell said.

“Once we have that facility, we’ll have an ability to increase the prestige and visibility of N.W.T. art.”

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Art

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

Published

6 hours 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.