Atelier de sosi, St. Pete’s most consistently interesting art gallery, opens a new show Friday with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Trashed collects works by a select group of artists; 85 percent of the materials have been found or otherwise “set aside.” So it’s recycling with an even higher-than-usual purpose. Details are here.
There’s another unique themed exhibit opening Saturday at Mize Gallery. It’s Interwoven, spotlighting the multimedia fiber work of 15 local and national artists. The reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. Check it out here.
Sculptor Janet Echelman – her Bending Arc floats gracefully overhead at the St. Pete Pier – is the juror for this weekend’s annual Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in downtown Tampa. Admission to the 25-acre site is free.
Legendary beat writer Jack Kerouac, who famously spent his final years as a resident of St. Petersburg, will be celebrated Friday with a 6 p.m. reception at thestudio@620. It’s for a new art exhibit, including the works of 47 visual artists and poets in honor of what would have been the scribe’s 100th birthday this month. The exhibit will be on view through the 31st.
There’s more Kerouac on the horizon; look for details in the Catalyst Friday.
Gulfport’s First Friday Art Walk goes from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday along those quaint downtown streets. At the Brenda McMahon Gallery, Artist of the Month Michel Demetria will talk about Exceptional Women, her series of paintings of public and lesser-known impactful figures, including Amanda Gorman, Carole King, Bette Midler, Michelle Obama and other.
Celtic Woman. Publicity photo.
All Celtic, all the time
Friday brings the all-Irish singing, all-woman group Celtic Woman back to the Mahaffey Theater for its annual visit. This time around, the group includes Chloe Agnew, Muirgen O’Mahoney, Megan Walsh and singer, violinist and harpist Tara McNeill.
Former member Susan McFadden will join the cross-country tour later in the month (although she won’t be at the St. Pete show). This show is named after the group’s recent Postcards From Ireland album.
Close enough for St. Patricks Day, a Celtic Woman performance is a wondrous multi-media affair, with a “robust ensemble” of Irish dancers, bagpipers and a full band playing bodhran, tin whistle, bouzouki, Uilleann pipes and other genuine Celtic instruments. Tickets are here.
Hogwarts ‘n all
The 2005 film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – the fourth one in the H.P. series – will be screened in high definition Friday and Saturday at Morsani Hall, inside Tampa’s David A. Straz Center, with The Florida Orchestra performing the Patrick Doyle score live. Concert times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday, and tickets are here.
“Crowns” at the Straz Center. Publicity photo.
Theat-uh
Bob Devin Jones, the ringmaster at thestudio@620, directed Regina Taylor’s gospel-music drama Crowns at the Straz Center’s Jaeb Theatre (read about it here). The gospel music drama is in its final weekend – there are evening shows Friday and Saturday, and matinees Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are here.
Meanwhile, Jobsite Theater has moved from its temporary home in the Jaeb back to the Shimberg Playhouse, next door at the Straz Center, where the long-awaited production of A Clockwork Orange opens tonight. Here’s our story, with ticket info.
David Zarko’s dramedy Soup is now in Weekend No. 2 at LAB Theatre Project in Ybor City. Read all about it.
And still more
The annual Outlaw Country Cruise has just returned to port in South Florida, and three of its headliners have landlocked shows here this weekend, on their way back north. To wit: Rodney Crowell (we talked with him a few days ago) is at the Capitol Theatre Friday, followed on Saturday by Lucinda Williams. And the amazing Elizabeth Cook performs Saturday at Skipper’s Smokehouse.
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.
