The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) Inuit Art Centre revealed its new name during a virtual ceremony on Wednesday called Qaumajuq, which is Inuktitut for “It is bright, it is lit,” celebrating the light that flows into the new building.
This will be the first time a major art institution will carry an Indigenous name in Canada.
It is expected to open next year in February. Admission to the Qaumajuq will be free for all Indigenous people.
“We understand that the history of our Inuit art collection is tied to colonialism in North America,” said Stephen Borys, the gallery’s director and CEO during the ceremony.
“At the WAG through exhibitions, programs and events, we strive to shed light on this history and bring Inuit voices to the forefront through art and storytelling.”
The new 40,000 square-foot building will connect to the WAG on all four levels. Space will include a stunning exhibition, learning and event spaces, a revamped shop, as well as a new café on the main level.
Qaumajuq’s central feature will be the Visible Vault, a three-story high shelf glass display that holds over 5,000 Inuit stone carvings.
To add, the WAG was also bestowed an Anishinaabemowin name during the ceremony. The gallery was given the name Biindigin Biwaasaeyaah which means “Come on in, the dawn of light is here” or “The dawn of light is coming.”
“We see these names as steps along our path into integrating and honouring Indigenous knowledge. The names also reflect the fundamental and critical journey the gallery has been on,” said Borys.
“Indigenous language will have a real, powerful and permanent presence throughout the WAG campus now and in the future.”
These names were decided a group of Indigenous language keepers and Elders as well as the co-chairs of the WAG Indigenous Advisory Circle, Dr. Julie Nagam and Dr. Heather Igloliorte.
The language keepers represent the four regions of Inuit Nunangat including the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut. As well, the language keepers represent the Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Dakota and the Metis Nation.
The naming initiative responds to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Article 13 and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 14i.
“This naming initiative is significant because as many Indigenous people know, naming and names is a very important aspect of our culture,” said Julia Lafreniere, WAG manager of Indigenous Initiatives.
“A name is something you will carry around your whole life and often precedes you and explain who you are to the world. It carries honour and teachings. I am very proud that the WAG is embracing this tradition.”
Theresie Tungilik, a language keeper with the WAG’s Indigenous Advisory Council noted that the Qaumajuq will be a place where all walks of life will experience through the creation of Inuit art of our survival, hardships and resilience.
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She added that she was honoured to be able to be part of the process for choosing the new name for the centre.
Nicole Wong is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
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.
