HIDDEN TREASURES

We started ARABELLA with the mission of promoting Canadian artists that were “Hidden Treasures”. This clearly wasn’t an academic designation, but rather a term aimed at giving our readers an appreciation of what lay beyond the boundaries and constraints imposed by the more institutionalized art world. We started with a premise that there was an aspiring, achieving, and accomplished continuum that deserved appreciation and recognition.

In brief, the focus on Canadian art was simply too limiting. While the recognition of those that are “accomplished” is narrowly defined, we saw little promotional opportunity for those who were best defined as aspiring or achieving. That continuum – aspiring, achieving & accomplished – became our focus and described the potential that exists for all of us.

Each of those levels is important and worthy of recognition and promotion, particularly if full individual potential is to be developed and realized.

We feel proud that in promoting many artists who were not “mainstream” at the time we actually saw many careers advance and bloom. We thank all our artists for giving us the opportunity to share their stories.

Thank You for your feedback on the release of our first Member Newsletter. If you missed it and want a copy please email me. If you share my love of all things art I invite you to share the Member Newsletters with your friends. Facebook is somewhat possessive about providing access to all my contacts without "boosting" dollars so I worry that not everyone gets to share along with us as we tell our story.

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MAUD LEWIS

For this Newsletter, we return to Fall of 2010 and an article on Maud Lewis written by our ARABELLA writer Nancy Silcox and noted authority on Maud Lewis Alan Deacon.

With increased awareness Maud rapidly moved up the continuum to accomplished but not without debate in the institutionalized art world. Following the 2010 publication of the ARABELLA article there was a significant increase in the auction prices for Maud’s works.

Maud Lewis - written by Nancy Silcox in collaboration with Alan Deacon, ARABELLA, Autumn-Harvest 2010. (click on image for PDF copy)

PDF download available here or click on image above.

Maudie - A Star is Born!

With the release of the 2016 film Maudie, staring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke, prices for Maud Lewis paintings exploded. (Link to trailer below)

A Bright Future for Maud Lewis (CBC News, 2021)

As noted in a r ecent 2021 CBC article, “After a record-breaking 2021, art dealers and lovers are (now) searching for the first $100K Maud.” But the search comes with risks.

Buyer Beware - Fakers cashing in on popularity

As now befits our times, with the dramatic increases in prices for auctioned and privately sold works concerns about fakes have risen as well. As Chad Brown suggests Maud's best paintings may yet to be seen but in making purchases it may be wise to follow the guidance of authentication experts. Alan Bamberger, an art critic and appraiser points to another continuum - that of love versus money in making decisions. Key question is where do you fall?

Ian Muncaster (Zwickers Gallery in Halifax) inspects an authentic Maud Lewis painting. Many people rely on Muncaster's eye to tell the Mauds from the frauds. (photo by Jon Tattrie/CBC)

HIDDEN TREASURES - More waiting to be discovered

Since starting the magazine in 2008, we have discovered many artists at different points on the aspiring, achieving and accomplished continuum. Our goal has been to celebrate each individual and do what we can to share their creative accomplishments and potential with our readers. Who would you nominate as a hidden treasure?

Coming in our next issue:

ARABELLA Mission

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