In past weekly messages I shared that, once the steel goes up, the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery (DRMCG) will start to take shape. You may remember that the first piece of steel arrived in August 2024, and now in February 2025 you can see from McCaul St. and Grange Park that the expansion is taking shape. This is the time when the project will start to become real for people and the public will take notice. See below for a photo of recent construction.
This weekend is the Family Day long weekend, and we are open on Monday. We anticipate lots of activity in the galleries and Weston Family Learning Centre (WFLC). Thank you to everyone, staff and volunteers, who are working hard to make this weekend memorable for families!
Join artist Oluseye and Julie Crooks, Curator, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora, in the gallery to celebrate the opening of the exhibition, Oluseye: Orí mi pé. Inspired by merindinlogun, a Yoruba divination ritual, Oluseye presents a new installation that illustrates the spiritual, mythological, and biographical elements that have shaped his worldview and art practice:
Saturday February 15
Remarks at 2 pm (No need to register, just drop in!)
Level 2, Gallery 249
Oluseye (b.1986, London, UK) is a Nigerian-Canadian artist. His practice embraces Blackness and blends the ancestral with the contemporary and the physical with the spiritual. Oluseye has exhibited at the Museum of the African Diaspora, San Fransisco (2024); Daniel Faria Gallery, Toronto (2024); Southern Guild Gallery, Cape Town (2023); the Gardiner Museum, Toronto (2023); Albright-Knox Museum, Buffalo (2022); Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (2021); Agnes Etherington Art Center, Queen’s University, Kingston (2021); and the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto (2015).
In 2022, his first public art commission, Black Ark, was installed in Toronto’s Ashbridge’s Bay Park, and in Fall 2024 will embark on a tour of the Maritimes with stops at the Owens Art Gallery and The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. His first permanent public sculpture will be unveiled in Toronto in 2026.
With the weather forecast calling for a winter storm, the AGO is monitoring its potential impact on AGO operations. The AGO is currently scheduled to operate business as usual.
AGO’s emergency phone number is (416) 977-5249
The emergency phone number will be updated if a decision is made that will affect the AGO’s hours or operations. If you are curious about whether or not the Gallery is open (during or after a big dump of snow!), please call the Gallery’s emergency phone number as your first point of reference. This line is updated first, and acts a central point of information for all staff and volunteers.
Should there be a change to AGO operations, the message will explicitly indicate that the building is closed due to weather conditions. Otherwise, the AGO will be open for business as usual.
We are happy to share this exhibition talk with Curator Alexa Greist, on Tissot, Women and Time, on now until June 29. This tight little show (galleries 139 – 141 on the main floor, just outside the entrance to Prints and Drawings) has some real gems, and their installation on blue and pink walls is striking! Some volunteers have been asking recently where The Shop Girl had been moved to, and it’s here! You’ll note it’s lower hanging height really invites you into the painting, like never before. Make sure to check it out!
Enjoy this behind-the-scenes (unedited) talk with Alexa, (thank you to Natalie Lam, for sharing this recording with us all!) Please note, the video does take a moment to start, so don’t be alarmed if you experience delay. Watch, HERE
I’m sad this week to share the news that AGO volunteer Barbara Taylor, has passed away. Barb was a treasured member of the tight-knit Thursday information guides, a former day captain, who has been volunteering with us since 2008. I know this comes as a great shock to many.
Barbara had been unwell lately, but was on the road to recovery and we were eagerly looking forward to her return. When we were last in contact in early January, she was full of her usual gusto! (“Holly, you cannot keep me away!”) And I was so looking forward to seeing her for a proper catch up. I have always admired Barbara’s zest for life, optimism and companionship with her fellow volunteers; every birthday was celebrated with a cake and all the trimmings (though we could never pin down her own, to reciprocate – we tried!); every milestone acknowledged – she was always checking in to ask about family and plans. She was truly joyful, a strong and supportive friend, and reveled in others’ good news. She loved her volunteer community here, (as much as her beloved Haliburton cottage and summers spent there), and we will miss her so. Barbara was a very private person, and her family, equally so. A private memorial will follow in the spring, but no formal, public service is planned.
A short summary from Alieh: I’m an Iranian artist based in Toronto and this artistic journey began in my teenage years. I hold a master’s degree in fine art. My paintings delve into themes of identity, dislocation, transformation, and vulnerability.
My artwork serves as a means of healing and self-discovery. I think that my job is to observe people and the world. Every day presents a challenge for me as I navigate my emotions. Particularly as an immigrant, I continually encounter situations that require me to confront my fears and learn from difficult experiences. I’ve come to realize that with each instance I overcome a fear and venture beyond my comfort zone, I gain valuable insights.” In the Volunteer Artist Collective, you will hear the story of my artistic journey from its early years to the present. I enjoy sharing my thoughts and inspirations throughout the creative process. I will also discuss my current project that is a new experience for me since I am approaching self-discovery from a new perspective. I really appreciate you taking time to hear about the experiences that has shaped my style and artistic life until today.
Please join us to view and participate as Volunteers in seeing Alieh’s artwork and presentation. So looking forward to this!
As a reminder, all Volunteers of all levels are welcome to participate in the Volunteer Artist Collective. Simply fill our this form and will get back to you at a later date in the planning phases. https://forms.gle/EoLH8e9AoHASDovb9 The AGO Volunteer Artist Collective initiative idea was born out of conversations I had with fellow volunteers in the lounge and the incredible pool of creative talent of volunteers that we can highlight and showcase, as a community. This is a form of Volunteer recognition and bringing our community together across various roles, while building a strong Artist Collective with your fellow volunteers.
Recently, we mourned the passing of Pat Munson, a dedicated Marvin Gelber Print and Drawing Study Centre volunteer, with nearly 15 years of service.
Fellow volunteers have expressed interest in collecting donations in Pat’s memory, which will go toward the purchase of book(s) in memory of Pat for the AGO Library and Archives.
If you’d like to make a donation, in memory of Pat, there are several ways to do so:
The easiest and fastest way is to make a donation on the website at www.ago.ca/donate. There is a tribute gift option. If you select this option, please make sure to indicate the gift is “in memory of Pat Munson.” Here is a screen shot, for reference:
2. If you are more comfortable with writing a cheque, you can send one in the mail to the Development Department. Please use the following mailing address:
Art Gallery of Ontario, Development Department, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON, M5T 1G4 (attention: Michelle Greenspoon)
3. If you are on-site, you can also drop off a cheque with Holly Procktor in the volunteer resources office (volunteer lounge) and she will ensure its delivery to Development.
Please save-the-date for the next installment of the AGO Volunteer Artists Collective. This month, we’ll be joined by AGO Gallery Guide and Artist Alieh Akbarzadeh:
A big thanks to all staff and volunteers who were here over the holiday period to welcome our public. Our attendance numbers were strong, and our strategy of focusing on Members and Annual Passholders for early viewing of The Culture helped drive sales. The galleries were buzzing with activity. We ended the year on a high note, and started off 2025 in terrific fashion. I hope many of you were able to take a well-deserved break. Personally, I went back to Honolulu (where we moved from almost 9 years ago!) to enjoy the place and to visit close friends. We’ve been through a lot together at the AGO, and the AGO remains an incredibly resilient museum.
Next week we will see an important milestone for the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery project as steelwork begins. As the steel goes up, we will start to see the building take shape. A reminder that the area around the entrance to the site on McCaul St. is quite busy, so please take care when walking in that area.
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday season, a peaceful time with family and friends, dear loved ones. With thanks for all you do, the gallery and visitors are so fortunate to have you fellow volunteers on the front line as Information Guides, Gallery Guides, Prints and Drawing volunteers. You are the backbone, first encounter with the visitor, that is so integral to the gallery space and the visitor experience and interaction.
All Volunteers are intellectual, know so much about the works, collection and the artists. The visitors come away with a rich experience as a result of the exchange between Information, Gallery Guides and Prints and Drawing volunteers.
Barbara Glaser, Volunteer President
End of year summary and thanks acknowledgements,
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year taking on the role of Volunteer President and getting to know many of you over the year, has been one of the highlights. All Information and Gallery Guides with fellow Prints and Drawings volunteers on planned excursions. Over the year, we’ve attended four excursions I’ve created and organized, with attendance as fellow volunteers interacted with close to 120 volunteers from all placements. Met with curators, artists, the incredible Charles Pachter, David Liss (Koffler Gallery) and fellow guides and docents with rich discussions who imparted our shared knowledge and passions over art, thanks to all the volunteers for coming together and the strength in community.
The connections with our cultural partners and there staff for planning these excursions together with myself from the Koffler Gallery, Gardiner Museum, MCU The Image Centre, fellow gallery docent Aisling Joe for her impactful tour of the Queens Park Collection where she also has a professional role and additionally hosted us with a wine and cheese! Showing us the vast collection and ties with Queens park collection and library has with the AGO, was also a rich memory.
Look forward to future excursion events and meeting more artists, plans which are underway to come in the new year and also tying in with our AGO anniversary. Importantly speaking on the horizon, looking forward to hearing your thoughts, ideas, as a team on the 80th year of AGO Volunteer anniversary, coming to fruition this summer with further details to come.
As Volunteer President, one of the mandates established is being present, listening and a bridge with staff as a team, I have set “making every moment count” for the volunteers and building connecting memories across all placements at the core is essential. Building a strengthened community, creating new ideas and platforms for the volunteers be recognized, have an opportunity to build on that community and connect support with all volunteers, including hands on artistic opportunities. Connecting with staff and curators on enrichment opportunities as we’ve had recently on the tours and talks.
Volunteer Artists Collective
Number of Volunteers have expressed interest in participating in the Volunteer Artist Collective, which I’ve recently established to highlight the skills, creativity and talents of fellow volunteers while also another layer of building on our volunteer community an opportunity for volunteers to get to know your cohorts on another level. This initiative will be rapidly expanding in the new year. Holly and I can’t wait to see it grow, for you all to showcase your talents, your works with fellow volunteers and building the collective together. Volunteer artworks will be displayed in the volunteer lounge adding another layer in addition to your presentation. The collective is open to all levels of artists, be that amateur or professionals, any medium, all are warmly welcome and continuous encouragement! Just simply fill out the form and will be in touch. https://forms.gle/hyYg9cNufBbBo9aH7
Recognition events
Just this month we have had three recognition events, surrounded by the holidays planned by Holly and myself. I’m grateful to Holly for being a staff partner, as a Volunteer and President. Thank you Holly for all you do for us volunteers, behind the scenes, your dedication, effervescent energy, your smile and enthusiasm your wisdom. We are all lucky to have you by our side and ensuring volunteers are together and recognized as we share the mandate of the volunteer community.
Our first holiday recognition event this past November was the outing to the Lee Miller exhibition at the MCU Image Centre where we had the opportunity to interact with fellow volunteers and view the exhibition with Susan, a wonderful, well versed docent on a guided tour who imparted Lee Miller’s life through such a vast lens that we had a broad understanding and stroke of the artist and her back story-life. While taking in the works, the exhibition was beautifully curated by Dr. Gaëlle Morel, giving subtext and division on the history of Lee Miller’s works and the breadth of her life and career.
The Volunteer Endowment Trust stewardship meeting planned with Holly and our Development Team colleague Erin Thandani (Associate Director, Philanthropy and Planned Giving-Development). This was organized in recognition and with thanks to all the volunteers on the Volunteer Endowment Trust an important role volunteers play in this entire VET process. The winning vote this year and Volunteer Endowment Trust funds were distributed to the Joyce Weiland: Heart on Exhibition, coming to the gallery in June 2025 curated by Georgiana Uhlyarik, (Fredrik S. Eaton Curator, Canadian Art-Curatorial Affairs).
Many thanks for the generous time and presentations for the volunteers by Stephan Jost, (Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO), Georgina Uhlyarik on their enriching presentations to volunteers at the VET Stewardship Meeting. Stephan relayed to us all a wonderful presentation on the plans and new build on The Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Tower. Georgina gave us a sneak peek into the Joyce Weiland exhibition and further expanding into research and insights on the artist’s work and what we can expect in the upcoming exhibition.
To cap off our final event for the year, with a festive get together in the volunteer lounge with Holly’s decadent treats she made for us and we all gathered in good cheer and conversation. Holly had also coordinated and planned with curator Renée van der Avoird (Associate Curator, Canadian Art–Curatorial Affairs), a very special tour just for the volunteers of the exquisite Pacita Abad exhibition, Renée equally brought the artist and life to the works. With thanks to Renée and all the curators for what you do and for recognition of the volunteers in these talks and tour.
In closing, there will be a great deal of excitement as we approach the AGO 120th anniversary, and of the 80th year of the Volunteer program, to celebrate and look forward to in the new year. Stay tuned! As always, I have an open door policy, feel free to reach out. With many thanks and appreciation to all the Volunteers and who have connected, and built rapor with.
