Fake or Fortune? SFURA Tour of the "Tangled Garden" at the VAG

Would you be interested in playing art sleuth while taking a tour of the current exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery, “Tangled Garden," with a trained VAG art educator?

As with the popular BBC Fake or Fortune program, you’ll be given a fascinating insight into the art world and the disappointment of acquiring a fake following the elation of stumbling on good fortune, in this case acquiring oil sketches by a member of the Group of Seven.

Please let us know if you are interested by next Friday, April 19, 2024.

If enough people are interested, we’ll pick an actual date and time and send it to everyone who reserves a ticket via this page. The date will likely be on a weekday around lunchtime, so that the gallery is not as crowded. Your non-SFU-retiree guests are welcome. (Reserving a ticket is only an indication of your interest; you do not have to commit at this time.)

Costs:

• SFURA will cover the $180 cost of the VAG tour guide.
• SFU retirees who are VAG members will attend for free.
• Non VAG members will pay a $25 entrance fee when you arrive at the VAG (this is less than the regular $29 price of admission)

The VAG recently acquired ten previously unknown painted sketches that are attributed to J.E. H. MacDonald of the Group of Seven.Experts have since concluded some were painted by another artist altogether. The exhibit includes details of the research behind their conclusions, including scientific methods and history.

Gallery visitors can then test their eye by trying to identify which of the 10 are fakes.A significant installation of oil sketches by the Group of Seven drawn from the VAG permanent collection will help to contextualize the contested works.

Host or Publisher SFU Retirees Association