“I wanted to create a new world, and if you have a world, it has to have poetry.” – Rita Letendre
Born in Drummondville, Quebec to Abenaki and Québécois parents in 1928, Rita Letendre began painting in 1950s Montreal. Renowned for her bold and visceral style, she pushed the boundaries of colour, light and space to new heights. Letendre used the paintbrush, airbrush, palette knife and her hands to express the spirit of life. Her work embodies her ongoing quest for connection and understanding.
In 2017, the Gallery celebrated Letendre’s vibrant career with a retrospective titled Rita Letendre: Fire & Light.
There’s a beautiful article that commemorates Letendre’s life’s work in her own words in this week’s AGOinsider.
This week, AGO volunteers are invited to take part in shopAGO’s Members’ Shopping Days. Volunteers save 20% on shopAGO’s beautiful selection of prints, cards, ornaments, home decor, and much more! (some exceptions apply) Happy Shopping!
Trans Awareness Week is observed from November 13 to 19 each year, leading up to Trans Day of Remembrance on November 20. This week is an opportunity to increase visibility and awareness of transgender communities and their resilience, further understanding the ongoing discrimination and transphobic violence folks encounter daily, and focus on what can be done to create inclusive spaces for 2 Spirit, trans and non-binary people – staff, artists, volunteers and visitors to the AGO.
What is Transgender Day of Remembrance?
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), which is
observed worldwide, was founded by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as
a vigil to honour Rita Hester, a transgender woman killed in 1998. This vigil
commemorated all transgender people lost to violence that year and began an
important memorial that has since become the annual Transgender Day of
Remembrance.
In remembering lives lost, the ongoing discrimination and transphobic violence experienced, and the continued advocacy work we must do institutionally and in our communities, here is a variety of AGO content and external resources to support your learning:
AGO Content
Workplace Inclusion for Gender and
Sexual Diversity with Michelle Emson, Human Rights Activist, Egale Canada
Learning objective: This session is an introduction
to 2SLGBTQI identities and common workplace inclusion practices that can be
implemented.
Fireside Chat on Michelle’s Journey of
Transition in the Workplace
Learning objective: This learning
session will explore Michelle’s personal experience of transitioning in her
workplace and the practices put in place to support her journey.
AGO Talks: Andy
Warhol: Ladies and Gentlemen with AGO Associate Curator Kenneth
Brummel, art historian Kirstin Ringelberg and artist and activist Ravyn Wngz in
conversation about Warhol’s Ladies and Gentlemen 1975 portrait series of
New York’s Latin and African-American drag queens and trans women, April 2021
(1 hr, 10 mins)
Co-created by Fab Filippo and Bilal Baig, who is Canada’s
first queer, transfeminine, South Asian and Muslim actor in a primetime TV
show, tells an authentic story based on characters navigating transitions in
their lives.
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, Netflix (2017): Watch the trailer
Filmmakers
re-examine the 1992 death of transgender legend Marsha P. Johnson, who was
found floating in the Hudson River. Originally ruled a suicide, many in the
community believe she was murdered.
I
have been in New York City for the past couple of days with the Contemporary
Circle, a group of AGO supporters with a deep interest in global contemporary
art.
Xiaoyu
Weng, our new Carol and Morton Rapp Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art, has
provided a wonderful program of art viewing and experiences. We have
visited numerous museums and artists’ studios. The Development Team has ensured
all of our donors are having a great experience.
I’ll
be back at the AGO tomorrow to celebrate the re-opening of the Murray Frum
Gallery and new visions for African Art, featuring Canadian-Congolese artist
Moridja Kitenge Banza’s exhibition Et la lumière fut: And there was light,
curated by Dr. Julie Crooks.
Hello Volunteers! Thank you to volunteers Mary Rochon and Jennet Sandler, who have arranged this Zoom talk with Author (and Mary’s daughter!), Lisa Rochon. We’re posting here so there is plenty of time to go out and grab the book! See you in November! – Holly
The Tuscan Daughter, is set in early 16th century Florence, and is currently on the Globe and Mail bestseller list:
“… a beautifully written and very engaging book that delves deeply into the life of Florence at the start of the sixteenth century. It follows the life of a young and talented woman from a small village outside of Florence, who meets some of the most important artists of the day as she travels into the city to sell her farm’s olive oil. An artist herself, though not traditionally trained, Beatrice becomes closely involved with both da Vinci and Michelangelo, who spent a few short years working together in Florence and competing for prestigious commissions. She watches as the David is Sculpted in Michelangelo’s workshop and becomes friends with Lisa of the famous painting of da Vinci, as both of them become entwined by this woman’s oft times complicated life. While much has been written about these artists lives individually, seldom if ever, have their stories been told with such a personal touch, with the incredibly well researched details of both them and the City they lived in, allowing us to see them with new eyes. Beatrice is a wonderful character and she fights her own battles that come about because of her poor upbringing and her gender that does not support her own life as a potential artist.” (via Goodreads)
Mary has arranged to have her daughter talk to us about the book, on Wednesday November 17, from 1 – 2:30pm. Note: you cannot sign up in advance for this meeting – simply click on the link the-day-of, to attend.
Hello Volunteers: re-sharing this note from Paola Poletto (and an additional goodbye note from outgoing GG coordinator, Melissa Smith), re: the recent restructuring of staff support for the Gallery Guide program.
Though these communications were shared weeks ago to Gallery Guides directly, we continue to hear from guides who missed the message, so I have been asked to share here, on the blog. I loved working with Melissa and I am very much looking forward to working with Paola on this transition- you are all in very good hands! – Holly)
Hello Gallery Guides,
I am so excited to more directly connect with you! Over my 8 years at the AGO, I have often admired the engagement work you do from afar, and also up close. I feel you are truly invested in the AGO, in art and the philosophical underpinnings of what it means to engage with relevancy. This impacts audiences in the moment and over time! I think there is much to learn from your intimate connections with visitors, and more to learn and transform together as we emerge from a sector and world deeply impacted by the events of the past year. I don’t take our relationship lightly, and I have been gathering Melissa’s insights. I also want to thank her for the ceaseless passion and focused coordination during her tenure in her role with you.
Paola Poletto
Going forward, I look forward to planning how we will return to our beloved galleries in the New Year, or when it is safe to do so. I continue to work from home. My work for the past 18 months has largely focused on the delivery of online public programs and learning opportunities for broad audiences. This has included the creation of the Learn From Home webpage and all its resources (https://ago.ca/learn/learn-and-make); a successful pivot to delivering online studio courses, workshops and tours for families, children, youth, adults and older adults with a fantastic team of artist instructors and art educators; the launch of our first ever online community gallery and call for art entitled, Portraits of Resilience (https://ago.ca/portraits-resilience) and the expansion of the AGO X RBC Emerging Artist Program (https://ago.ca/emerging-artists-program), now in its 10th year (Please join the artists online with me on October 7th when they present their new work). I have been to the gallery 3 times over the past year, as a visitor.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or updates in the meanwhile, or to just say hello and welcome me into the fold!
Paola
Paola Poletto, Director, Engagement & Learning
One of my faves! Me and Melissa – Holly, Volunteer Resources
Hello Everyone,
Many
of you might have noticed that my role changed significantly since the start of
the pandemic, focusing much more on accessibility and community
programming.
This
is exciting, as my work in accessibility becomes more visible at the AGO.
You can explore some of the programming on the Access to Art website here:
The Gallery Guides will now report directly to Paola Poletto, Director of Engagement and Learning. Paola is excited to become your main contact person, working together with you, Audrey Hudson, Richard and Elizabeth Currie Chief of Education and Programming, and the People team once we can all be back in the building.
Many
of you know Paola already. She and I have worked together over the past 8 years
on access programs including Seniors Social, as well as the Gallery Guide
Program. I will continue to report to Paola in my new role, as well. We are in
great hands!
I
can’t begin to thank you all for the incredible experiences we’ve shared
together over the past eight years!
We
started working together in September of 2013, so it seems fitting that I am
saying farewell in the fall 8 years later.
There
are so many great memories and accomplishments that we share and I thought I
would name some of the things I’m most proud of in our work together:
Special Projects like the Brian Jungen Multisensory Dots, Anthropocene Ipad Floating, and the Stereoscopic Viewer Engagement
Experiencing wonderful training sessions with Stephen Andrews, the Ontario Science Centre, Edward Burtynsky, and Museum Hack
Digitizing content information on our Learning Page and Content Emails to make it more accessible
The introduction of the Pop Up Art Chats aka the Dot Program. In the past eight years, we managed to engage over 67,000 visitors through this program!
I
feel I’ve really grown as a person and in my career, while working and learning
with you all.
I
will be around, so it’s not goodbye, and I look forward to seeing all the
amazing work you will do in the future.
Volunteers – thank you for your patience as we slowly got our systems back online (and caught up with orders!) after the recent cyberattack. We are so happy we are now able to process your bookings – enjoy the show!
Please remember: proof of vaccination and ID required for all visitors 12 and up to enter the Gallery. Please bring both:
The receipt of full COVID-19 vaccination issued by the public health authority, and
A government-issued ID that matches the proof of full vaccination documentation with your date of birth.
Starting today, volunteers are invited to book any of the following:
2 Special exhibition tickets for Picasso: Painting the Blue Period
(There is a maximum of 2 exhibition tickets per volunteer) – one of these
tickets will be for you, another for
your guest. Picasso tickets include general gallery admission, which includes
access to Matthew Wong, and Fragments of Epic Memory.
Not planning to see Picasso? A
friendly reminder, you can also book up to 4 General Admission tickets in
one visit. One of these tickets will be for you; and 3 for your guests.
For either option – you do not need
to provide the name or contact details of your guests. The booking will be made
under your name.
For both options, please:
Call the Contact Centre on 416-979-6608 or
email [email protected] and make sure to:
Specify if you are booking ticket(s) for Picasso (which includes General
Gallery Admission), or General Admission only
Please include the Date and time you would like to attend
Provide the name and email address for where to email the tickets. (This
can be a name other than yours). The tickets will be sent out as PDFs that can
be shown on a smartphone or printed in advance of your visit.
Please provide 5 business days’ notice in advance of your visit so we can email you your tickets.
Some to things keep in mind:
You can bring your volunteer badge for discounts in shopAGO or AGO Bistro, but it is not needed for entry into the Gallery. You will not be asked to show your badge along with your ticket, and badges can’t be used to gain entry into the building.You will need to use the main entrance to visit, not Jackman Hall, which is closed. The volunteer lounge also remains closed.
When visiting, please remain in the public areas of the Gallery. The Volunteer Lounge and other back of house areas are restricted at this time for the safety of those who are required to work on-site.
For any Volunteers who have a membership or Annual Pass, we encourage you to continue to use your membership to book your tickets, online, in advance of visiting.
The Contact Centre is busy! We are grateful for your assistance in booking in advance.
I would like to begin my message this week by thanking those who participated on – or contributed to – the COVID 19 Task Force. I truly believe the efforts undertaken by this team saved lives. All of the health and safety protocols that have been in place since the beginning of COVID have kept each of us and members of our public safe and well. Upon last month’s provincial announcement that many capacity restrictions have been lifted, the work of the COVID 19 Task Force is complete and the team has disbanded. Continuing forward, it is every person’s responsibility to adhere to the remaining protocols such as wearing masks, distancing, and washing and sanitizing hands. Any further decisions relating to COVID protocols will be made by the Leadership Team. If you have questions, please talk to your Manager or LT member.
Last week I spent four days in Dresden, Germany,
attending the annual Bizot gathering, a group of museum directors from the top
50 museums in the world. We discussed topics such as exhibitions, loans and
audiences. Many museums are taking steps to engage younger and more diverse
audiences and are looking towards Toronto and the AGO to understand what we are
doing here. Dresden is a beautiful city that was bombed completely flat during
World War II. Its rebuilding and recovery has largely been driven by the arts
and culture sector. Today, central Dresden boasts more than 15 museums with
astounding collections.
This week marks Treaties Recognition Week in Ontario, which aims to deepen our understanding of treaty rights and treaty relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in our province. Each of us has a responsibility to increase our knowledge of treaties. Cian Knights sent a helpful message earlier this week with several good resources, including a film. Please take some time to learn more about treaties.
Take care and happy Diwali to those who are
celebrating the Festival of Lights,
The first week
of November marks Treaties Recognition Week in Ontario. This week aims to
increase understanding of the history of treaties, and awareness about treaty
rights and treaty relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous
communities in Ontario.
The Art Gallery
of Ontario operates on land that is Michi Saagig Nishnawbe territory. Toronto
is governed by treaty 13 between the Mississauga of the Credit and the Canadian
government. It has also been occupied by other Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and
Wendat confederacies. Since 1701, Toronto is governed by the Dish with One
Spoon treaty between the Anishinabeg, the Haudenausonee and allied nations to
peaceably share and care for resources around the Great Lakes.
As treaty people living in Canada, we have an
important responsibility to learn about treaties and Nations and to understand
the conditions upon which we are to share resources and land with the many
Nations who are the original stewards of this land for over 10,000 years.
In recognition of Treaties Recognition Week, here are some resources to support your learning:
Please take time to watch a virtual documentary viewing of Trick or Treaty by Alanis Obomsawin.
Pictured: Director Alanis Obomsawin
SYNOPSIS: Directed by Alanis Obomsawin,Trick of Treaty?examines the effects and legacy of Treaty No. 9 (1905), signed by the Government of Canada and Indigenous peoples in the James Bay area. The treaty had a significant impact on Indigenous peoples, who were relocated to reserves as a result, allowing the natural resources both below and above ground to become the property of the Government of Canada. Trick or Treaty? chronicles the struggles of Indigenous peoples since the inception of the Treaty process in Canada, exploring the varying opinions on the stipulations of Treaty No. 9 and discrepancies between oral and written history. The film traces the oral history of a family whose grandfather was an original signatory of Treaty No. 9; he explains the interpretation of the treaty that has been passed down through generations. Evidence is provided that Treaty No. 9 has not fulfilled the intentions that were outlined in 1905 and 1906. The film then moves on to cover recent events, where Indigenous peoples are challenging the status quo that has resulted from the Treaty process. Trick or Treaty? succinctly and powerfully portrays one community’s attempts to enforce their treaty rights and protect their lands, while also revealing the complexities of contemporary treaty agreements.
Trick or Treaty? made history as the first film by an Indigenous filmmaker to be part of the Masters section at TIFF when it screened there in 2014. 84 minutes.
WATCH HERE: This film has been made available as an educational resource to watch on your own time, via the National Film Board of Canada:
