2023 got off to a busy start for the AGO. It’s a good time for families and friends to re-charge and re-connect as we head towards the tail-end of the winter season. The sun is on the horizon… pretty soon it will be spring and we’ll have a new line-up of exhibitions and programs, including Wolfgang Tillmans and a wonderful Cassatt-McNicoll Impressionist show.
Thank you to those who are working hard on submitting budgets for 2023-24, those who will be onsite this weekend providingFamily Day Weekend programs, and those who are working on upcoming activities. Please take a moment over the next few days to reflect on what we’ve done so far this year and what we can all look forward to, together.
As we head toward the end of this fiscal year, we are on track to end up pretty much where we projected. This took effort from everyone – such effort must continue as we plan for the 2023-24 budget and continue to re-build our operations. My main message is this: we need to focus on managing expenses and broadly appealing programming to increase revenue. Basically it’s a full court press on increasing revenue, especially from increased attendance and audience engagement. We have made changes to our exhibition schedule, adding in KAWS and a Keith Haring retrospective (this is CONFIDENTIAL), which will be incredible draws, in addition to this spring’s Tillmans show and this summer’s Impressionist exhibition featuring works by Canadian artist Helen McNicoll.
We remain in an environment where there are factors beyond our control – inflation, cost of operations, etc. – which means we will need to be very disciplined about the work that is within our control. I have much confidence in managers and teams to think creatively and strategically to help guide the AGO through another challenging year. I am optimistic and know we can do it together.
After 16 months at the AGO, Xiaoyu Weng has resigned from her role as the Carol & Morton Rapp Curator, Modern & Contemporary Art. As many of you know, Xiaoyu came to Toronto from New York, a city in which she has both professional and personal ties, and will be returning to spend more time there.
I would like to thank Xiaoyu for her contributions to the AGO, including the acquisition of important works of art, and stewardship of our Modern & Contemporary Committee and Contemporary Circle donors, among other accomplishments. As everyone knows, there is a great deal of activity happening at the AGO as we continue to re-build and fulfill our mission for our public.
I acknowledge that with Xiaoyu’s departure, there is a gap in staffing in the Modern & Contemporary area, something which Stephan and I are focused on. More news will be shared on that front in due course.
Last night we celebrated the 5th anniversary of the AGO’s Women’s Art Initiative (WAI) (linked HERE). This is a group of 58 women who support major exhibitions by women artists developed by our curators. They have raised over $1M in five years and it is impressive to look back at the exhibitions they have supported — Rita Letendre: Fire & Light, Rebecca Belmore: Facing the Monumental, Hito Steyerl: This is the future, Haegue Yang: Emergence, Fragments of Epic Memory, and currently, Denyse Thomasos: just beyond. Next year the group will be supporting an exhibition by Sarindar Dhaliwal. The Women’s Art Initiative is a good example of people in our community working together to support the AGO’s commitment to women artists. They are a passionate group and hope to continue to expand their support in the next while.
Over the last five years we have been actively aligning our vision for a diverse and inclusive exhibition program with very generous philanthropic support. When we all work together, great things really do happen. Again, I want to urge everyone to go to the 5th floor to see the Denyse Thomasos exhibition. In the Carol & Morton Rapp Gallery there is a major work entitled Arc which was purchased for the AGO with funds provided by the WAI. It is an extraordinary investment in great art that AGO audiences will enjoy for generations to come.
Today is Rocco’s last day at the museum after years of extraordinary contributions and service. What I have learned about Rocco is that everything he does is motivated by his desire to see the AGO thrive and reach its potential. His thoughtful and steady approach has helped the AGO remain financially viable during unsteady times, and not just COVID. Over the lifespan of an organization there are incredible moments of success but there are always challenges that pop up along the way. Rocco has his eye on the future, not just the present, and his planning for a rainy day has helped guide the AGO’s success in overcoming challenges. Most significant is that Rocco is a good person, he has a good heart. He truly cares. Thank you Rocco, for your care and your heart.
In addition to Refat Jiwani, our capable interim CFO who joins us on Monday, I have great confidence in Rocco’s team and thank them for stepping up during this period of transition: Kristine Medeiros, Cindy O, Chris Steele and Carlos Mera.
We are so sad to share news that longtime AGO volunteer Harriet Ades, with 20+ years of service, passed away on Friday January 20. It is hard to imagine her gone.
Always beautifully accessorized and with a knowing look that could light up a room, our beloved Harriet
A former teacher of Visual Arts and English at the senior secondary school level, Harriet became a volunteer in retirement. As a teacher, she was recognized for being so well prepared, organized and tremendously resourceful and she brought these gifts to us. She was a warm and inviting guide, who so enjoyed the stalwart company of her Tuesday AM crew; many of whom shared these wonderful memories:
I feel immeasurably sad as she was a partner in the artistic discussion at the AGO for so many years! She was a feisty lady who was always ready to take part in a joke and the first to come to someone’s aide. Of course, we always took pleasure in seeing the jewelry she chose to wear
I really did enjoy her company. I’m sure she’s chatting about art right now and probably leading a discussion about it, just in a better place.
I really loved starting the week with the Tuesday Crew and always managed to stroll in with Harriet or see her on the way out. All your love of art and care for each other and the gallery was/is wonderful. Harriet would let me know about her day, artistic anecdotes, when she thought something wasn’t a good idea, and when she was ready for a cocktail. I loved her great hugs, which when offered made me feel I could keep going for the rest of the day.
I have a special place in my heart for Harriet. We had so many warm conversations and hugs over the years. I will miss her tremendously. Even though she hadn’t been active in the program for some time, she has always been close to my heart – I can picture her in the volunteer lounge now, and in fact she crossed my mind last week. I see her dressed to the nines and so completely, perfectly accessorized. She always had a kind word to say and looked on the bright side of life – I found her a real joy to be around.
This badge photo of Bernie doesn’t capture his zest for life, but does capture his wonderful glasses!
Sharing the sad news that Bernie Gelfand, a beloved, long time member of the Wednesday evening crew of Information Guides, passed away in mid-December. A Memorial service has been set:
Wednesday, January 25th
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Arts and Letters Clubs
14 Elm Street
Bernard’s wife, Dorothy, has requested that anyone wishing to attend Bernie’s Memorial service send her their RSVP/share their email address with her so she can forward a personal invitation with details. Dorothy’s email address is [email protected]
Bernie joined us in his retirement. He had a doctorate in Social Work, and had taken studio courses at the Gallery before joining our volunteer community 13 years ago. He is lovingly remembered for his optimism, energy, artistry, friendship and great wit (There was never a dull moment with Bernie around!)
We are grateful to share these remembrances from Bernie’s volunteer and staff colleagues:
He was a beloved member of the vibrant Wednesday night group. He also recently celebrated his 86th birthday while on shift! He was so funny, intelligent, kind and young of spirit. He will be greatly missed.
Bernie’s wry sense of humour, sage wisdom and the way he engaged all kinds of gallery visitors are all the things I will dearly miss. I could always count on Bernie to be there on time and ready to greet visitors.
He was a fun, generous and intelligent man.
He was an incredible artist who loved Manet and Monet – this painting (above) by Bernie is an echo of that style.
He was such a kind man, with such wit and creativity; whether it be painting, writing or singing. I remember a few years back seeing a play he wrote at the Sandcastle Theatre. I enjoyed, and will miss, the many conversations we had about art, the best art supplies and our creative projects.
During a memorable National Volunteer Week, Bernie and I sat side-by-side in the volunteer lounge, making buttons, just the two of us, cutting and pasting and collaging well past an hour together. It was wonderful to be joined by someone whose enthusiasm for making things matched mine.
We are very pleased to welcome Taqralik Partridge to the AGO’s Indigenous + Canadian Art Department as Associate Curator, Indigenous Art – Inuit Art focus. Many of you will remember Taqralik as a co-curator of Tunirrusiangit: Kenojouak Ashevak + Tim Pitsiulak in 2018.
Taqralik Partridge
Taqralik Partridge is a curator, artist, performer, writer and spoken-word poet originally from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik. Taqralik comes to us from her role as Director of Nordic Lab at Galerie SAW Gallery in Ottawa. She also served as Adjunct Curator at the Art Gallery of Guelph, where her most recent exhibition Qautamaat | Every day / everyday, is currently on view.
Taqralik’s performance work has been featured on CBC Radio One, and she has toured with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal. In 2018, she was named a finalist for the CBC Short Story Prize. She has previously worked as Communications Director for Avataq Cultural Institute and Editor-at-Large for the Inuit Art Quarterly. She is a member of the Inuit Leadership Group for Inuit Futures in Arts Leadership: The Pilimmaksarniq/Pijariuqsarniq Project. Taqralik’s work was included in the Biennale of Sydney and Among All These Tundras, and has also released a book of poetry, Curved Against the Hull of a Peterhead (2020).
We are very lucky to welcome a true visionary, community builder and creative soul to our team.
Taqralik started on October 17, and she can be reached at [email protected].
This week, we are saddened to hear of the recent passing of Millie Gotlib, a member of our Information Guide team for nearly 10 years, before she took leave in 2018. Millie was a warm & elegant presence in our volunteer lounge. I thought of her as a kind of “grand dame,” with a distinctive deep voice, a knowing wit (and a wonderful laugh.) Condolences to the family have been sent on behalf of the volunteer community.
Millie’s obituary, shared here , mentions that a personal message on the website condolence book would be especially welcomed at this time.
All volunteers are invited to attend the next Gallery Guide program meeting – Thursday, November 10 at 6 – 7 PM, where Deputy Director and Chief Curator Julian Cox, will share his insights about the upcomingLeonard Cohen: Everybody Knows exhibition which opens at the AGO on December 7. We’re excited to learn more about the show and we hope you are too!
Note that we will be recording this session for later viewing and reviewing. We will follow up after the meeting with a link to the recording, which will be posted on the AGO volunteer blog.
