We recently learnt in Prints and Drawings the sad news of the passing of fellow retired colleague and longtime volunteer Dr. Marianne Seger. Which has touched me in many ways. Marianne was a long standing volunteer, an icon, and in my view one of the matriarchs of P&D. She was so lovely, warm with a sharp intellect, perhaps you were fortunate enough to attend one of her enriching talks on Rembrandt or Käthe Kollwitz just to name a couple. Marianne was so well versed in works on paper and facets of various art works and forms including her love of classical music. Personally, I learned a great deal from Marianne about the various works, artists and life, in addition to her gift of listening, wisdom and calm advice, she was no doubt a mentor an inspiration, someone I greatly respected and looked up to. Will forever cherish her generosity and friendship even the visits and lunches at her home together she held for our group, including our lunches together individually after she retired her volunteer post.
Marianne contributed so much to the AGO as a volunteer, serving on various committees in addition to her leadership in P&D her brilliance and her philanthropic contributions with her love dear husband Frank. Marianne will be greatly missed and remembered by all in P&D and beyond in fond memory, we are most fortunate to have volunteered and collaborated with such an amazing woman who has left a rich legacy.
Please see Marianne Seger’s obituary below. There will be a celebration of her life on Tuesday, April 29th.
https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/marianne-seger-obituary?id=58219903

Barbara Glaser
Volunteer President

Marianne with the Prints and Drawing group at her retirement party.

Hello Everyone,

National Volunteer Week begins this Sunday. We benefit from the contributions of hundreds of volunteers at the AGO; many long-serving, and many new.

Our volunteers are an important part of our culture and legacy. They help welcome and support our visitors in areas across the museum, including as Gallery Guides and Information Guides, in the Library & Archives and Print & Drawings Study Centre, as well as during Camps.

Please take a moment to express your thanks to a volunteer this week (If you are a volunteer – THANK YOU!)

I will be at the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) Spring Summit in St. Louis, next week, where I will be representing the Gallery, and connecting with my counterparts from across North America. I will be thinking of our volunteers.

To all of our Volunteers, led by Volunteer President Barbara Glaser, have a wonderful week!

Take care,

Stephan

Happy Long Weekend, volunteers! Please be advised of our hours this weekend:

• GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 18   10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
• Saturday April 19, 10:30am – 5:30pm
• Sunday April 20, 10:30am – 5:30pm
• EASTER MONDAY April 21, 10:30am – 4:00pm

Hello everyone,

I am just in from my bi-weekly “hard hat” tour of the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery construction site. In the last two weeks, two more floors of steel have been erected. The outline of the building is really taking shape. There are many people who are working on this expansion project, and I am struck by the care and level of specialized knowledge. Each piece of steel is custom made with a “code” etched into it which identifies to the team where and in which order it needs to be installed.

All of us have specialized knowledge in the areas in which we work here at the AGO, and that is exactly what makes us – as a team – so effective in bringing things alive for our visitors.

Stephan

Hello Everyone,

This week I have had the Prince song – Sometimes it Snows in April – on repeat in my head. I know real Spring will be here soon. I am very ready for warmer weather.

I look for moments of joy to balance out the weather – we had a great profile on Citytv’s Breakfast Television, the Kusama Infinity Mirrored Room is up and running, there was a great lecture on Colville on Wednesday and the glow from the very busy closing weekend of The Culture is still in the air. Take a moment to think of things that brought you joy this week and share them with your colleagues.

The 125^th Anniversary celebration of the AGO will soon be upon us – there is lots of anticipation. The kick-off – a party on May 15 – sold out in 4 days!

Stephan

Hello everyone,

This week marked the end of one fiscal year and the start of another.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge that we ended 2024/2025 with a balanced budget. Thank you, everyone. This was a tough year financially and it required a huge amount of collective effort to consider revenue opportunities and expense savings, and advocate for additional support from the province. These things helped us achieve success. We did this while navigating some significant challenges and, at the same time, sharing very high-quality exhibitions and programs with our audiences.

Some of you have been asking about tariffs. We are assessing the impact on the organization and, at this point in time, we believe that the impacts will be manageable. I will keep everyone posted on our situation as things continue to evolve.

Welcome spring. Yesterday Alicia and Ryan took me on a hardhat tour of the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery. A couple of photos below.

Take care,

Stephan

Hello Volunteers! This National Volunteer Week, we are so excited to once again be hosting the Volunteer Annual Party, in honour of your commitment and contributions to the Gallery:

Wednesday April 30

5:30pm -7:30pm

AGO Bistro

Please join me, Volunteer President Barbara Glaser, your fellow volunteers, staff supports and special guests as we come together to recognize and celebrate your volunteer service.

Please click on the link below to view the full invitation, and RSVP your attendance by April 14 (we want to be sure we have enough food and drink for everyone!)

On behalf of everyone that works with volunteers across the Gallery, we are looking forward to celebrating YOU!

PLEASE RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/mFkQ7VLyzVSNiGsD9

With thanks for joining us for a celebratory evening of food, drinks and merriment

The award-winning image-maker looks back on 50 years of practice before his solo exhibition opens at the AGO

After 50 years of practice, Tim Whiten reflects on his body of work with a succinct understanding: “They are living organic materials that are informing us about what we are and how we do things.” Since the 1970s, the acclaimed multi-disciplinary image-maker has been exploring naturally occurring materials, turning bone, leather, glass and coffee into monuments that fuse the physical and spiritual realms.  

Opening at the AGO on Saturday March 29, Tim Whiten: A Little Bit of Light marks Whiten’s 2022 Gershon Iskowitz Prize for his outstanding contribution to Canadian art. With over 30 key works on display, the exhibition ranges from works on paper and cotton, other three-dimensional objects, and mixed media installations.

A Little Bit of Light is curated by Julian Cox, the AGO’s Deputy Director and Chief Curator. “Attuned to the transcendent potential of objects, and drawing upon various spiritual traditions, mythologies, and rituals, Whiten invites viewers to sense, rather than overtly read, his artworks,” says Cox. “Whiten’s practice prompts audiences to explore the depths of spirituality, the nature of consciousness and the importance of ancestral knowledge.”  

During the installation of the exhibition, AGO Foyer writers met with Whiten for a conversation. Read more, HERE.

Hello Everyone,

Since Wednesday, Tim Whiten: A Little Bit of Light has been on preview to AGO Members. It will open to everyone on Saturday, with at talk at 2pm with Tim and the exhibition’s Curator, Julian Cox. It is an exquisite exhibit featuring lots of glass (thank you Security!). Tim was the winner of the Gershon Iskowitz Prize awarded in 2022. Do take a few quiet moments to walk through and view the art. Thank you to everyone involved with Tim’s show. 

Values: Let’s remember that while we all have our own personal values, the AGO Values guide how we show up for one another and commit to working together:

Respect: We foster belonging and appreciate each other.

Openness: We interact with an open mind and thoughtful engagement.

Collaboration: We believe in the power of together.

Accountability: We own our actions and outcomes.

We will continue to discuss and communicate our Values so that everyone has a shared understanding of their meaning and purpose. It’s very important work and I appreciate everyone’s involvement and attention to our Values.

With March Break, the final weeks of The Culture, and the arrival of Spring, I want to acknowledge our Facilities crew for the amazing work they do maintaining our building and keeping it clean and safe for our public – and all of us – especially during busy periods when we have lots of visitors onsite. They do an amazing job, and their work is invaluable to maintaining a positive visitor experience. Thank you, everyone in Facilities, and across all areas of building maintenance. We appreciate you!

Take care,

Stephan

Hello Everyone,

We are coming off of another successful March Break, and I know that many of you have been receiving well-deserved positive feedback. The interactive textile installation was a hit (see attached), and I want to thank Artist-in-Residence Laura Carwardine for being here throughout March Break to engage our public. Thank you again to all of you who ensure that busy periods like this one run smoothly.

For anyone who grew up watching MuchMusic, we are hosting a talk, Remembering RapCity: The Legacy of Canadian Hip Hop Television, in celebration of its 35th anniversary this Saturday at 1pm in Baillie Court. We also have a new exhibition, Tim Whiten: A Little Bit of Light, opening to Members next Wednesday. I dropped by installation several times and Julian and the entire team have created a most beautiful exhibition of Tim’s artwork.

Take care,

Stephan