Canada's former poet laureate caught ripping off Tupac and more arts stories you might have missed
In this week's Art Post Outpost, suspicious resemblances to the work of Tupac, Maya Angelou and more are found
Here at CBC Arts, you won't just find our original content — we also bring you the best art posts from across the entire CBC network.
These are the week's can't-miss stories:
Former Canadian poet laureate accused of 'borrowing' from Maya Angelou, Tupac Shakur and others (As It Happens)
"Canada's late parliamentary poet laureate Pierre DesRuisseaux has been accused of translating several English poems into French and passing them off as his own. The originality of his 2013 poetry book Tranches de vie came under scrutiny after his death when Ontario poet Kathy Figueroa read an English translation of his poem J'avance on the parliamentary website and noticed it bore a striking resemblance to Maya Angelou's I Rise. 'I recognized it immediately and just sort of went into shock. I couldn't believe it,' Figueroa told the National Post. 'It was obvious that he ripped her off. It was blatant, it was obvious, it was appalling.'"
It could be worth hundreds of millions: 2 Torontonians trying to prove art collection is the work of Basquiat (CBC Toronto)
"A Toronto art dealer and a local designer are on a mission to prove a huge collection of paintings is by famed American painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, but it's not easy when there is no written proof he painted them. They're tight-lipped about exactly how many possible Basquiat pieces are owned by an American art collector, but their search to authenticate the pieces has piqued the interest of a filmmaker from Los Angeles, who's documenting the whole process."
'Art is subjective': British town councillor defends floral Princess Diana tribute (As It Happens)
"When the British town of Chesterfield revealed its floral tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, onlookers couldn't decide if it was scary, funny or just plain offensive. On Facebook, people called the volunteer-built arrangement 'hilarious' and 'horrendous.' One person called it 'an insult' to the late princess, But Chesterfield Coun. Steve Brunt says all art is subjective. He defended the gray-toothed, dead-eyed, pink-lipped creation in an interview with As It Happens host Carol Off."
Long Time Running: 6 things we learned about Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip (q)
"The Tragically Hip documentary Long Time Running, which follows the band on its final tour across Canada, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this week. The Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier-directed doc is both a touching and entertaining look at the band's monumental road trip, dealing with details about Gord Downie's cancer diagnosis, the band members coming to terms with what may be their last concerts and, above all, the deep brotherhood they've formed over 30-plus years."
This artist transformed her back lane into an Arctic animal art gallery (Now or Never)
"If you're looking for Winnipeg artist Kal Barteski, you'll likely find her in a back lane...painting a giant polar bear. A painter and brush script letterer, Barteski has been spending the summer of 2017 bringing a little bit of the Arctic to the alleyway behind her house. 'Nothing good happens in a back lane — so I wanted to make it a little more colourful, and see if I could perhaps make a walk-able or bike-able art gallery,' said Barteski."
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