Dear Volunteers,

As I look out the window admiring the lush fall colours and changing light, I’ve been on holidays and hope you’re all well, also taking in the season, look forward to catching up. Writing with upcoming volunteer community programming and exciting launch of the Volunteer Artist Collective. We have a lot to look forward to as we launch the fall Volunteer lineup. As always, many thanks to Holly for our joint work and support. 

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR WITH THESE SAVE THE DATES: 

• POSTPONED: – Please note: Our original October 30 date is being rescheduled to a later date in November, stay tuned! Launch of volunteer artist collective / Zoom presentation with AGO volunteer Janne Reuss
• REGISTRATION LINK UPCOMING (not yet available): Tuesday November 12th, 11:00am private, in-person tour of the Lee Miller exhibition (Lee Miller: A Photographer at Work, 1932 – 1945) at the Image Centre, Toronto Metropolitan University. Registration for this outing will be required with Volunteer President Barbara Glaser, first come, as space is limited. Please note: Registration details will be sent next week.

More on the AGO Volunteer Artist Collective:

JANNE REUSS, AGO Gallery Guide volunteer and our first Guest Artist

This presentation (watch for a new date in late November) will be on zoom and recorded. Janne will showcase her art of photography and the unique personal meaning behind her works, for reference here is Janne’s website https://janneartdot.wordpress.com/. I first viewed Janne’s photography at Art Toronto last year and so thrilled to see her launch this important volunteer artist collective. 

In the new year, we look forward to learning more about Aliye Akbarzadeh’s artwork! Aliye is the second artist joining us for the AGO Volunteer Artist Collective programming. Her art is equally unique in a stylistically manner capturing a creative vision drawings and paintings via a contemporary style, her past life stories and deep philosophical meanings. Aliye’s artwork, technique features, collage, drawing and painting. 

The AGO Volunteer Artist Collective initiative was born out of conversations I had with volunteers in the lounge and the incredible pool of creative talent we can highlight and showcase, as a community.

We, Holly, I and the artists, are excited to launch this initiative. Equally as Volunteer President, I’m so thrilled to see this idea come to life, and highlight the talents of so many of our volunteers, and what we create outside the gallery wall; as artists, our visions and mandates. This will give us all, volunteers over different days, shifts and placements, an opportunity to come together, beyond institutional silos, to learn, be inspired, and see our cohorts in a different light. Please submit your interest to participate in the collective, with Holly or myself. 

COMING UP:

Our next excursion:

Tuesday November 12th, 11:00am (registration link upcoming, has not been released yet) will be to The Image Centre-Lee Miller exhibition private tour. Many thanks to the volunteers who suggested this outing, and to the staff at the Image Centre for graciously welcoming us and my request for a visit.

This will be a private tour exclusively for our volunteer group outside of public hours. If you’re not familiar with Lee Miller’s photography, please see below. Being a fan, I’ve followed since my OCAD days, capturing the epitome of elegance, style, character, and vision. Linked here as well: https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/lee-miller/

Registration to come soon. 
This is space limited tour and first come. 

Lee Miller: A Photographer at Work (1932–1945)
September 11–December 7, 2024 Main Gallery Curator: Gaëlle Morel

This exhibition explores one of the most intense and productive chapters in the professional life of American photographer Lee Miller. Between 1932 and 1945 Miller was simultaneously a renowned portrait photographer running her own studio in New York (1932—1934), a photographer for perfume and cosmetic brands in advertising (1932—1945), and a fashion photographer and war correspondent for the British edition of Vogue (1939—1945). This short time span encompasses a rich history in which the photographer moved between and linked her various practices. Miller’s diverse professional activities, and the ease with which she stepped from one context to another, reveal a photographer whose work was defined primarily by its exchange and commercial value. Lee Miller, A Photographer at Work reveals the inner dynamics of managing a photography career amid the myriad challenges facing professional women at the time. The exhibition offers a rich and complex portrait of this important figure, previously known best for her collaboration with American artist Man Ray and her close ties to the Surrealist movement of the 1920s.

Organized in collaboration with the Lee Miller Archives, England. 
Originally produced and presented during Les Rencontres d’Arles, France, 2022.

This event has been financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation. 

Barbara Glaser (She/Her)
Volunteer President 
Art Gallery of Ontario
[email protected]