"Rodin Chaser" Strikes Victoria

Media cautioned to beware of 22-pages of allegations Victoria media should be wary of information from the "Rodin Chaser" as he targets the next city on the North American tour of Rodin: A Magnificent Obsession: Sculpture from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation scheduled for exhibition at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria from April 6 through July 29, 2007.

This acclaimed exhibition is a comprehensive retrospective of this innovative artist's career, including over 60 bronze sculptures, works on paper, photographs and portraits of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840 - 1917). Rodin is considered one of the most important sculptors of the 19th century and one of the greatest sculptors since Michelangelo.

Over the past eight years, in cities across Canada and the U.S., the "Rodin Chaser" has attempted - without success - to discredit this exhibition as "fakes" by bombarding local media with lengthy and inflammatory emails or faxes before the exhibition's opening. They are sent from Gary Arseneau, a Florida-based artist, gallery owner and self-proclaimed crusader who has targeted this exhibition and others over the years.

His criticisms stem from his belief that "dead men don't create sculpture," and he claims that all posthumous Rodin casts are "fakes/reproductions." These accusations are quickly dispelled when one becomes familiar with the bronze casting process and the specific conditions of Rodin's will. Rodin bequeathed his entire estate to the French government, including his two studios and all of
their contents. In exchange for the establishment of a museum dedicated to his work - now the Musée Rodin - he made a provision in the terms of his will authorizing the government to continue castings of his work after his death. The Musée Rodin's bronze casts are made from the artist's original plasters or moulds according to his instructions to the government of France and therefore are considered to be "original editions," a specialized term widely accepted among art scholars and specialists in the art world. These editions are part of collections of prestigious institutions around the world and their sales contribute to ongoing programming at the Musée Rodin.

UVic History in Art Associate Professor Emeritus, Dr. Betsy Tumasonis, feels that "this accusation reveals a profound misunderstanding of the typical working procedure of a 19th-century sculptor." She discusses the question of authenticity in an article published in the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria's FRAME newsletter. "The casting process"¦ was far too difficult, demanding and even dangerous for an artist to undertake himself. Therefore, the sculptor might be involved only in the final phase"¦Since the casting was handled by professional foundry technicians, it is hardly relevant whether the casts were made before or after the death of the artist."

Rodin: A Magnificent Obsession: Sculpture from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation is drawn from the largest private Rodin collection in the world, which was amassed by the late B. Gerald Cantor, who was fascinated by the great French artist's work. All the works in the exhibition are original - either cast in bronze during Rodin's lifetime or cast posthumously according to his explicit wishes and instructions to the French government for casting after his death. The exhibition includes renowned works by Rodin including "The Kiss" and "The Thinker" and presents an astounding survey of this remarkable artist's work and its impact on the course of modern art. "The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is pleased to offer Victorians this rare opportunity to witness the bold vitality and depth of emotion captured in Rodin's works," comments Director Shirley Madill. "We, along with the Musée Rodin, the Cantor Foundation and the majority of art scholars, stand behind the integrity of these works." -- www.aggv.bc.ca