Dear Colleagues,

Monday, September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s a day of remembrance, reflection, and learning truths to enact reconciliation, and a day to recognize First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures, identities, and historical and contemporary realities. We are all treaty peoples, and reconciliation is the responsibility of all of us.

Monday is an intentional moment for all of us to reflect, learn, and take action. There is no one way to approach this. These discussions are not easy, and the topics involved may be triggering for some staff. It is important for us to recognize that there are different facets each of us use to move towards learning truths as we move towards reconciliation – on September 30, and beyond. 

The library section of Jostle has learning resources on offer. I encourage each of you, if you haven’t yet, to read or revisit the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Also in the Jostle library is a paper from the Museums Association of Saskatchewan on the importance of UNDRIP and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to Museums. Within these documents are many highlighted calls to action that we can incorporate into our work as further steps towards reconciliation. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is another learning resource.

At the most basic level, take a moment to walk and to reflect. Personally, I love to take walking meetings across the museum galleries and outside Grange Park. One of my favorite pastimes is to view Robert Houle’s Seven Grandfathers in our Walker Court space and reflect on Elder Duke Redbird’s teachings of the Seven Ancestors and the Food Forest. A snippet can be found here: The Seven Ancestor Teachings, from Elder Duke Redbird youtube.com.  

A short walk from the AGO is a new Spirit Garden at Nathan Phillips Square that will be open to the public on Monday, September 30. The space is a partnership between the City of Toronto and Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre. Our colleagues at Two Row Architect, who are part of the DRMCG design team, worked on the Spirit Garden’s design. There are many events celebrating the Garden’s opening this weekend – including remarks from Two Row Architect Brian Porter — and you can learn more here.

Something to remember is that part of the Truth is that First Nations, Métis and Inuit people are joyful, brilliant, creative, and thriving.

Thank you,

Alain

—

Alain Graham (he/him)

Chief, People Division (Human Resources)

Hello Everyone,

I am happy to share news about our new Richard & Elizabeth Currie Chief, Education & Programming with you.

Robert Durocher will be joining the AGO starting Monday, September 23.

Robert has deep experience in education. He joins us from the Urban Indigenous Education Centre (Toronto District School Board (TDSB)) where he was the Centrally Assigned Vice-Principal, Indigenous Education, and Instructional Leader supporting teacher learning for the Expressions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Cultures Grade 9 art course.

Many of you may know Robert – he has worked closely with Elder Duke Redbird and the AGO on aligning our programming with the TDSB curriculum, and co-hosted the March 2023 Indigenous Hip Hop Symposium.

Robert is an artist, with a focus on drawing and photography, and encourages engaging students in learning through the arts for well-being and engagement. He is Education Associate of the Ontario College of Art (Printmaking), BFA York University, BEd and MA from OISE/UT.

Robert is a talented educator and will be an important voice on the AGO’s Leadership Team. I’m so looking forward to having Robert join our team at the AGO.

Thank you for the work you do for the AGO. I know that you will make Robert feel at home here.

Take care,

Stephan

Hello Volunteers,

Earlier today, Friday September 13, the AGO experienced a cyberattack which targeted a number of our core services and resources. To ensure the integrity and security of the AGO Network all core services and remote access will be offline to perform an audit and determine root cause. 

The AGO is open for business as per scheduled hours of operation, though there is currently no access to phone service, VPN, printers, or network drives.

The I.T Team is working diligently on the restoration of these services and will be using a phased approach for bringing resources back online.

If you a volunteer trying to call the AGO by phone, you may not be able to reach anyone at the Gallery. Many staff will not be able to access information they need from home. So please be patient if you are trying to reach someone – with thanks, Volunteer Resources

Hello Volunteers! – sharing such exciting news for Melissa Smith! But she’s not going far … please see this announcement from her Manager, Paola Poletto, below – Holly

It is with joy I share that Melissa Smith has accepted the position of Assistant Vice President of In-Gallery Engagement at the ROM. Over her twelve years at the AGO, Melissa has created a more inclusive and accessible cultural environment, forging new ground in the museums education and public programs field. Melissa is critically renowned for her work at the AGO, and has shared her expert knowledge across the globe, Canada and locally: The Louvre, M+, the National Docent Symposium, Museums and the Web, The Winnipeg Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery, Nova Scotia Art Gallery, OCAD, University of Toronto, to name a few. She counts the following as programs she is most proud of:

• Access and Inclusion Programming: Melissa successfully collaborated with community partners like Dancing with Parkinson’s, Workman Arts, Tangled Arts + Disability, and Xenia Concerts to create inclusive art experiences for diverse audiences.
• Multisensory Engagement: Melissa led the launch of the Multisensory Art Cart and Relaxed Visits, which introduced sensory kits, maps, and sense-based activities, enhancing the accessibility of art for visitors with sensory sensitivities.
• Blindsquare Initiative: Melissa worked with colleagues across the AGO to introduce and pilot Blindsquare, an innovative app providing wayfinding and descriptive support for people who are Blind or Partially Blind, making the gallery more navigable and inclusive.

There are several programs Melissa and I had the pleasure to co-develop, including Seniors Social, Portraits of Resilience, the launch of our annual AGO PLAY book, the Gallery Guide Program, and most recently, the Gallery School’s Adult Courses Programs.  I am thankful to Melissa for sharing her passion for making art and people dance both figuratively and literally.

Paola Poletto

Director, Engagement and Learning

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to share the exciting news that after an extensive international search, we have appointed John Zeppetelli as the new Carol and Morton Rapp Curator, Modern & Contemporary Art. The AGO will officially announce John’s appointment with a news release tomorrow.

John is a Canadian and joins us from the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC), where he was Director and Chief Curator for more than ten years. At the MAC, John led a large team and simultaneously curated many exhibitions. He also oversaw the capital campaign for the expansive renovation that is currently underway. His recent curatorial projects include Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot’s Russia (2023-24), Jeremy Shaw’s Phase Shifting Index (2023-24), Mundos (2017) by Mexican artist, Teresa Margolles and Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything (2017). John has previously held curatorial roles with the Phi Foundation for Contemporary Art, Montreal, and the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, UK, as well as teaching positions in Quebec and Nova Scotia. He has worked with a wide array of international artists and has particular expertise in time based media.

John’s arrival promises to position the AGO and its contemporary program as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage. He will play a lead role in our planning for the opening in 2027 of the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery, which is designed to accommodate our growing collection in this area. When complete, the expansion will add more than 40,000 square feet of flexible gallery space, over five floors.

Please join me in welcoming John when he starts his new role at the AGO next Monday, September 16.

Julian Cox (pronouns: he/him/his)

Deputy Director & Chief Curator

Volunteers, we’ve had questions wondering if John is replacing Debbie Johnsen, who spoke with us earlier this month on Moments in Modernism. Debbie is not going anywhere! Debbie a Manager in this area, not a Curator. Their roles are interrelated. John and Debbie will work together! Cheers – Holly

Hello everyone,

Over the last several weeks, I have been taking guests through Moments in Modernism and Bright Signs. Usually, I wait until the end of the tour to tell them that the works on view are from the AGO’s collection. They are always floored to hear it. The quality of our collection is pretty amazing and now will be further enriched by the gift from the Estate of Philip B. Lind. Phil, a long-time trustee and AGO supporter, was passionate about art. He loved art, and he loved engaging with artists and new ideas. Light Years: The Phil Lind Gift, curated by Adam Welch, opens later this fall and will be a special moment for the AGO.

Another person who loved contemporary art and the “now” is Mort Rapp. Sadly, Mort passed away at 97 and-a-half earlier this week, roughly a year after losing his wife, Carol. Carol and Mort were also major donors to the AGO, having supported contemporary exhibitions, acquisitions, and endowments. Looking ahead to the AGO’s 125^th anniversary next year, it is important to acknowledge the generosity of our donor and collecting community, those who have helped build the AGO’s outstanding collection over generations for the enjoyment of future generations.

Take care,

Stephan

Hello Volunteers , a reminder that your Volunteer President, Barbara Glaser has organized a tour of Charles Pachter’s studio for AGO volunteers. This is a popular outing, but there are still spaces to join, see below: – Holly

A Message from the Volunteer President, Barbara Glaser: Next Group Volunteer Excursion: Charles Pachter Studio. Registration required.

Please mark your calendars for the launch of our first fall excursions. Pleased to relay that the next group outing since the summer will be on:

• Wednesday September 18, 10:30am
• to Charles Pachter Studio (near the Gallery)

This is an opportunity to personally meet one of Canada’s leading artists and see his studio, artwork and where he creates these glorious works of art! There will also be socializing time with Charles and fellow volunteers from different departments and shifts.

Meeting details to follow closer to the date, this excursion is open to 50 volunteers for space requirements in Charles’ studio.

Afterwards we will get together for an optional lunch (at volunteers’ own expense) and an opportunity to meet fellow volunteers from various shifts and days. Registration is required, please sign up and confirm your attendance (and also please note if you are interested to join for lunch) at my email address: [email protected]

Tucked away in nooks and crannies, this week’s article highlights out-of-the-way /hidden and lesser known works, including:

• Evan Penny, 17 of the Artists Production Plasters, 2001-2006 – Weston Family Learning Centre (Concourse)
• Fisher-boy Dancing the Tarantella (1883) by Francisque Joseph Duret – Concourse Level
• Portrait of Henry VII (1537) by Circle of Hans Holbein  – Level 1 
• The David Milne Centre – Levels 1 and 2 
•  A work of art in the form of a quantity of coins equal to the number of months of the statistical life expectancy of a child born January 6, 1995 (1995) by Micah Lexier – Level 2  (note: the unique opportunity to move a coin and become part of the art’s history!)

Read all about them, HERE.

Hello everyone,

Today is the last day of AGO Camps. To say the summer sessions have been successful is an understatement. The team beat their enrolment goals and received amazing feedback from campers and parents – I’ve included a few quotes from a survey below. THANK YOU to everyone involved, especially E&P staff, along with all of the camp counsellors and volunteers.

The Foyer team wrote about the next generation of camp leaders and you can read about it here: The next generation of leaders in the arts

Quotes from the question “Tell us something that your camper loved about participating in AGO Art Camp”:

Making art and sculpture with different materials. Learning about colours. Visiting the gallery and learning about different artists and their art work In the words of my 6 year old camper “I loved EVERYTHING about AGO!”

Fun projects, supportive counsellors, safe space to be themselves!

Counselors were incredible – fun and kind and inclusive. My kids loved learning new animation techniques.

The kindness of the counsellors made a significant impact on my son. Thank you for selecting your staff so well!

This is not art-related but as a Filipino-Chinese child, my daughter rarely sees volunteers/ counsellors who look like her. She was extremely excited to have met two Filipino volunteers who spent some time with her and told her that they know her lunch! She was extremely happy about it and it is a moment she will never forget. Please continue hiring volunteers/ counsellors from diverse backgrounds. It means a lot to the next generation.

This wonderful feedback makes me so proud of the AGO.

Take care and enjoy Labour Day weekend,

Stephan  

Eagle eyes will notice the AGO rebrand (which started with our new lanyards and signage) continues to be unveiled. Our website looks different! Check out the art and artists page, HERE, for a detailed listing of exhibitions opening this Fall and Winter season, including:

• Sonia Boyce: Feeling Her Way (opens September 19)
• Pacita Abad: October 9 – January 17, 2025
• Lucy Qinnuayuak (opens October 9)
• Light Years (opens November 2024)
• The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary art in the 21st Century (December 2024)
• Tissot, Women and Time (opening December 21, 2024)