A contingent of eight AGO volunteers headed to Montreal earlier this month to take part in the National Docent Symposium, a biannual conference by and for docents across North America.  Shelagh Barrington reports on Day One:

Day 1: Off Site Tour

Our walking tour begins at the venerable Montreal St James Club, where we are given the history of this fine collection of historic Canadian art by Julie, Manager of the Docent Committee at the Montreal Museum of Fine Art.

Next the private Klinkhoff Gallery on Sherbrooke St. where Eric Klinkhoff gives our American collegues a primer on early Canadian painters starting with Kreighoff, through Maurice Cullen, James William Morris, Francoise Gagnon, Suzarre Cote and (a new one for me) Robert Pilot, all of whom he has fine examples of on the walls or has brought up from basement storage.

Eric explains there are fewer and fewer knowledgeable gallery buyers of historic Canadian art. He also wonders about the fluctuating values of art pumped up simply by the decision of someone like Steve Martin to show and promote Lauren Harris. He acknowledges how the business of a gallery has changed over the years. Where once art came into his hands to be put in the market because of a need for cash, today one very valuable painting can’t be split three ways, between the children. As docents we are a bit taken aback of his handling the paintings when we have been schooled in the art of NOT TOUCHING. The difference between a private gallery and a public institution.

That evening we enjoy a lovely champagne welcome reception with delicious food stations and a chance to view the decorative art section of the Montreal Museum of Fine Art. A musical accompaniment and welcoming speeches in a beautiful room follow and our own Director & CEO Stephan Jost joins us.

Next Week – Day Two: Stephan Jost rocks the house as Keynote Speaker