Hello Everyone,

It has been wonderful to see the crowds in Making Her Mark these final few days of the exhibition. Although we will be saying goodbye to the show, the beautiful catalogue serves as an important record of scholarship and partnership with the Baltimore Museum of Art. Last Saturday we hosted an Art and Ideas program, led by Melissa Smith, that explored how fashion was used as an artistic tool by some makers to convey notions of class, status, gender, and culture. Fashion plays a key role in Making Her Mark – and I will miss the incredible lace lighting!

On Wednesday, we held a Curator’s Circle event to mark the opening of Moments in Modernism. Thank you to the Development Team for planning a great evening, and special thanks to my co-panelists Debbie Johnsen and Adam Welch. This will be a big summer of celebrating modern and contemporary art from our collections – on July 3^rd, we open Bright Signs: Spotlight on Video Art for AGO Members. This exhibit is also curated by Debbie. A special preview will be held for all staff and volunteers this Tuesday, July 2 from 3-5pm. Thank you to all the conservators, installers, designers, and technicians for your outstanding work presenting Moments in Modernism and Bright Signs to our public.

I am in Mexico City for a few days as part of the Bizot group of directors of the top 50 global museums. Always lots to learn and share amongst my peers. I’ll be back at the AGO on Tuesday. Take care this holiday weekend,

Stephan

On Tuesday, July 2 from 3 pm to 5 pm, staff and volunteers are invited to preview Bright Signs: Spotlight on Video Art located on the 5th Floor.

Curated by Debbie Johnsen, Manager, Modern and Contemporary Collections, get a chance to experience works by artists Kahlil Joseph, Theaster Gates, and many more before Bright Signs opens to the public, the following day.

To access the staff and volunteer preview:

• Please bring your volunteer badge  
• No outside guests please; this is a special opportunity for staff and volunteers

Exhibition Overview 

Reverberating with sound and light, Bright Signs: Spotlight on Video Art brings together works by 17 leading contemporary artists. Spanning three decades, this exhibition includes cinematic video installations, neon sculptures, paintings and photographs, many of which have yet to be seen at the AGO. 

Drawn from the AGO’s collection of contemporary art, the artworks on view address critical social issues, including perceptions of history, visibility and power. At the centre of the exhibition is Kahlil Joseph’s cinematic three-channel video installation Wild Cat (Aunt Janet) from 2016, an homage to the founder of an African American rodeo that takes place every summer in Grayson (formerly Wildcat), Oklahoma and Theaster Gates’ Progress Palace (2017), an immersive installation that pays tribute to the Godfather of House Music, Frankie Knuckles. Additional highlights include artist Sarah Sze’s sculpture Disappearing Act(2020) and Lisa Reihana’s ever popular installation In Pursuit of Venus [infected](2020). 

Curated by Debbie Johnsen, AGO, Manager, Modern and Contemporary Collections, this exhibition features artworks that will form the cornerstone for the expansion of the new Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery, starting construction in 2024. 

The end of the school year brings the beginning of summer art camp at the AGO. This program is one of the gallery’s top priorities and important revenue generators each year. We are happy to play a part in recruiting almost 200 high school volunteers joining us throughout the summer, in specially designed placements that allow students to complete their volunteer hours credit in our bright and creative studios.

Our summer art camp volunteers begin their days at 8:30am, and end each day at 4:30pm. Thank you to everyone for your support and encouragement of our youth volunteers! When you see them around the building, (and in the lounge), please help welcome them to our volunteer community.

Hello everyone,

Summer weather has arrived early with the heat and thunderstorms. Torrential downpours don’t usually happen so soon in the summer (yes, global climate change is creating more extreme weather events). I bring this up because I want to thank our staff who have been helping react to leaks in Zacks. Our conservators, our plant staff, our exhibitions crew, and particularly our night-time security team. We are working on a solution.

Today is the Summer Solstice. The Solstice is also recognized as National Indigenous Peoples Day. I want to share an update on what we are doing around the reconciliation track of repair.

On July 5, Audrey and I are holding a gathering for Indigenous communities to come into the AGO to get some resolution around the events of the fall with the departure of the Curators of Indigenous Art. This gathering is a step towards truth and reconciliation. It will be a time for discussion to get honest clarity. Elder Dr. Duke Redbird and Grandmother Kim Wheatley will hold the session, and it will be moderated by J’net Ayayqwayaksheelth.

Earlier this week Elder Dr. Duke Redbird honoured us with a ground blessing for the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary expansion. It was an important – and low-key – event to help locate the building on this land. I want to thank everyone who made it possible and participated.

Stephan

Hello everyone,

Today and over the weekend we welcome AGO Members to the Moments in Modernism exhibition, which is beautifully installed on the 4^th floor. Big thanks to co-curator Debbie Johnsen, Project Manager Hillary Taylor and those involved with the installation. Thank you also to AJ Wilson and the Comms team for a successful and well attended media preview yesterday.

Both Moments in Modernism and upcoming exhibit Bright Signs (opening in early July) are drawn from the AGO’s VAST collection of modern and contemporary works. Both shows are also very cost effective – this was done purposefully, as we remain in a tight financial position and need to look at opportunity for efficiencies.

The quality of these shows highlighting works from our collection is very high. I am proud of how everyone came together to make them happen.

Take care,

Stephan 

Hello volunteers! Our weekend Gallery Guide, Aisling Joe, also works at the legislature (what a great job!). Aisling has passed along some information about an upcoming wine & cheese-paired tour in Parliament, read on below! This post is also shared on the AGO Volunteers Facebook Group. Volunteer President Barbara Glaser will be going, so you will know (another) friendly face, if you’d like to join also – details below – Holly

Delight your senses as you sip Ontario wine, savour local cheeses, and discover the art and architectural history of Ontario’s parliament during an evening guided tour.

Tour Highlights:

• Thursday, June 20 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Discover the beautiful paintings and architectural features throughout the building
• See the Legislative Library
• Enjoy a glass of local Ontario wine and cheeses
• $20 per person
• Must be 19+ to attend
• FULL POST AND DETAILS, HERE: Find your tour or webinar | Legislative Assembly of Ontario (ola.org)

Important: you must email [email protected] to reserve your spot (please don’t contact Holly). Payment will be collected upon registration. 

Thank you to Aisling for sharing such a unique opportunity with AGO volunteers!

Hello everyone,

This week was particularly buzzy in the galleries as we welcomed many school groups at the end of the school year, as well as lots of visitors who came to see Miles Greenberg’s performance on Wednesday. Soon we will have AGO summer campers onsite, which is exciting.

In the last few weeks, we have received messages of concern about the state of Grange Park from both community members and staff who are not feeling safe. We are attempting to work with the City about this, because the city is responsible for the management and security of Grange Park. The park is unique in that while the green space is the AGO’s property, it is operated by the City of Toronto.

Take care,

Stephan

Hello volunteers,

As you may be aware, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is currently in labour negotiations and workers could strike as early as 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024. 

As a TTC strike will impact all of us who use the transit system and will result in an increase in traffic.

I know as volunteers you feel a great sense of responsibility, and we are grateful for your steady commitment. We appreciate everyone who is able to make it to the Gallery for their regularly scheduled shift (the Gallery will remain open). But if your travel is impacted, and find it too challenging to commute, please don’t worry about coming in. We will adjust.

It’s always a good idea to let your staff coordinators know of your absence, so if you are not able to come in, please get in contact with your staff support. Hopefully a strike will be avoided, but if not, please know we will all get through it together (I think I’ve shared this sentiment a lot lately!) and we’ll look forward to seeing you at the Gallery, soon enough.

Thank you for your understanding as we all prepare for what could be a challenging time to get around the City! Please visit the TTC website for the most recent and up-to-date information about labour negotiations – Holly, volunteer resources

Hello everyone,

I am very much looking forward to next week’s performance by Miles Greenberg It will unfold over several hours on Wednesday June 5, (12-9pm) and if you are here on Wednesday, I encourage you to take a few moments to head to Walker Court and take it in. The Globe & Mail featured a lead story on the performance yesterday and there is a buzz in the community. It should be very special.

ANNOUNCING ROS LAWLER, CHIEF BUSINESS AND BRAND OFFICER:

I am pleased to announce that Ros Lawler will be joining the AGO on Monday, June 3 as Chief Brand & Business Officer. This is a new role that will oversee Communications, F&B, Marketing, Membership & Database Marketing, Retail, and Visitor Experience teams. Ros and her team will ensure that our brand and visitor experience is consistent throughout the museum and will work to maximize revenues across all revenue streams.

Ros joins us from the National Portrait Gallery in London, England, where she was Chief Operating Officer. She is well positioned for her work at the AGO – she has been a champion of audience development, commercial and digital strategy, and complex project delivery for organizations across the globe as they have adapted to seismic industry shifts and changing consumer behaviour. Ros is a museum person – she was previously Digital Director at Tate Britain and believes firmly that the arts and creative industries bring huge value to communities and individuals.  

Ros will be a massive asset to a strong team, building on our work to date and leading us on our path ahead. I’d like to thank teams for achieving many successes and goals while working through this period of transition, and special thanks to Herman Lo for stepping up to LT during this time.

Take care,

Stephan

Volunteers, I’m thrilled to share this post from Barbara Glaser, your Volunteer President. Read on to find out which project the volunteers voted to support with this year’s funds – Holly

Dear fellow Volunteers,

Every year I look forward to the Volunteer Endowment Trust (VET) process and the collaboration with fellow Volunteers, leadership and what the Development team will propose for us. This year was no exception, as the team always give us such vast and unique choices which we are most grateful for and this collaboration on the important VET process. This is a wonderful opportunity for us all as volunteers to contribute as to where the VET funds will be distributed to and vote in a democratic process, each vote truly counts and matters. This year we also introduced a zoom presentation with Erin Thadani (Associate Director, Philanthropy and Planned Giving) that gave us further insights into the proposal and information on the history of the Volunteer Endowment Trust.

Thank you to all and especially to the Volunteers for your vote and say on this very important piece in Volunteer history for 2024-25. I’m happy to announce after a very tight race the winning vote goes to the upcoming exhibition “Joyce Wieland: Heart On”. The exhibit will be opening at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) on January 27th-May11, 2025 at the AGO on June 21-October 13 2025 (Co-produced by the Art Gallery of Ontario in partnership with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts). The exhibition is curated by Georgiana Uhlyarik and Anne Grace, Modern Art Curator MMFA. As we approach our 80th year of the AGO Volunteer program, I feel this is a fitting tribute.

This will be the first major Canadian exhibition of Wieland”s work in 35 years and will offer a comprehensive review of Weiland’s career, the accompanying catalogue will present fresh scholarship focusing on the themes Wieland developed in her artistic practice, which are increasingly pertinent to audiences today. It is because of your vote Volunteers on the VET support that the funds will be distributed to and further expand on the exhibition of Wieland’s work and career. Can’t wait to see the vast array of works and how our curators will compose the exhibit. Looking forward and jointly for us Volunteers to partake in the tours, programming in connection.

Barbara Glaser

AGO Volunteer President