Public Programs and Learning wrapped up 2020 with a third edition of the AGO’s popular online Senior Social video on December 18, featuring Information Guides Charlotte Young-On ( Saturday morning) and Lucie Sparham (Sunday afternoon) . We asked them about their experience making the videos with staff members Doris Purchase, Art Educator, and Lauren McKinley Renzetti, Art Instructor. You can watch the three-part video featuring works by Mary Wrinch here.

What inspired you to sign up for the Senior Social online video?

Charlotte: I wanted to stay engaged as an AGO volunteer and this seemed like a really fun program to be a part of. I had never done anything like it before, so I thought, why not! Social isolation has also been an urgent issue throughout the pandemic, and I was inspired to help address this problem in our community with the Senior Social videos.

Lucie: I signed up for the Senior Social because I love discussing art and I thought painting on line sounded like an interesting challenge. I liked the idea that I’d be painting with others too. 

Did you have any previous experience with art interpretation or art making?

Lucie: I was a high a high school art teacher and after retiring I’ve continued to supply teach in Art. I’ve missed my favourite classrooms due to COVID so it was great to be involved in a project aimed at encouraging and inspiring others to make art. Also I love learning myself! I’d forgotten how much you can do with two complementary colours plus black and white. It was so interesting to see everybody’s works in the critique. They were all  lovely!

Charlotte: I enjoy getting creative and making art when I can. I have tried painting and drawing in the past and have some experience talking about art from studying art history in school. This was my first time interpreting art for a public audience though. I was nervous at first and worried I wouldn’t be able to come up with anything interesting to say about the art. We didn’t know what artworks we would be discussing beforehand, so this encouraged us to say whatever came to mind in the moment. I like this approach, because it shows that you don’t need to be an expert to think and talk about art.

What surprised you (good or bad) about the experience?

Charlotte: I was surprised by how this experience sparked my own creativity. I haven’t made art in a while but painting along with everyone for the Senior Social videos made me remember just how much I love it. I was inspired to keep painting and ended up painting another landscape after.

Is there anything you would change about it?

Charlotte: I wish we could have talked for longer over Zoom. The videos are 15 minutes long, which sounds like a lot of time, but it flies by so quickly.

What would you like people watching online to take away from the video?

Lucie: I hope viewers will understand from the video that it is actually easier and a lot of fun to work with a limited palette. You don’t need a ton of expensive supplies to create a painting you’ll be happy with. 

Charlotte: I hope people watching these videos feel more connected and included in a broader community. When you can’t see or interact directly with people out in the world, it’s easy to feel like you’re all alone. I would like people to take away the sense that they’re not alone, that we’re in this together, and the good parts of life, like enjoying and making art together, are still here.

What else have you been doing to stay occupied during the pandemic, art-related or otherwise?

Charlotte: I’m taking a few courses part-time at the University of Toronto right now. In one class we’ve spent the whole semester looking at a medieval manuscript called the Utrecht Psalter, which has been really interesting. Beyond that, I’ve done my fair share of COVID baking and Netflixing these past several months and stay active by doing yoga and going out for walks with my dog Otis.

Lucie: To stay sane during lock- down I made small clay sculptures: CoVid Creatures! Then I had them fired at a place nearby during the summer. My husband and I have also taken to biking. We often cycle to a secluded pond in the city where I attempted  small watercolours of a marsh and where we look for birds and other wildlife. Visiting this wetland area from Spring to Fall has been a revelation.

Beyond that I occupy my time with reading novels, and now, Obama’s latest book; baking for the homeless once a week; and obsessively following the news. 

Thanks very much to the AGO for this opportunity to volunteer during COVID. I’ve got my acrylics out again and I arranged with another AGO volunteer another Zoom painting session today as a result of the Senior Social. I’d be very happy to participate again if you plan to continue with them. I love feeling like I’m a little part of the arts  community! 

You can read about the August Seniors Social session here and the November one here. The next ones are scheduled for January 15, February 19 and March 19. More info here.