This post will be familiar to our information guides, who receive these updates directly to their inbox. But there’s some real goodness in here, (and some great links!) so they’ve graciously shared with the entire volunteer community – read on! – Holly
Hi everybody!
The AGO has recently launched AGO From Home, a platform where the gallery will share stories, videos and DIY art projects so everyone can enjoy art from anywhere – make sure to check this out!
I (Nicole) am writing you from my sunny apartment near High Park. Christine and Trish are working from their own respective homes on the east side of the city and Jonathan all the way in Barrie! We thought we would share a recent picture of Jonathan’s incredible view from his backyard ravine complete with a mama fox and her kits (not yet pictured…). Enjoy.
Be Well and Take Care!
What we are loving in the collection
Today we hear from Jonathan as he discusses his favourite piece from the Thomson Collection, Lawren Harris’ Figure with Rays of Light (Arctic GroupIII):
Much like me, this amazing work of art spent many years unseen in a Scarborough basement. One day, while I was strolling the gallery to get to know the space better, I rounded a corner and was struck by this. Now I don’t have a background in Art History; my background is in religious studies and theatre, so I must draw on my mystical/magical worldview to inform me. The first thing I ever saw in this was an illuminated dove, (which in religious parlance represents the holy spirit), and it was a comforting sign for me, as I was in need of reassurance on that day. When “The Idea of the North: The Paintings of Lawren Harris” opened I saw that this was probably an abstraction of Harris’ earlier “North Shore, Lake Superior” (1926), which would make the “Figure” an old stump. Some might see it differently after that, but not me, it is still just as moving and comforting as the first day. How about you? Does this speak to you in any way?
Want to learn more about Lawren Harris’ Toronto and the neighbourhood that inspired several of his works? Click on this link for an architectural tour of the Ward with former Canadian Curator of Canadian Art, Andrew Hunter
Collection Focus: The David Milne Collection
Have you ever wondered about the private life of an artist? Explore the paintings of Canadian artist David Milne through a rich selection of his letters, diaries, photographs and personal items. Through videos, follow his career as a painter and woodsman across Ontario. Click here to look through the online collection.
David Milne’s artistic language is bold, innovative and unique in the development of modern art in Canada, as revealed through the AGO’s rich and extensive Milne archive and art collection.
Click here for an interesting short video with AGO’s conservation team as they discovered what was underneath David Milne’s Attic.
Armchair Traveller – Let’s go to The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles
Finding yourself at home with a little bit of time on your hands?! Let’s “take a trip” to sunny Los Angeles’ J. Paul Getty Museum! With the help of Google, you can discover some of this museum’s many delights right from the comfort of your living room! Click here for an adventure!
You will find wonderful works by Vincent van Gogh (like the above Irises), Paul Gaugin and Peter Paul Rubens.
The Getty has recently been in the news for it’s innovative way of keeping visitors engaged while the gallery is closed. They are challenging their audience to re-create and share pictures of works inspired by their collection. You will find these results both comical and accurate! Click here for the article and examples of this fun project.
Be well and stay healthy.
Jonathan, Christine and Nicole