Join our AGO Volunteers Connector Call:  Wednesday May 26, 5-6:30pm. This call is taking the form of a discussion group around our latest Diversity & Inclusion Learning session: Anishinaabe Philosophy and Land, linked on the blog (see previous post)

A quick reminder: you can’t pre-register for this discussion. Simply log on at 5:00pm on Wednesday May 26 to join! –

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81022230432?pwd=bmQwM1NKWGRlN2lZQlV3akgrNVJJQT09

Meeting ID: 810 2223 0432
Passcode: 218472

This call is an opportunity for you to discuss and share what you’ve learned with other volunteers. Our focus is to create a positive space, to encourage bold and brave conversation, and to talk and grow together.

In this session, we’ll be incorporating break out rooms into our discussion, so folks have the opportunity to delve into deeper conversations with one another, in smaller groups.

To prepare for this call, we encourage you to consider the following questions:

• What stood out to you about this session?
• What is something that you learned that you didn’t know before?
• Last year, the Curatorial team renamed works from the AGO’s Collection (with First Nations subject matter) as part of a broader effort to eliminate culturally insensitive language from titles in our collection. Has Wanda and Duke’s conversation given you more to think about in this regard?

Thank you for joining the discussion!

We look forward to seeing you there!

June is Pride Month, and in the latest AGO Hot Takes, trans representation takes centre stage via the insights of drag performer Pearl Teese and comedian Dylan McKeever.

Hot Takes is an AGO series that invites various creatives, artists and thinkers to meet via Zoom and collectively analyze contemporary images in the media, as a means of better understanding current cultural and social moments. Last week, Hot Takes welcomed drag performer Pearl Teese and comedian Dylan McKeever to discuss the complexities of trans representation, using two groundbreaking Time magazine covers as conversation starters. 

In 2014, iconic American actress and LGBTQ advocate Laverne Cox became the first trans woman in history to grace the cover of Time. Both Villajin and McKeever remember this as being an inaugural moment in mainstream trans representation. Each reflected on the cover story’s profound personal impact on their lives, while also noting a significant ongoing need for more diversity and complexity with regards to trans representation in media.   

Back in March of this year, Canadian actor and producer Elliot Page was also featured on the cover of Time magazine. In a recent interview with Oprah, Page publicly revealed his trans identity, boldly advancing trans visibility through his global platform. For McKeever, Cox represents more of an aspirational figure, whereas Page inspired in her a sense of responsibility to support and protect those who have recently transitioned. In reflection of both cover stories, Villajin expressed her hope that in the future trans representation in mainstream media will include more people who don’t visually fit into clear gender binaries, providing a broader and more realistic picture of the trans community. 

Watch the full “hot take” discussion, moderated by AGO’s Annie Roper, here, via AGOinsider

Hello Everyone,

Dr. Julie Crooks is looking forward to presenting the upcoming exhibition Fragments of Epic Memory. It is a bold exhibition that draws on the AGO’s Montgomery Collection of Caribbean photography as well as contemporary art from the Caribbean Diaspora. It will be a beautiful and groundbreaking exhibition, opening in September. I know an entire team of staff from various departments are working hard on the exhibition and I just want to say Thank You. 

Did you know the AGO is partnering with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Ballet of Canada for our Virtual School Programs? Or that the AGO has partnered with the Tate Modern, London, and the Museum Ludwig, Cologne to collaborate on the upcoming Andy Warhol exhibition? Or that as part of the 25^thanniversary of the CONTACT Photography Festival, there is a Zoom talk this month on the topic of queer photography? The AGO is working in innovative ways to share the power of art through cultural partnerships and our online platforms. If you haven’t visited www.ago.ca lately, take a moment to check out what is happening now and upcoming in the weeks ahead.

Finally, the beautiful spring weather is here. I will be taking as many long walks as I can this weekend. I know we’ve all been doing a lot of walking lately – there’s not much else to do! – but now we get to bask in the sunshine. Let’s all make the most of it!

Take care and stay safe,

Stephan  

Shifting Time and Place: Luke Parnell examines transformative narratives within Northwest Coast Indigenous art. Learn about his series of thought-provoking paintings, recently acquired.

Luke Parnell’s artistic practice plays amidst notions of past, present and future. He’s primarily concerned with investigating oral histories and contemporary iterations within Northwest Coast Indigenous art. Raised on the western coast of Canada in a community where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people live together, Parnell is Wilp Laxgiik Nisga’a from Gingolx on his mother’s side and Haida from Massett on his father’s side. He’s informed both by tradition—he completed an apprenticeship with a Master Northwest Coast Indigenous carver—and by academia: he holds both a BFA and an MAA from OCADU and ECUAD, respectively. A multidisciplinary artist and assistant professor at OCADU, his work has been shown in a range of exhibitions at the National Gallery of Canada, the MacLaren Art Centre and more.

For a deeper look into Parnell’s work, watch his conversation with Curator Wanda Nanibush, from September 2020. This Art in the Spotlight talk was generously supported by TD Ready Commitment. 

Watch, here.

We are excited to continue with the next lesson in our series of Diversity & Inclusion recordings, part of the Gallery’s commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive staff and volunteer community. This informal session takes the format of a discussion between Wanda Nanibush, and Dr. Duke Redbird.

Session #3:  Anishinaabe Philosophy and Land

• 

• 

This learning session features Wanda Nanibush, Curator, Indigenous Art, in conversation with Dr. Duke Redbird, Ojibway Shaman/Elder and Wisdom Keeper, Indigenous intellectual, poet, painter, broadcaster, film maker and keynote speaker

AGENDA/ what to expect:

• Land Acknowledgement by Julian Cox, Deputy Director & Chief Curator
• Introduction by Stephan Jost, Director & CEO
• Facilitator Introductions and Opening Ceremony by Jessica Bright, AGO IDEA Group (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access), and Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives
• Presentation by Wanda Nanibush, Curator, Indigenous Art & Dr. Duke Redbird, Ojibway Shaman/Elder and Wisdom Keeper, Indigenous intellectual, poet, painter, broadcaster, filmmaker and keynote speaker
• Wrap-up by Jessica Bright

How to Access this Recording:

• Please click on this link:
• https://zoom.us/rec/share/BC72CFk79aWNo8i2lk-ggfkgsfKytRYoe38Ma3hDm0KUSKn_9A9facwqBoLejcQE.8Zt4t3CTmJJWp_0v

• You will be asked to enter your name and email to gain access to the recording (you will not be asked to enter a password this time)  
• The recording will begin (there is a slight delay at the start of this recording – the video actually begins about 1 minute in)

Things to Keep in Mind:

• These videos are pre-recorded webinars, not live.
• You may experience disruptions in the videos. Please be patient – you may be asked to log in again if your viewing is disrupted
• If you need more support, please reach out to [email protected]
• Keep a list of questions/reflections you’d like to share in one of our Volunteer Connector calls – these sessions are your opportunity to discuss and share what you’ve learned.

Related Readings – Here’s a Resource List to Learn More About the Ideas and Issues introduced in this recording:

AGO Video: Picturing the Americas with artist, writer, and curator Rick Hill Artist, writer and curator, Rick Hill, discusses the intersection of Indigenous and Western knowledge and how treaties were developed based on an Indigenous philosophy of conservation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sp0aR7UHdI

On Being Included: Unintentional Inclusion and Indigenous Art https://www.artpractical.com/feature/unintentional-inclusion-and-indigenous-art/

AGO interview and video:  Anishinaabe artist Michael Belmore speaks about two new works in his self-titled exhibition, recently on view at the Gallery https://ago.ca/agoinsider/belmore-ago

Questions/ Ideas? Would You Like to Talk More About What You’ve Learned?   Join our AGO Volunteers Connector Call:  Wednesday May 26, 5-6:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81022230432?pwd=bmQwM1NKWGRlN2lZQlV3akgrNVJJQT09

Meeting ID: 810 2223 0432
Passcode: 218472

(a reminder: you can’t pre-register for this discussion. Simply log on at 5:00pm on Wednesday May 26 to join!)

This call is an opportunity for you to discuss and share what you’ve learned with other volunteers. Our focus is to create a positive space, to encourage bold and brave conversation, and to talk and grow together. We’ll be incorporating break out rooms into our discussion, so folks have the opportunity to delve into deeper conversations with one another, in smaller groups.

To prepare for this call, we encourage you to consider the following questions:

• What stood out to you about this session?
• What is something that you learned that you didn’t know before?
• Last year, the Curatorial team renamed works from the AGO’s Collection (with First Nations subject matter) as part of a broader effort to eliminate culturally insensitive language from titles in our collection. Has Wanda and Duke’s conversation given you more to think about in this regard?

Thank you for joining the discussion! We look forward to seeing you there!

For a second year in a row, the Volunteer Council (VC) and the AGO Development team are excited to present the Volunteers of the AGO with the opportunity to select a gallery project to financially support using funds from the Volunteer Endowment Trust (VET).

The Volunteer Endowment Trust (VET) was established in 2001 with a Letter of Agreement between the AGO, The AGO Foundation and the Volunteers of the AGO. The original capital that created the fund continues to remain invested and, each year, an annual distribution of 4% of the fund (approx. $50,000) is made available in order to fund a project. The AGO Development team has identified 4 projects for consideration that reflect the Gallery’s strategic priorities of Art, Access and Learning:

• Exhibition Support: Robert Houle: Red is Beautiful (December 3, 2021- April 3, 2022) Dates subject to change
• Program Support: Access Initiative
• Program Support: Virtual School Programs
• Exhibition Support: Matthew Wong: Blue View (August 14, 2021 – April 18, 2022) Dates subject to change

The 4 options are outlined in the link below, and you can ONLY CHOOSE ONE PROJECT to support. For more details on each project including exhibition images and donor recognition details, please see the PDF attachment, sent via Holly’s email. (If you missed this, feel free to email Holly for an additional copy of the PDF).

LEARN MORE AND CAST YOUR VOTE HERE: https://forms.gle/gpAKesmUAYmVVSNX8

Voting is open to volunteers from May 11-28, 2021. To ensure only one vote per volunteer, we are asking you to include your name, email and placement type at the end of the survey. This will also help us to identify trends in volunteer priorities! Please be assured that your individual responses will be kept confidential and only viewable to Maya and Holly.

If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to Holly Procktor ([email protected]) or your Volunteer President, Maya Kotlarenko ([email protected])

Thank you for having your say!

Mark your calendars! The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art invites docents from across the US and Canada to Kansas City, September 16-19, 2022, to connect with other docents, guides, and museum educators and to be inspired by best practices and new learning.

Rescheduled from 2021, the symposium will feature visits to other institutions, a welcome dinner at the beautiful Nelson-Atkins museum, breakout sessions with the most relevant topics, and noteworthy speakers. Evenings will include dinners at different locations throughout the city. Leave with new friends, fresh ideas, and renewed enthusiasm for everything you do for your museum! More info here nationaldocents.org/

Call for Breakout Sessions

Breakout sessions are an essential and inspiring part of the symposium. Well-designed breakout sessions connect participants through modelling, involving, and generating enthusiasm. They inspire us to build programs that tell all our stories, speak to social justice, address inclusion, and open our minds to new innovations. 

Bringing audiences to the museum virtually has become very important in the past year. Share your successes and new ideas! And as our museums prepare to resume onsite programming, breakout sessions showing creative ways to return to in-person touring through reviewing, practicing, and updating our skills are also welcome. 

Guidelines and applications for submission of proposals for breakout sessions are listed under Breakout Session Application on the NDS website. 

Hello Everyone,

While we are hearing of increasing vaccinations in Canada – which is wonderful – I am also mindful that many countries are in real crisis including India, Brazil, Colombia, St. Vincent and others. Such situations impact many of you who have relatives, friends or loved ones residing abroad. Worrying about their health and safety is stressful, I am sure.

There is a lot to cope with right now. I am including a list of resources below for support. I encourage everyone to take some time for personal wellness. I will be spending as much time outdoors as possible this weekend. For those who enjoy walking, check out Jane’s Walk Festival.

Take care and stay safe,

Stephan

Resources:

Tip Sheet: “What Language Do I Use?”: Holding Inclusive Mental Health Conversations

Healthy Nutrition: including tips for grocery shopping and food safety & storage at home. 

Physical Activity: including tips on how to get more active for each age group. 

Resources for Families: including practical tips on how to help children deal with stress. 

Well Being Collective @ Hart House a collaborative wellness initiative to support community wellbeing Podcasts and Move and Meditate With Us

Quick tips to support yourself during the COVID-19 pandemic

Free Smart Phone Apps

Insight Timer – for sleep, anxiety and stress.

Mind Shift – provides anxiety relief using strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Happify – provides exercises, daily articles and fun games.

Calm – for sleep, anxiety and stress.

Shine – an inclusive self-care app for a daily mental health check-in.

Mental Health Supports for Adults

Warm Line is a confidential and anonymous service for adults (18+) who are feeling lonely, isolated, anxious, depressed or in need of a friendly ear. This is not a crisis service. Call: 416-323-3721 (noon to 8 pm) or 416-960-9276 (8 pm to midnight) or Text: 647-557-5882

Toronto Seniors Helpline is a single point of access for seniors and caregivers to receive information, supportive phone counseling, crisis assessment and system navigation by registered professionals. Call: 416-217-2077 (language interpretation available), long distance: 1-877-621-2077. Monday to Friday: 9 am to 8 pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 9 am to 6 pm.

Talk4Healing (24/7) is a culturally grounded, fully confidential helpline for Indigenous women available in 14 languages all across Ontario. Call 1-855-554-HEAL

Hong Fook is a culturally competent team in Ontario serving Asian community members who are 16 years and older. Services include case management, psychotherapy, psychiatry, peer support, virtual group activities and virtual mental health workshops. Call: 416-493-4242 (ext 0), Monday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm

Caribbean African Canadian Social Services is a culturally safe mental health services for Black children, youth, adults and families. Call: 416-740-1056, Monday to Friday: 9 am to 4:30 pm.

The Assaulted Women’s Helpline is a 24-hour telephone crisis line to all woman who have experienced abuse. They provide counselling, emotional support, information and referrals.

Take a trip to Reykjavikík, Iceland to learn about more about Ragnar Kjartansson as he is in conversation with Curator Adelina Vlas. Explore his work Death is Elsewhere, which is a recent acquisition to the gallery and was installed in the Signy Eaton on the second floor a few weeks before the gallery closed. There is a lot to learn about the artist and his other works (including his time as an Icelandic Pop musician in the band Trabant – which I have linked to a super fun music video). Here are a few interesting insights into the creation of Death is Elsewhere including: 

• It’s a kinetic musical sculpture – circular video presentation with 2 identical couples walking in a circle singing about love and death
• Shot during the midnight sun in Iceland on a lava field
• Lava field is the result of an eruption back in 1783 that totally changed the world! It is the world’s largest lava field since humans have existed
• The volcanic eruption that formed this lava field caused the death of 1/3rd of Icelanders and millions deaths around the world which resulted from the atmospheric changes and caused famine
• The  film was incredibly technical to make but looks very simple
• They started filming when birds fell asleep and ended when the birds started to awake again

Learn more about this work and his artistic process by clicking on the linked video – Artist Ragnar Kjartansson in discussion with Curator Adelina Vlas, here.

Hello Everyone,

It excites me to hear that more and more of you are getting vaccinated. I am getting my COVID-19 vaccination this afternoon! I am astounded and grateful for the speed at which science has enabled these vaccines. With the rollout, we are getting closer to putting COVID behind us.

Things are looking much brighter but we all need to continue to be vigilant. Since the beginning of the pandemic, my main priority has been the health of safety of all of you and our public. Thanks to the efforts of many, the AGO is a very safe environment. Again, this is in large part due to vigilant, regular cleaning and I’m deeply grateful to Facilities staff who have maintained a rigorous schedule over the past year.

We’ll have to live with COVID for a little bit longer and I want us all to come out of this healthy. So far, we are doing very well.

Take care, and stay safe,

Stephan