Hello Everybody,

I know there was some confusion with the recent tightening of restrictions by the Ontario Government, so I wanted to reiterate that the gallery is indeed open! These restrictions affect the Bistro which is now just offering takeout (with frozen meals, tea service and curated food options available on the go).

With the rapidly approaching closures of Diane Arbus, Photographs: 1957-1971 and Illusions: The Art of Magic, we recommend that you see these exhibits within the next two weeks to avoid disappointment. As we all know, people generally leave things to the last minute which will be exasperated by our drastically lowered capacity to allow for physical distancing. To book tickets, please reach out to our Contact Centre which is open from Wednesday to Friday from 9-5pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10-3pm at 416-979-6648. Remember you will need to book a specific date and time as part of our Covid-19 safety measures.

Finally, with the cooling temperatures and daylight savings inching closer, we have arrived at one of the best times of the year – Halloween! To get into the “spirit” (see what I did there!) I’m sharing some articles that highlight our “creepiest works”  here and here. And while I am at it, enjoy the bottom picture which I took yesterday of a super festive house in my neighbourhood! Enjoy!

Read on!

Newly Announced Virtual School Programs

With Covid-19 changing the landscape of how we offer school programing, the AGO launched a new initiative to encourage art anywhere, at school or at home. The new live art education program, happens daily, Monday to Friday via Zoom and it completely free of charge! Programing offered is tailored specifically for JK to Grade 3, another for Grades 4 to and another for Grades 9 to 12. Each program is 30 minutes, and has an element of wellness and art woven into the session, as well as a small creative exercise and includes highlights from the collection. Feel free to share this program with anyone you think may may find this useful! You can register for the programing here.

Wychwood Park and it’s Pioneering Female Artists

Wychwood Park, a heritage neighbourhood in Toronto, was at one time a revered arts colony. In the late 1800s, numerous artists were drawn to the neighbourhood – home to luscious trees, a ravine and Taddle creek – to live and work. It was also home to two pioneering women artists, Mary Hiester Reid and Mary Wrinch which are both featured in two exciting new exhibits, Mary Wrinch: Painted from Life and The Open Door: Mary Hiester Reid and Hellen McNicoll . The above painting by Mary Hiester Reid, At Twilight, Wynchwood Park  is a beautiful rendering of this mysterious and private neighbourhood (which is very much worth an adventure if you have never been!). Make sure to check out these two short and delightful videos with assistant curator of Canadian Art, Renée van der Avoird and Fredrik S. Eaton Curator, Canadian Art, Georgiana Uhlyarik as they discuss the significance of the two Wychwood artists including their contributions to the AGO Collection here and here.

Closing soon: Photography, 1920s to 1940s: Women in Focus

Closing Soon

Photography, 1920s to 1940s: Women in Focus [Part II] is closing October 18th in gallery 128 

Eugene Haanel Cassidy: Plant Forms is closing October 18th in gallery 129

British Watercolours from J.M.W. Turner to Beatrix Potter is closing October 25th in gallery 127

Diane Arbus, Photographs: 1956-1971 is closing November 8th in Zacks Pavillion

Illusions: The Art of Magic is closing November 8th in Zacks Pavillion

Opening Soon

Documents, 1960s – 1970s opening October 31st in gallery 128

Dawoud Bey, John Edmonds, Wardell Milan opening October 31st in gallery 129

Recently Announced

Studio 54: Night Magic opening December 26th in Zacks Pavillion

Be well and stay healthy,

Christine, Trish and Nicole