Volunteers, I am so deeply saddened and shocked to share that our dear friend Brenda passed away over the weekend. We are keeping her family, particularly her husband of 58 years, John, in our thoughts. Brenda was a dedicated Gallery Guide, with 21 years of service. I will remember her for her thoughtful talks and tours, her tales of travel, incredible sewing skills, and the love she shared for her grandchildren (which we talked so often of in the volunteer lounge). I know she will be so deeply missed by many. Sharing my sympathies with you all and particularly her close-knit Wednesday crew – Holly
Beautiful inside and out, we remember Brenda MacKay
Condolences have been sent on behalf of our community of volunteers.
This week we opened an extraordinary exhibition, What
Matters Most: Photographs of Black Life. The show asks us a very important
and relatable question. What matters most is often family, friends and
meaningful work. This weekend I will be visiting my ageing parents, who matter
deeply to me. As we mark Labour Day on Monday, thank you to everyone for the
work you do at the AGO.
A reminder that as part of our DEIA learning program, there will be a special webinar next Thursday, September 8 at 1pm on the topic of Jewish history and culture in Toronto. All are invited to attend. It will be led by Dara Solomon, Executive Director of the Toronto Holocaust Museum. In other words, a museum person talking to museum people about an important topic that is relevant to each of us and the people who live in our city. If you can’t join by Zoom, it will also be live-screened in Seminar Room 1 for those that are working or volunteering on-site.
The webinar will take place over Zoom on Thursday, September 8, 2022 from 1 pm to 1:50 pm
Please click on the following zoom link to join (a reminder: you cannot pre-register for the webinar, simply click on the link below at 1pm on Thursday September 8 to view)
This week started off with a torrential downpour on
Monday evening. It impacted the lower level of the concourse area close to the
Facility Services offices where there was a pretty massive flood. There was A
LOT of water coming into the building, and I’d like to thank Protection
Services, Plant Operations and Facilities staff who stepped in to help clean up
the mess. Their quick action prevented further damage. Thank you for taking on
flood duty!
On Wednesday, I travelled to Newmarket along with
Jessica and Erin for a special announcement with Mayor John Taylor about a
great new partnership. Basically the Town has acquired an incredible property
with the intention to convert it into a massive public park, which also
includes a 10,000 square foot historic house. In 2025, following a major
renovation of the house and green space, the AGO has agreed to loan works from
its Indigenous + Canadian Collection for
display in Mulock House, as it is known. The AGO has a long history of loaning
works from our collection to other galleries and venues throughout Ontario and
this is another opportunity to reach audiences particularly in the 905 area,
which is growing very quickly with further expansion on the horizon. Here is a
link with more information about the property as well as pic of the mayor and I
signing our partnership agreement. Thank you to the Communications Team for
your help with the announcement.
Finally – it’s not very often that we get to take a moment and consider the contributions of an employee who has been a part of the AGO for 37 years! That would be Curtis Strilchuk, who is retiring after an incredible tenure at the museum. Curtis began working here in Extension Services (an earlier version of Touring Exhibitions) and later became the AGO’s Registrar of Exhibitions and Loans. Thank you, Curtis!
Last month, there was an incident of anti-Semitic graffiti outside the AGO building. While the suspect was later identified and arrested and the graffiti removed, such hateful behaviour is not uncommon.
Hate has no place at the AGO. It’s important to continue educating ourselves about the Holocaust and the roots of anti-Semitism.
To support all AGO staff and volunteers in our ongoing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) learning, on Thursday, September 8, 2022, there will be a webinar about Jewish history and culture in Toronto. The webinar will led by Dara Solomon, Executive Director of the Ontario Jewish Archives and the Toronto Holocaust Museum. All are invited to attend!
What are the details?
The webinar will take place over Zoom on Thursday, September 8, 2022 from 1 pm to 1:50 pm
Please click on the following zoom link to join (a reminder: you cannot pre-register for the webinar, simply click on the link below at 1pm on Thursday September 8 to view)
About Dara Solomon, Executive Director of the Ontario Jewish Archives and the Toronto Holocaust Museum:
With a successful history of working in art museums and heritage institutions in Canada and the US, Dara is a storyteller, strategic administrator, fundraiser, and team builder. She is currently leading the team developing the new Toronto Holocaust Museum. She holds a M.A. in Arts Administration from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a B.A. in Religion and Art History from University of Toronto. The Toronto Holocaust Museum is set to open in spring 2023.
Questions?
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact [email protected].
Starting on Monday, August 22, the annual building façade maintenance will begin on the east side of the AGO building.
The work on the east side of the building will take approximately two weeks to finish before moving on to the west side of the building, which should take a similar amount of time to complete.
Fencing will be placed to surround the areas where maintenance workers will need access.
The bike rack near the Jackman Hall/Employee Entrance will be blocked off and out of use during this time.
As well, the sculpture by Brian Jungen, Couch Monster: Sadzěʔ yaaghęhch’ill, at the corner of Dundas and McCaul, may be covered at times to protect it while nearby work is being done.
Today I am travelling to see my family for a vacation
in Switzerland. I know many of you have enjoyed some holiday time during these
summer months and I encourage everyone to plan for days off if you haven’t
already done so.
On Wednesday evening I was at the museum late and
there was a great buzz and energy throughout the galleries, especially in I
am Here. Building on this momentum, many of you are planning for upcoming
programs and activities launching in September. There is a lot going on for our
public and I’m looking forward to a busy fall season.
The Gallery’s getting ready to launch our Fall exhibitions! As such, we’re seeing three popular shows closing soon. Now’s your chance to see them before they are gone –
This week I spent 3 days in New York City visiting
with the AGO Global Contemporary architect team as well as a few museum
directors. It is always energizing to see great art and talk to peers. Things
are proceeding well with the design process for our new expansion.
It was very HOT in NYC and we have been experiencing
hot temperatures here too. Frankly, some of our visitors come into the museum
to escape the heat. I am grateful to the Plant Operations
electricians and engineers who keep our building warm in the winter and cool in
the summer. We have a complex building and it’s a fine balancing act that they
manage. They are magicians, keeping us all comfortable.
It feels good to have the South Entrance, Weston Family Learning Centre and The Annex space activated again. Take a moment to pop down when you have a chance.
This long weekend – including Emancipation Day on Monday – is one of the best weekends of the year. There is a lot going on in our city! At the AGO on Sunday there will be a special program to celebrate Caribana, back in action this year. Check out https://ago.ca/events/caribana-afternoon-juiceman-jonathan-shaw featuring one of Toronto’s best-known DJs, “Juiceman Jonathan Shawn.”
Take care,
Stephan
P.S. The other week, I shared the news about anti-Semitic graffiti outside the AGO. The person who allegedly committed the act was apprehended quickly. This is a good moment to learn more about how to address Anti-Semitism. There will be some upcoming training for all of us, as part of our Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Accessibility learning program.
From 2021 Sobey Art Award-winner ᓛᒃᑯᓗᒃ Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory comes Naak silavit qeqqa?, a multimedia installation exploring the Inuit concept of sila – the life forces of the land (knowledge of the land, water, ice and environment).
Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory, Jamie Griffiths. Silaup Putunga, 2018. Soundscape by Celina Kalluk and Laakkuluk, dual screen projection onto custom translucent screen, four channel sound (video, sound, 35 minutes).
The title of the exhibition, which translated to English from Kalaallisut (Greenlandic Inuktitut) means ‘Where is the middle of your sila?’ comes from an oft-repeated question in Laakkuluk’s family that describes, says Laakkuluk, “our open-ended spiritual understanding of our place in existence.”
At the heart of the exhibition is Silaup Putunga (2018), a double-sided video installation by Laakkuluk and her long-time collaborator, Jamie Griffiths, that takes viewers onto nuna (Inuit land). Commissioned in 2018 by the AGO and Mobilizing Inuit Cultural Heritage, York University, to accompany Tunirrusiangit, a retrospective exhibition for Kenojuak Ashevak and Tim Pitsiulak, the video features Laakkuluk as she performs uaajeerneq, a Greenlandic mask dance. Filmed on location in Tikkuut, about 23 km from Iqaluit, viewers encounter an ever-changing landscape and mask-scape in which Laakkuluk chops ice, drives a Ski-Doo, aims a gun and walks. Using algorithms designed by Griffiths, the artwork’s striking images and sounds are projected in an ever-changing sequence to produce an evolving narrative. The soundscape was performed by Laakkuluk and Celina Kalluk.
Curated by Georgiana Uhlyarik, Fredrik S. Eaton Curator, Canadian Art, the video installation is accompanied by a selection of soapstone carvings from the Williamson Collection at the AGO. Donated by Laakkuluk’s parents, British-born Dr. Robert G. Williamson and Greenland-born Dr. Karla Jessen Williamson, these small hand-carved objects, from the Kivalliq region of what is now Nunavut, reflect a lifetime of engagement with and searching for ‘sila’.
If you are here onsite today, be sure to head to the Signy Eaton Gallery and check out JÓNSI: HRAFNTINNA (OBSIDIAN).
AGO staff and volunteers can enjoy it right now through till 5pm, before it opens to our Members tonight and then to the public this weekend.
Xiaoyu Weng introduced this work to me
while on a trip with AGO supporters in New York. It is a wonderful
experiential installation that will open your senses – and mind – and transport
you into feeling you are inside a volcano.
Thank you to the Logistics and Art
Services team for making sure this extraordinarily complex work was installed
properly.
