Seven exceptional AGO volunteers received awards last month for their service. This week we learn a bit more about Lourdes Betancourt, Evening / Weekend GG (5 years).
Lourdes receives her 5 year award from MPP Han Dong
How did you get started at the AGO?
I was visiting the gallery and saw a sign announcing Frida and Diego next exhibit and said to myself: “The AGO needs me, I know everything about Frida.” Then I rushed to the front desk and asked where and how I can be a guide and followed the process. By the time the training ended the exhibit was almost at the end but I did get one chance in the last week.
How long have you been here? What roles have you played here?
Five years. I am a weekend gallery guide; I did some design help for the volunteer blog committee for a while. Now I have joined the Kusama animateurs team – we chat with visitors waiting in the lines for the Infinity Mirrors rooms.
What is your background? What are your outside interests/other volunteer gigs?
I am an in-house graphic designer of a health care organization. I am a runner; last year I joined Jean Paul Bernard’s team. He raises awareness for sexually abused children and I ran with him 30km during his 5th of the 6th Scotia Bank Marathons he ran in a row!!!
What is your favourite work in the gallery? (Or, what has been your favourite/ most memorable show?)
The Great Upheaval. Loved it!!!! And Raoul Dufy’s “The Yellow Console with a Violin” is my favourite piece.
What is your favourite / most surprising / most satisfying memory/moment at the gallery?
I have a funny one:
On Nuit Blanche I was in the Surrealist exhibit when suddenly a white thing appeared on a black chair. It looked like a dirty diaper but as the room was so crowed and dark, it was difficult to define it. Visitors looked at it – some were confused but some looked as if it was art! We then had an nice art conversation, it was so funny! Finally I dared to go closer and discovered that it was a cabbage!!!
LOL! Thanks Lourdes!
Stay tuned for more profiles!