Hello Everyone,

The AGO is among the leading museums in our country and a home base for young, emerging and long-standing museum professionals dedicated to our craft. Today I call attention to Brenda Rix, a wonderful curator and colleague who has spent 40 years committed to her work at the Gallery. Brenda will be retiring at the end of next week and I am pleased to note some of her accomplishments in my message today.

Brenda joined the AGO as a summer student in 1980 and has held various roles since then, becoming an essential part of our curatorial team. She has shepherded much growth in the AGO’s print and drawing collection and has been a part of many pivotal moments including the opening of the Marvin Gelber Print & Drawing Study Centre and Transformation AGO.

Brenda’s output over the years has been remarkable. She curated and wrote the catalogues for numerous exhibitions, among them Our Old Friend Rolly Watercolours, Prints, and Book Illustrations by Thomas Rowlandson in the Collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario (1987), Selections from the Touche Ross Collection. French Nineteenth Century prints in the Collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario (1988) (exhibition catalogue written jointly with Katharine Lochnan), Walter Trier: The Animals’ Conference (1988), and contributed an essay on “Prints” to the exhibition catalogue The Earthly Paradise. The Arts and Crafts of William Morris and his Circle from Canadian Collections (1993). Most recently Brenda edited and wrote for the catalogue Kathe Kollwitz : According to the Truth (2018), celebrating one of the most important holdings of works on paper by any artist in the AGO Collection. In addition to exhibitions too numerous to name, Brenda mentored generations of fellows and interns with her generosity of knowledge and ability to find projects well-suited to developing the skills of each individual. She served the public through countless programs, provided access to the Marvin Gelber Print and Drawing Study Centre, and helped shepherd the activities of the Master Print and Drawing Society of Ontario throughout its four decades of existence.

I have been struck by Brenda’s exceptional combination of curiosity and humility that is foundational to the manner in which she shares her love for prints and drawings. It is infectious.

Brenda’s last day is next Friday so please take a moment to share best wishes with her. Thank you, Brenda!

One more point – the AGO’s Annual General Meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held next Wednesday, June 16^th. If you are interested in attending the meeting please contact Amanda Dench, Manager, Board Relations & Corporate Secretary at [email protected]. Amanda will be pleased to assist (and she holds all the power!).

Take care and stay safe,

Stephan

Sharing this invitation from Andrea Gumpert, Educator at the National Gallery: re an upcoming symposium on Rembrandt, via our Assistant Curator, European Art, Adam Levine. Enjoy!

Please join us for a live and free Virtual Symposium on Wednesday June 16 from 11am-1pm EDT.

Amsterdam and Rembrandt: New Research

The Rembrandt in Amsterdam exhibition traces the central decades of Rembrandt’s career, from his arrival in Amsterdam to the emergence of his late style in the mid-1650s, in the transformative context of the dynamic city that became his home.

Join scholars Celeste Brusati, Jacquelyn N. Coutré, Weixuan Li, Suzanne van de Meerendonk and guest curator Stephanie Dickey as they share new research about Rembrandt and the lively milieu that pushed him to reach his full potential – a confluence of creativity, innovation and resilience that continues to inspire today.

This virtual event, hosted by Dr. Stephanie Dickey, Professor and Bader Chair in Northern Baroque Art, Queens University, and guest curator for Rembrandt in Amsterdam, will feature four presentations – read more, here.

Information and registration is here: https://www.gallery.ca/whats-on/calendar/virtual-symposium-amsterdam-and-rembrandt-new-research

Dear Everyone,

Yesterday in London, Ontario a deliberate attack was made against a family of Muslim Canadians, killing four and injuring a child. It was motivated by anti-Muslim hate. It is tragic. It is not okay. And it makes me again realize that we have a lot of work to do to create the kind of society where we can ALL live together in safety and with mutual respect.

I am aware that there is a wide range of faiths practiced by people who work at the AGO, including Islam. Faith is core to many of our identities, and learning about – and respecting – different traditions is key. Faith, culture and art are tightly intertwined. I am very aware that members of the AGO staff are Muslim. We are a team, so let’s all be there for each other. 

Stephan

Hello everyone,

Today is an end to a heavy week. People are feeling it. 

Dr. Audrey Hudson will be leading a panel discussion on how to talk about residential schools next Tuesday, June 8 at 1pm. All staff and public are invited to attend. Here are the details: https://ago.ca/events/continued-conversation-residential-schools

Let’s continue to think about what we as individuals and the AGO can do to reconcile with our history and current relationship with Indigenous peoples. We all need to take accountability for our learning.

Take care and stay safe,

Stephan

Dear Volunteers,

We are thrilled to announce that thanks to the 101 volunteers who participated in our recent vote, the Volunteers of the AGO have chosen to financially support the Access Initiative in 2021/2022. By supporting this program, the volunteers are helping realize the AGO’s goals of bringing people together with art, reflecting the diversity of our city, and building a sustainable future. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and for helping to make the AGO an accessible place for all! 

Maya Kotlarenko, Volunteer President, on behalf of the Volunteer Council

Tuesday, June 8, 1 pm EST

Visit AGO.ca to view our event on June 8, 2021. (Talk will be broadcast live on the website – you cannot pre register for this talk: click on the link above on June 8 at 1pm to view)

We want to honour and remember the 215 children of the Kamloops Residential School (Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nations community) who now peacefully rest in the spirit world. We acknowledge the resilience of Residential School Survivors, their families and all those who are still missing and have never made it home.

Join Audrey Hudson, Richard & Elizabeth Currie Chief of Education & Programming, in conversation with Robert Durocher (Vice-Principal), Jenny Kay Dupuis (Author), and Eekwol (Hip-hop Artist). The talk will be centred on a continued conversation about residential schools and available resources within the AGO’s collection.

This discussion is for everyone: students, teachers, parents and anyone who wants to begin having these culturally safe conversations.

Dear Everyone,

I wanted to share a statement that will be posted on the AGO’s social media channels today. It acknowledges the deaths of 215 Indigenous children at the former Kamloops Residential School. The reality of this horrific finding is brutal.

I ask all of us to consider how we use our mission – exhibitions, collections and programming – and the institution of the AGO to create a more just and inclusive culture. How do we understand the impact of our colonial history on Indigenous peoples, and what do we need to do to help seek reconciliation? I will be pushing to change the AGO at all levels. It will make us uncomfortable at times, and it will create debate and uncertainty, but the progress we need to continue to make has to be systemic and real. There are moments when I will lead this conversation, but I don’t have all the answers. There are moments when I need others to lead. A year ago we launched AGOU. Some of you spent your time learning about the history of colonialism and Canada. Some of you learned more about our history from an Indigenous perspective. Remember, action based in knowledge is a powerful tool to create an even better culture.

In addition to making the statement below, we are working on specific programming opportunities that will provide continued learning and understanding of our past and present, and their impact on people and culture today. This will be open to all staff and members of the public, and will be announced soon. I also want to acknowledge the ongoing work of our Virtual Schools Program, and encourage you to take a half hour to join one of the sessions.

I recognize that this is a traumatic time, particularly for our Indigenous colleagues. Let’s be mindful of this and be good to one another. 

Sincerely,

Stephan

Public statement:

In remembering the thousands of children who never returned home and the survivors of the residential school system, we have lowered our McCaul Street flags to half-mast for 215 hours.

We will continue to use our Virtual School Program platform to honour and remember the 215 children, students of the Kamloops Residential School (Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nations community) and all those who never made it home and are still missing.

The violence against and deaths of 215 Indigenous children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School is a stark reminder of the history and ongoing reality faced by Indigenous Peoples within the borders of Canada. Non-Indigenous people living in Canada must face historical truths as settlers and arrivants. This is a reminder that settler colonialism is an ongoing process that continues to have present-day impacts on the lives of First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples.

From 1863-1996, over 150,000 children were separated from their families and forced to attend the Indian Residential School System operated by the Canadian government and churches. The last residential school in Saskatchewan closed in 1996. The Truth and Reconciliation Report released on July 23, 2015 describes this policy as a “cultural genocide” targeting First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples.

The Art Gallery of Ontario operates on Michi Saagig Nishnawbe territory (Mississauga Anishinaabeg). Toronto is governed by treaty 13 between the Mississauga of the Credit and the Canadian government (1805, 2010). Since 1701, Toronto is governed by the Dish with One Spoon treaty between the Anishinabeg and the Haudenausonee to peaceably share resources. Prior to 1701, Toronto was also governed by a treaty between the Wendat confederacy and the Michi Saagig and Anishinaabeg. Toronto is home to large diverse urban Indigenous population. 

The AGO is working to further truth and reconciliation by deepening efforts towards acknowledging and dismantling colonialism and anti-Indigenous racism in all areas and levels of our organization, including in our exhibitions, collections and art programming. 

Artist for social change and Art Educator Mahlikah Awe:ri Enml’ga’t Saqama’sgw chats Indigenous art education and its importance for generations to come.

In light of our recent Diversity & Inclusion learning sessions, and the important conversations continuing in this time, in this Artist Spotlight, the AGO celebrates the work and contributions of one of our Indigenous Art Educators, Mahlikah Awe:ri Enml’ga’t Saqamasgw …

Since its debut last fall, an integral part of the AGO’s daily, free Virtual School Program has been the regular themed sessions about Indigenous art, led by our talented team of Indigenous art educators. And while summer school holidays are fast approaching, a few more Indigenous Art explorations remain before the Virtual School Program wraps on June 18. To mark these, we caught up with Afro-Indigenous Kanien’kéha & Mi’kmaw artist and experienced AGO educator Mahlikah Awe:ri to chat more about her role, the overwhelming feedback from students and what it means to share knowledge with others about Indigenous Art.

AGOinsider: What do you like most about being an art educator?

Awe:ri: I see this role as an extension of my medicine bundle, as a creative being and emerging knowledge keeper. Being an art educator gives me an opportunity to engage in knowledge sharing from an Indigenous lens, in spaces and with audiences that were not always accessible to us as Indigenous peoples. And that brings me joy. I also genuinely love learning about other First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists. This role has enabled me to expand my perspective on Indigenous art and the diverse ways in which we see ourselves, our history, herstory, to the colonial project and our contemporary relationships to stewardship and sovereignty on these lands. 

This conversation further illuminates the philosophies shared by Wanda Nanibush and Dr. Duke Redbird in our recent Diversity and Inclusion Learning session. Read the full article, here (via AGOinsider)

The AGO is hosting a free digital screening of the powerful short film It Can Be Anything, which features a young artist’s inspiring journey.

“It can be anything” is the open-ended, all-encompassing mantra offered by artist Rachel Doucette as a description of her work. Doucette’s abstract drawings and inspiring journey as a creative person are centred in a brand new short film, It Can Be Anything, named after her powerful mantra. The 28-year-old artist lives with an intellectual disability that can make verbal communication challenging, but allows her artistic voice to resound with much clarity. 

Directed by filmmaker Ryan Bergmann, produced by Doucette’s sister Marsha and featuring animation by Good Form Studio, It Can Be Anything uses Rachel’s unique lens to explore the beauty of her artistic practice and life narrative.

On June 11, the AGO will host a screening of the film via Zoom, (register, here) followed by a discussion with Marsha Doucette, Ryan Bergmann and Dylan Carquez (Good Form).      

Hello Everyone,

Earlier this week, we shared a message about Ontario’s Re-Opening Plan. Basically what this means for the AGO is that we will open likely later in July with Andy Warhol installed and ready for our public. The exact date is not known yet – it all depends on the speed of vaccinations and decline of case numbers – all milestones determined by the Province. But just knowing that an opening date is in sight is very encouraging. We will communicate with everyone about our plans as things crystalize. (A reminder: though we hope to re-open the doors soon, staff re-entry will be staggered, and will apply only to essential workers)

It’s important that we all continue to follow health guidelines and wear masks, social distance and wash our hands regularly. Even though COVID is still a reality, there is lots to look forward to this summer.

Summer Pop! is a free series of online art activities for kids of all ages inspired by Andy Warhol, every Monday through Sunday in July. Online art courses for adults at https://ago.ca/learn/courses are now open for registration.  We will continue to offer art and learning opportunities for our public in spite of COVID barriers. Spread the word.

Take care and stay safe,

Stephan