Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
VanemadUuemad
On the 28th of February I attended an information evening hosted by the personnel of the new Estonian Centre Project lead by project architect Alar Kongats. I represented EKKT (Eesti Kunstnike Koondis Torontos/The Society of Estonian Artists in Toronto). In attendance where other choir groups and a representative, Evi Tarkus Vahtra from EKK (Eesti Kunstide Keskus. Estonian Arts Centre). There was no representation from TEMMK (Toronto Eesti Maja KunstiKommittee/Toronto Estonian House Art Committee) When I asked Mr. Kongats if the new Estonian Centre Project will have a dedicated gallery space for art exhibits, he replied, "No, but there is lots of hall space for hanging artwork." Evi Tarkus Vahtra from EKK mentioned that with regard to their collection of over 1200 art pieces, they have decided to handover their collection to VEMU for storage. In earlier conversations with VEMU archivist Piret Noorhani, she had explained to me that they have not made any plans to display artwork in the new VEMU building. If we look to the future with regards to preserving and displaying these historical cultural artworks from the artists from the Estonian diaspora we need to secure a much larger facility to house these works of art. If we can allow ourselves to dream big, then we need something like the McMichael Art Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario to accomodate the large amount of art collections. Given the size of the various art collections:
VEMU- 100 pieces
TEMMK- 300 pieces
EKK-1200 pieces
EKKT- 3000 pieces, the proposed new Estonian Centre Project will simply not allow for the proper storage or display of these art collections. So in summary, the proposed new Estonian Centre project will have fewer free parking spots, no dedicated freight loading area, no shooting range, no art gallery. From an artistic cultural perspective this new Estonian Centre project on Madison does not provide any tangible benefits for our artistic sector of the Estonian community.
VEMU- 100 pieces
TEMMK- 300 pieces
EKK-1200 pieces
EKKT- 3000 pieces, the proposed new Estonian Centre Project will simply not allow for the proper storage or display of these art collections. So in summary, the proposed new Estonian Centre project will have fewer free parking spots, no dedicated freight loading area, no shooting range, no art gallery. From an artistic cultural perspective this new Estonian Centre project on Madison does not provide any tangible benefits for our artistic sector of the Estonian community.
To Jaak:
I'll speak for myself and for EKK when and if I have something to say. Facts matter, so if you are quoting me, please do it accurately.
I'll speak for myself and for EKK when and if I have something to say. Facts matter, so if you are quoting me, please do it accurately.
To Evi,
You're absolutely right, facts do matter.
So what did you actually say?
You're absolutely right, facts do matter.
So what did you actually say?
Not really too sure about the artistic implications of a shooting range. But I believe there are some long tunnels below the planned structure. I wonder if these could be used during appropriate hours of the day.
I like the tunnels joke....
good one.
good one.
I can't help but notice how many times the word "free" was used in this article.
The Estonian House Art Collection is a haphazard collection of works donated by, people who no longer wanted them, (people don't donate favorite artworks!), and by artist's who hadn't sold the work, but wanted to be able to say they are in the collection. In one case a collection came circuitously via St. Andrew's Church from the States so the donor could get a tax deduction.
A gift of large works from Estonia was declined because TEMK didn't have the space to display or store them, nor the money to ship frame and insure them.
Often, when the Middle Hall was rented for events, the Collection was taken down and jammed into the back hallway, damaging the works and frames, and requiring manpower to rehang them.
Over the years pictures were stolen from the walls and the non-climate controlled storage space was broken into, although no pictures were stolen from there. :)
Probably there would/should be a fee for administrative space.
I personally think all the artworks with some value should properly/professionally be stored by VEMU.
I regret that when my children went to Estonian School that the Esto House walls were kept bare. If it had been decorated with the types of artifacts in the Estonian National Museum (ERM), -Folk-costumes, the sashes and silver jewellery, photographs of places in Estonia, then those images would be forever in their minds.
A gift of large works from Estonia was declined because TEMK didn't have the space to display or store them, nor the money to ship frame and insure them.
Often, when the Middle Hall was rented for events, the Collection was taken down and jammed into the back hallway, damaging the works and frames, and requiring manpower to rehang them.
Over the years pictures were stolen from the walls and the non-climate controlled storage space was broken into, although no pictures were stolen from there. :)
Probably there would/should be a fee for administrative space.
I personally think all the artworks with some value should properly/professionally be stored by VEMU.
I regret that when my children went to Estonian School that the Esto House walls were kept bare. If it had been decorated with the types of artifacts in the Estonian National Museum (ERM), -Folk-costumes, the sashes and silver jewellery, photographs of places in Estonia, then those images would be forever in their minds.
Dear Other Side of the Coin,
Your opening sentence is way off the mark!
"The Estonian House Art Collection is a haphazard collection of works donated by, people who no longer wanted them, (people don't donate favorite artworks!), and by artist's who hadn't sold the work, but wanted to be able to say they are in the collection."
In 1987 under the leadership of artist Joann Saarniit and fellow art collection administrators Osvald Piil and Emil Eerme the Estonian House Art Collection Committee was formed. In the beginning art works were donated from individuals, artists and art collections. Of special note, the TEMKK received a large collection of works from the former US Honorary Estonian Counsel Karl Kuusik's art collection, including very accomplished artists such as Richard Martin Vasard, Evald Raid and Arvid Vilmsi. Today the TEMKK has over 300 works from many artists of varying degrees of proficiency. Historically it should also be stated that for many years, Hans Lupp, president of the Estonian Foundation of Canada attended many of the art exhibitions by the various art organizations in Toronto and bought many of the best works in the shows and donated the works to the TEMKK.
The value of the Estonian House Art Collection is that it is one of the fewest Estonian art collections outside of Estonia which is displayed to the Estonian community on a rotational basis in the many rooms and halls of the current Estonian House. I have personally photographed the entire TEMKK collection and would honestly say that the quality of artwork is within the 80/20 split of high quality artwork versus amateur. Just needed to set the record straight.
Your opening sentence is way off the mark!
"The Estonian House Art Collection is a haphazard collection of works donated by, people who no longer wanted them, (people don't donate favorite artworks!), and by artist's who hadn't sold the work, but wanted to be able to say they are in the collection."
In 1987 under the leadership of artist Joann Saarniit and fellow art collection administrators Osvald Piil and Emil Eerme the Estonian House Art Collection Committee was formed. In the beginning art works were donated from individuals, artists and art collections. Of special note, the TEMKK received a large collection of works from the former US Honorary Estonian Counsel Karl Kuusik's art collection, including very accomplished artists such as Richard Martin Vasard, Evald Raid and Arvid Vilmsi. Today the TEMKK has over 300 works from many artists of varying degrees of proficiency. Historically it should also be stated that for many years, Hans Lupp, president of the Estonian Foundation of Canada attended many of the art exhibitions by the various art organizations in Toronto and bought many of the best works in the shows and donated the works to the TEMKK.
The value of the Estonian House Art Collection is that it is one of the fewest Estonian art collections outside of Estonia which is displayed to the Estonian community on a rotational basis in the many rooms and halls of the current Estonian House. I have personally photographed the entire TEMKK collection and would honestly say that the quality of artwork is within the 80/20 split of high quality artwork versus amateur. Just needed to set the record straight.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Jaak Jarve (14:40)
Dear good-hearted Jaak Järve.
-TEMK stands for Toronto Eesti Maja Kunstikomitee.
-I used the term "haphazard" to mean random or unplanned.
-Joann Saarniit, a successful commercial artist, started the Estonian House Art Collection in the 1960's by donating some of his artworks to the Estonian House, probably to showcase his art. A win-win situation.
-In 1987, Osvald Piil, the President of the Estonian House, not knowing what to do with the donated, for various reasons, artworks, asked Emil Eerme to help. Eerme , an avid art collector, brimming with ideas on how to promote art and artists, created TEMK to solve the problem.
-Only the Vasardi collection came to Canada from the USA via the Consul Kuusik Estate.
-The Evald Raid portfolio of works on paper was, I believe, donated by his wife after his death.
-I don't think Vilms was an artist. He commissioned artists to create "ex-libris" for him, which were donated after his death.
-There were already 300 works in the collection in the early 90's. There were donations after that. Do the donors know that many of the works in the collection have been sold?
-Hans Lupp, President of the Estonian Foundation of Canada, in order to support artists, at one point bought a handful of paintings for the Foundation from EKKT (Society of Estonian Artists in Toronto), including one of yours, for about $1,500.00, and then, not knowing what to do with them, gave them to TEMK to "worry" about.
PS - Does "Art Historian" know that Maris-Ann possibly did not show up at the "visioning" meeting because her Father had just passed away?
-TEMK stands for Toronto Eesti Maja Kunstikomitee.
-I used the term "haphazard" to mean random or unplanned.
-Joann Saarniit, a successful commercial artist, started the Estonian House Art Collection in the 1960's by donating some of his artworks to the Estonian House, probably to showcase his art. A win-win situation.
-In 1987, Osvald Piil, the President of the Estonian House, not knowing what to do with the donated, for various reasons, artworks, asked Emil Eerme to help. Eerme , an avid art collector, brimming with ideas on how to promote art and artists, created TEMK to solve the problem.
-Only the Vasardi collection came to Canada from the USA via the Consul Kuusik Estate.
-The Evald Raid portfolio of works on paper was, I believe, donated by his wife after his death.
-I don't think Vilms was an artist. He commissioned artists to create "ex-libris" for him, which were donated after his death.
-There were already 300 works in the collection in the early 90's. There were donations after that. Do the donors know that many of the works in the collection have been sold?
-Hans Lupp, President of the Estonian Foundation of Canada, in order to support artists, at one point bought a handful of paintings for the Foundation from EKKT (Society of Estonian Artists in Toronto), including one of yours, for about $1,500.00, and then, not knowing what to do with them, gave them to TEMK to "worry" about.
PS - Does "Art Historian" know that Maris-Ann possibly did not show up at the "visioning" meeting because her Father had just passed away?
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Other side of the coin (08:16)
Dear Good-hearted Other Side of the Coin,
Thank you for the further elaboration of the history of the TEMK art collection. You seem to have an inside track on the TEMK collection, so I guess you probably were on the TEMK board at some time.
I do believe that when certain art works were stolen from the Estonian House, this prompted the management at the time to purchase a video surveillance system for the house. As to some donated art works from the TEMK collection being sold, I do not know who profitted from these sales (either TEMK or the Estonian House or somebody else). Who can we ask to shed light on this aspect of the collection? I do believe that the current TEMK collection does have an inherent value, if not artistically then definitely from a cultural historical perspective on the creative works of the émigré Estonian diaspora artists. I would hate to see this collection moved to a storage room, never to be shared with the community at large.
Thank you for the further elaboration of the history of the TEMK art collection. You seem to have an inside track on the TEMK collection, so I guess you probably were on the TEMK board at some time.
I do believe that when certain art works were stolen from the Estonian House, this prompted the management at the time to purchase a video surveillance system for the house. As to some donated art works from the TEMK collection being sold, I do not know who profitted from these sales (either TEMK or the Estonian House or somebody else). Who can we ask to shed light on this aspect of the collection? I do believe that the current TEMK collection does have an inherent value, if not artistically then definitely from a cultural historical perspective on the creative works of the émigré Estonian diaspora artists. I would hate to see this collection moved to a storage room, never to be shared with the community at large.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Jaak Jarve (14:40), Jaak Jarve (09:07)
Jaak,
-Of course the existing collection has merit, and just because it's properly stored does not mean it can never be exhibited.
Perhaps a Vomm Family Retrospective?
-You can find the Nov. 9, 2009, "Eesti Elu" article about the sale, "Edukas Eesti Maja Kunstikomitee Kunsti Müük" in the "Estonian World Review".
75 works were sold for $2,453.00. I do not know what was sold.
-Of course the existing collection has merit, and just because it's properly stored does not mean it can never be exhibited.
Perhaps a Vomm Family Retrospective?
-You can find the Nov. 9, 2009, "Eesti Elu" article about the sale, "Edukas Eesti Maja Kunstikomitee Kunsti Müük" in the "Estonian World Review".
75 works were sold for $2,453.00. I do not know what was sold.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Other side of the coin (08:16), Other side of the coin (08:34)
Kommentaarid sellele artiklile on suletud.