THROBBER joins Winter/Summer Stations art installations in the Beach for month of August – Beach Metro Community News - Beach Metro News | Canada News Media
Photo above, The Epitonium at Woodbine Park. Inset photos show THROBBER at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant; and Arc de Blob at Kew Gardens Park. THROBBER photo by Abhi Kathuria/The Beach BIA. Photos of The Epitonium and Arc de Blob by Susan Legge.
The seventh annual design competition Winter Stations has returned to the Beach.
In partnership with The Beach BIA, with three of the winning five installations on exhibit until Aug.31, the annual art installation has made it home for the summer despite a number of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Historically launched on Family Day weekend, Winter Stations held a special Spring Stations late this year, with programming in and around The Distillery Historical District.
The Beach BIA is inviting residents to safely view winning installations ARc de Blob, The Epitonium, and THROBBER as part of Summer Stations.
The stations are located at Kew Gardens adjacent to the Toronto Public Library Beaches Branch, Woodbine Park and the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant. Click here to view a map of the winning installations.
“In a turn-of-events, it’s wonderful that the winning installations got to do a tour of the city, beginning at The Distillery District, and I’m thrilled that Summer Stations can finish their exhibit where it happens annually, at the Beaches,” said Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford in a press release by Winter Stations.
“We’re glad to add a bit of joy to the neighbourhood this summer, and Torontonians can enjoy public art on their way to the library, park, shopping and more.”
Paul Bieksa, Executive Director of The Beach BIA, is also thrilled to have the art installations on display locally.
“The Beach BIA is thrilled to invite Torontonians and visitors to experience Summer Stations in new, unique locations including Kew Gardens, Woodbine Park and the R.C. Harris property. Bring friends or family, explore the art installations outdoors along Queen Street East, shop local and enjoy great food in our neighbourhood.”
Bieksa added that the Beach Summer Stations installations would not have been possible this month “without the generous contribution from The Richards Group and the tremendous cooperation and collaboration of Councillor Bradford and the City of Toronto’s Parks and Water departments.”
“We are so excited to support The Beach BIA and help bring the Summer Stations to the community,” added Selene Richards, Co-Founder & Director of The Richards Group.
Winning design, The Embrace, by higher-education partner Sheridan College’s students, will be on exhibit at the college’s Trafalgar Campus from Aug. 20 to Oct. 22.
In the press release, Winter Stations organizers said they are looking forward to resuming the regular programming and schedule in 2022 which consists of the art installations being set up along Woodbine Beach in February.
Winter Stations was founded by RAW Design, Ferris + Associates, and Curio, Winter Stations Design Competition was conceived as a way of using design to inspire Torontonians to visit the Beach in the winter.
For the 2021 competition theme ‘Refuge’, organizers invited artists to reflect back on the year left behind and consider what refuge means to each of us in their submissions.
The 2021 Winter Stations jury was co-chaired by City Councillor Bradford and Tiffany Pratt, and consisted of Mayor John Tory, Krystal Koo, Norm Li, Jacquie Comrie, Evan Perelekos and Lisa Rochon.
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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.
