I believe in Volunteering. In 1978 I immigrated to Calgary from
Tanzania, East Africa and gained employment in hospitality administration. In
my spare time I enjoyed volunteering. I was officially recognized by the City
of Calgary for my years of dedicated volunteering in several different areas
including the annual Calgary Stampede and the 1988 winter Olympics. A few years
after I moved to Toronto, while volunteering at Meals on Wheels, a friend
noticed my interest in art and suggested I might enjoy volunteering at the AGO.
I applied and joined the Information Guide team.
What was your most memorable experience?
What has meant the most to me is assisting visitors through my knowledge
of several languages: Swahili, Gujarati and Kutchi. I feel I have been able to
make many of our visitors’ experience more comfortable and enjoyable by being
able to talk to them in their own language.
What do you do with your time when you are not at the AGO?
When I moved to Toronto in 1996,I chose retirement from a large established
hotel chain but decided to keep my hand in the workforce by occasionally assisting
a legal firm with administration data. I also
enjoy an extensive family life here in Toronto.
Is there someone who mentored your path?
When I joined the AGO as a Information Guide in 2000 we worked in small teams with a captain. We all worked together, and my fellow volunteers were there to help me find my way around and ensure I received the information I needed to assist our visitors.
Thank you Akber for your continued dedication to the AGO and our visitors
How did
you come to volunteer at the AGO?
The AGO Youth
Council was throwing an awesome party in Walker Court. At the time, I was
feeling creatively stunted but at that party there was so much positivity and
genuine excitement around creating fun art. It was exactly the energy I needed.
And so, on the very next day (well, months later, but the story works better like
this) I applied for the Youth Council and started to love art again!
What was your most memorable
experience?
Ah jeez – we’ve
done so many amazing projects with so many inspiring artists. My absolutely
most memorable experience, I… would… say… was working on the project, This
Mountain Loves Youwith artist Ani Castillo. We all wrote
messages of self-love onto these large fabric panels, and then stitched them
together to form a GIANT quilt that became the MOUNTAIN OF SELF-LOVE AND
EMPOWERMENT! It can feel extremely vulnerable to communicate love for ourselves
out loud, or even in our own heads. It feels especially vulnerable to do it in
such a public way. But getting the chance to work on this project, every week
felt therapeutic and affirming, and I’m glad that I got the opportunity to do
it with my friends!
What do you do with your time
when you are not at the AGO?
I love art again, so I organize a film festival with my friends called Insomniac Film Festival. It’s a space for young Toronto filmmakers to celebrate intelligent and risk-taking, low-budget/DIY filmmaking. I’m also writing for a sketch comedy show called TallBoyz. Catch us on CBC or on CBC Gem. I’m also always trying to make more music and movies. The last film I made was a short musical comedy about a town filled with competing cooks called, Cookstown: The Musical. (look it up on kickstarter) Oh, and I’m also learning how to become an expert cook. I probably won’t compete in anything, but I still aspire to be a Top Chef or at least a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives cook.
Is there a staff who mentored your path? Yes! I’d like to give a major shout out to Sarah Febbraro, Youth Council Coordinator, for being constantly supportive. Sarah cares so much about everyone on the Youth Council, and I hope she knows that we care just as much back! Thanks! Adam.
Thank you Adam for your continued dedication to the AGO and our visitors
Did you miss the presentation by then-Audience Researcher Madeleine Adamson during the 2019 National Volunteer Week? Cara-Lynn Nisenbaum sat down to chat with her to better understand the importance of Audience Research work at the AGO.
As AGO volunteers, we work to improve and
enrich our visitors experience at the gallery each day. A lot of work goes on
behind the scenes, gallery wide, to support the same effort. The role of an
Audience Researcher at the AGO is to gather data and provide analysis of our
visitors’ experience, to understand learning outcomes and to work towards
developing and implementing innovations in the gallery.
Gathering credible data by tracking, observing and interviewing visitors is done to measure the impact of the AGO and its special exhibitions on our visitors. Madeleine explained that in her role as audience researcher, she interviewed 210 gallery visitors per month looking for pattern in their feedback. During a special exhibit, Madeleine would collect data from a few hundred visitors by asking questions, observing individual guests, noting the works they select to view, for what length of time and whether they choose to read the accompanying text. Madeleine explained sometimes we may be very surprised at the findings. It can take 2-3 months to summarize the extensive data collected, at which time it is shared with marketing, logistics, curators, exhibit designers and interpretive planners to celebrate successes and find opportunities for improvement.
The research findings, insights and conclusions are valuable towards building the best possible visitor experience. It is also interesting to know the AGO is one of only a few cultural institutions in Toronto who engage in a visitor experience program to better identify the factors shaping the interaction and engagement with its visitors. While Madeleine has since moved into a new role at the AGO (Development Coordinator, Donor Programs), she continues to believe that Audience Research has an essential role to play in understanding AGO visitors.
Special thanks to Shelagh Barrington, past Volunteer President and Gallery Guide for reaching out to our award winners, to conduct these interviews!
How did you come to volunteer at the AGO?
Volunteering, art and HR have always been a few of my passions in life. I used to draw and paint when I was in high school. I have also been volunteering with different organizations since I graduated from university. When I was browsing the AGO website, I noticed the volunteering section and applied for a few positions online. Colin Green, the recruitment coordinator at the time, saw my resume and asked if I would be interested to volunteer as a recruitment volunteer since I have an HR background. The AGO was going though the Frank Gehry renovation at that time and we needed to recruit a lot of volunteers to get ready for reopening. I truly enjoyed working with Colin and the rest of the team.
What was your most memorable experience?
In the past 12 years that I have been volunteering with the AGO, I would say meeting the volunteers when they come in for interviews has been such a rewarding experience. It amazes me how people with different backgrounds, culture, education and ages all have the same goal. And that is to volunteer and become a part of this amazing community of the AGO! I have met candidates with backgrounds such as PhD of Statistics, retired TTC bus driver, a former farm worker, stay-at-home mom, recent university graduate, and many, many more people. Their stories of why they would like to volunteer with us has stayed with me, and I can never forget them.
What do you do with your time when you are not at the AGO? (or what did you do before you became an AGO volunteer?) I
I am an HR (Human Resources) Specialist working at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. In my free time I like to travel (I’ve been to 13 countries and looking forward to exploring many more), play tennis, bake, and spend time with family and friends.
Is there a staff who mentored your path?
Holly Procktor. I have the pleasure of knowing and working with Holly since she joined the AGO, 11 years ago. Watching Holly’s interaction with the volunteers, staff and visitors is truly educational for me. I have learned so much from her. She makes everyone feel important. She is always positive, happy, genuine and sees the best in everyone and every situation. I look up to her not just as a mentor but also a role model in my life. It is a true honour to have the opportunity to be a part of her team. (Holly’s edit – Mona, you make me cry!)
Thank you Mona for your continued dedication to the AGO and our visitors
Each year, the Gallery is invited to nominate volunteers for the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards. These awards recognize volunteers for providing committed and dedicated service, and are awarded by the length of time someone has volunteered with one organization, ranging from five to 65 (!) years of continuous service.
While we love the opportunity to help the province recognize volunteers across Ontario, this is always a tough job for us, as there are so many of you we’d like to fete, (the Gallery would definitely benefit from a group category!) But our aim each year is to shine a spotlight on volunteers from across the program, who have contributed in special ways. Nominations come from your team of volunteer coordinators. This year, we are so pleased to celebrate these amazing folks, whose spirit and commitment are a credit to us all (in alphabetical order):
Mona Azadmanesh, Volunteer Recruiter (10 year award)
Adam Bovoletis, AGO Youth Council (youth award)
Akber Mohamed, Information Guide (20 year award)
Susan Morrison, Galley Guide (10 year award)
Jane Smith, Prints & Drawings Volunteer (5 year award)
Carole Warnock, Information Guide (5 year award)
Like all opportunities to gather in-person, this year’s celebration (an awards ceremony hosted by the Volunteer Recognition Unit of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries), has regrettably been postponed.
In lieu of this, we’ll be sharing volunteer profiles of our winners, all this week. First up, Mona Azadmanesh, Volunteer Recruiter.
Let’s imagine: if we were back in the Gallery this week, I’d be joining you for a coffee (or tea) from the cafe, and some homebaked treats in the volunteer lounge. We’d be awaiting a behind-the-scenes tours in conversation, or looking forward to a talk with our installation crew on the 5th floor. Tonight, we’d all be together (imagine!) for a cocktail party in Gallery Italia, hosted by your Volunteer Council.
Although we can’t be together today, it is especially poignant to remember what you do best – welcome & help, engage and connect, in person and on our front line. You bring the galleries to life! And our community is made richer for your collective curiosity & enthusiasm, shared love of art, and commitment to life long-learning, all in the name of the AGO. How lucky were are to have you!
This week, we will be celebrating all of you in spirit, if not in person. We’ll be publishing a series of articles featuring this year’s Ontario Volunteer Service Award winners. A special thank you to this year’s celebrants, and also to Shelagh Barrington, past Volunteer President and Friday evening Gallery Guide, for putting this series together!
Oh the tyranny of spring – last week people were celebrating the beginning of spring with the emergence of light jackets and short sleeves (gasp) but this week it snowed! If anything, at least we are all used to this push and pull seasonal rhythm!
High Park glory, photo by Nicole Ascroft
I (Nicole) wanted to share the above picture that was taken recently on one of my nightly walks through High Park. When I leave the house, I choose to go out once the sun has set as the streets are almost empty – this results in many more urban sightings of the great Toronto wilderness (racoons and skunks anyone?). In this picture, as the sun was setting through these majestic pines, I overheard a pack of coyotes yipping in celebration of their recently caught dinner. It is truly all about these small joys now!
Please read on!
Favourites from the Online Collection
What we are loving in the collection
Today, Christine Endrulat, Visitor Experience Manager, shares more of her favourites from current, and past, exhibitions:
I recently received an email from Jim Gibson, one of our Visitor Services Representatives. Jim is currently isolating with his family in Vancouver and sent me some photos of a park with totem poles that he frequents. The photos reminded me of the totem poles in our Indigenous Collection and the golf bag totem poles that were part of the exhibition Brian Jungen Friendship Centre. Those were definitely a conversation piece!
This had me then reflecting on the AGO’s amazing Indigenous Collection. It is very diverse in that it includes pieces from the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis as well as global Indigenous Art from Africa, Australia, and the Torres Strait Islands. We have also been fortunate to have several exhibitions in the past few years focusing on Indigenous Artists:
One of my favourites was Connecting with Our First Family. The images on the walls in the Community Gallery were large, intricate and majestic. Standing in the space was powerful yet humbling. And I still have some of the colouring papers of the images that were available!
Writing about these collections is making me miss the AGO! I am also realizing that I have been taking the opportunity to view the artwork for granted. I have started to put together a list of what I want to see when we reopen – and topping the list is the African Collection – something I haven’t visited in a very long time. What are you looking forward to seeing again?
Focus on the Collection: The Malcolmson Collection
Photography by Ian Lefebvre
Are you missing the AGO’s collection of photography while you’ve been home? Why not check out the extensive collection of photographs from the Malcolmson collection here. Regarded as one of the most important collections of historical photography in Canada, the Malcolmson Collection is comprised of bold experimental photographs by such artists as André Kertész, Robert Frank, Man Ray, Manuel Álvarex Bravo to name a few. Their works feature a range of approaches and reveal the variety of Modernist visions, often in the context of broader art movements such as Surrealism, Constructivism and post–World War II Expressionism. The photographs explore notions of how to see a city, how to reveal subconscious impulses and how to construct a new world.
To learn more about the collection, watch the video HERE:
Harry and Ann Malcolmson explain why they chose the AGO as the new home for their collection.
Armchair Traveller – Let’s go to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris
Today, we will be “travelling” to the Musée d’Orsay in jolie Paris! There are over 278 works available to view online, including works from their Modern and Impressionism collections with artists such as Gustave Caillebotte, Vincent van Gogh, James Tissot and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Click here to view these works where you can also choose to navigate through the galleries or, watch the journey of the museum from its origins as a train station!
Our own Sybil Wilkinson was celebrated by Volunteer Toronto a few years back – spot her, here in the bottom row (second from left)
As we gear up to celebrate an important, but very different National Volunteer Week, the good folks at Volunteer Toronto have prepared some special resources for volunteers.
You are invited to join a complimentary webinar:
Thursday April 23
12:00pm – 1:00pm
At
no other time has your kindness, generosity, and community spirit meant
more. In addition to honoring your incredible reach and efforts, it is
important to acknowledge the very real pressures and the personal impact
of volunteering during a pandemic.
You are invited to a special FREE online gathering hosted by Volunteer Toronto and guest facilitator Katie Mead.
Come together to meet COVID-19 volunteers from across the city and
sector, celebrate each other, and tap into energizing strategies to stay
healthy and motivated during this unprecedented time.
About Katie: Katie
is a graduate of the Gestalt Institute of Toronto and a Registered
Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered
Psychotherapists of Toronto. Prior to her role in the mental health
sector, Katie worked as volunteer coordinator and fund developer for
arts organizations, and was a professional opera singer.
Please note: This session will be hosted on Zoom (you need a Zoom account to access). Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email detailing the Zoom link, Meeting ID, and password.
AGO Gallery Guides and interested volunteers might want to check out the National Docent Symposium Council’s Facebook Forum. It has been extremely popular in these turbulent times, with docents/guides from all over the US and Canada, providing support communications and diversion.
The NDS Council continues to plan and look forward to our October 2021 National Docent Symposium, hosted by the docents of the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City AND home of the Kansa City Chiefs, the 2020 Superbowl champions!
Today we hear from Trish Popkin, as she discusses one of her favourite works, William Kurelek’s Home on the Range from the Thomson Collection:
When sitting down to write this, I thought about some of my favourites. The Hearn Plant, Toronto Harbour, by Kim Odaatje, any Rita Letendre, and so many others. But when talking with Jonathan, Christine and Nicole, I ended up thinking about how visiting with my young children has impacted the way I experience the Gallery.
My almost 6 year old daughter has visited a lot over the years and her favourite paintings have always been the William Kurelek works located outside the elevator on the upper second floor – the ones she refers to as ‘kids playing in the snow’, paintings I may not have stopped and looked at in the same way without her by my side.
As we’ve looked at these together over the years, our conversations have shifted from simple questions; what colours do you see? Do you think those kids are cold? To looking at the details more closely – perspective, movement and talking about light and shadow.
More than that though, these paintings have connected my past to our present. In particular, the details in Home on the Range – from the vast clear sky and the way the moonlight glistens on the snow – which makes me think the day would’ve been sunny and as a result the snow here has a light frozen crust that would crunch under your boots, to the tops of the snow fence and prairie peeking out, is just how I remember winter on the open prairie out in front of the house I grew up in small town Saskatchewan. I played till my toes were frozen in snowbanks just like these, and short of taking my daughter on a long journey in the dead of winter, these paintings are the closest I get to sharing that experience with her. She shivers when she imagines the cold!
I look forward to getting back to the Gallery and introducing these paintings and sharing these stories with my younger son too, and to see how our conversations as a family continue to evolve. Do you have a piece you similarly like to revisit in the Gallery?
Art on Film
While you are home – can I suggest an enthralling and shocking documentary to watch? I saw this film last summer – it was jaw dropping and has left a lasting impression.
Director Jamie Kastner’s There Are No Fakes can be seen as an investigation into an art forgery ring in Northern Ontario. It starts simply enough with Canadian musician, Kevin Hearn, purchasing a work by the late Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau which is later found to be a forgery. There Are No Fakes is a journey into the largest art fraud scam in Canadian history, leading to Thunder Bay, Morrisseau’s birthplace, where an almost unbelievable new tale emerges about the origin of the paintings, and the story turns several shades darker.
To view the full length documentary (TVO) click here
You may also be interested in taking a deeper dive after viewing the film with the following resources:
Steve Pakin’s Agenda interview with the filmmaker who discusses the film here.
CBC film review and interview with the filmmaker here
Armchair Traveller – Let’s go to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
Welcome back to another edition of Arm Chair Traveller, I (Nicole) will be your host as we take a trip to one of the most beautiful cities in the world – Amsterdam! Make sure you’re comfortable, get your tea and snack (hopefully something deliciously dutch like a stroopwafel) and let’s begin.
The Vincent van Gogh Museum has a monumental collection composed of thousands of works that can all be discovered on-line. Now that may sound overwhelming, but their website provides a handy tip guide to navigate your interests here. May I suggest a leisurely video tour through the gallery complete with a cinematic score? Are you looking for a new book to read – why not get a book suggestion from van Gogh himself by clicking here! Finally, with the excitement of the arrival of spring, learn more about van Gogh ‘s great love for nature here – there is no need to go outside with these inspiring paintings by our side!
