West Fine Arts Show is going ahead this April, but in a completely different capacity than it ever has before; online.
Initially set for April 9 to 11 at Glass House Estate Winery – where it was last held in September – the decision was made to hold it virtually at the end of March.
Brian Croft, president of the West Fine Arts Show, said the last few months had been spent developing COVID-19 compliant plans, which would have seen social distancing measures, sanitization, and masks.
“We have been pro-active by adjusting our show plans, moving the date and incorporating all COVID-19 restrictions and requirements,” Croft said. “We fully support the restrictions of our provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and embrace her now-famous call – ‘Be kind, Be calm, Be safe’.”
Ultimately, with the arrival of new virus variants, rising case rates, and talk of a third wave, Croft said he was not surprised that restrictions were not lifted.
“We disliked the idea that we might have to cancel, and so some time ago we decided to develop a contingency plan that would pivot our show into an online format,” Croft explained.
The show has been previously held at wineries and school gymnasiums, but never online.
One upside that the organizer is feeling positive about is that people will have more time to peruse the art offerings as the show now runs for April 9 to 30.
“Glass House could safely fit 18 artists, so the positive with this is that I got to reach out to more artists who have been involved with us before,” Croft noted. “We added about about 10 more to the show and there still might be a few more coming yet.”
Visitors enter the show at www.westart.ca and many navigate at their own pace throughout the online show space.
All 28 artists are listed on the main menu and clicking on a name transports visitors to a mini-gallery all about the artists and their work.
From the artists’ mini-gallery, it will be possible to email or phone them or visit the artist’s website to make inquiries or purchases.
“Being an online show, our hours are 24 hours a day, however, we ask that direct contact with artists by phone be be during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily,” Croft added.
He did celebrate the fact that more time may give more exposure as the show doesn’t often get enough time to generate traction on social media.
One thing remaining the same about West Fine Art Show is the charitable motivation.
“This will be our fourth year partnered with the Langley School District Foundation,” Croft explained. “During our show, artists will donate 25 per cent of their sales at the show, to this foundation; this means, when you purchase art, you are also helping in this important work.”
The foundation was established to provide and facilitate programs such as the food for thought campaign and Starfish Backpack program, which aim to feed hungry students from low income families in the community.
This will be the fourth spring edition of the show and most of the art up for sale will be interpretations of western Canadian life.
There will be a few art pieces by Croft, Rosemary Wallace, and other local artists up for grabs as a draw prizes. People can enter to win by donating to the foundation.
“It’s lots of work adapting it for online,” Croft said. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about connecting people with art.”
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.
