Art Gallery of Ontario

...but unfortunately I didn’t know about the renovations, so when I came there was very little to see – just the Henry Moore gallery I think, which didn’t really impress me too much. When I go back to Toronto this will be top of my list of things to do.

caught the eisenstaedt / adams exhibition and it was amazing. very intense and deep, let’s keep updates on coming exhibitions =D . . .

I went to see the Warhol exhibit, and it was pretty good: David Cronenberg, the guest-curator of the exhibit, did the audio for on the Tour-Mate® hand-helds. (Everybody looked like they were having a phone conversation where the other party did all the talking. I’m sure someone will make an art project out of video of us experiencing the same thing but not talking to each other.) It was an interesting exhibit, and I basically came to the conclusion that Andy Warhol is famous because his art was about fame. Or, essentially, he is now famous for being famous.

As we walked out, Governor General Michaëlle Jean walked in with an entourage. Very rarely do I recognize celebrities, and of course, this time was because she is a political celebrity (at least I know her as such). I only saw her briefly, but I went up to the ticket booth and asked to make sure.

When I went to visit the Warhol exhibit. There were only 8 rooms open in the museum with some mish mash of paintings. Can’t wait until the renovation is over.

I don’t appreciate Warhol at all, maybe that’s why they were giving away free tickets.

Wait until the renovations are finished—then I think it will be worth visiting.

I am rather fond of this museum. Even the briefest glimpse of their collection that they have out now is amazing. Challenging, accessible, thought-provoking, just provoking; it’s phenomenal. The sculptures upstairs right now are awesome, you cannot miss a chance to see Seth, and I really hope they keep that big centre-y place when they’re done because how can you say no to one of the locations where they filmed Ararat?

As well, this neighbourhood is fricking amazing. A good lunchtime/afternoon walk.

EDIT (7 April 2006): Go see the Frank Gehry exhibit! Go go go!

If you’re in Toronto, don’t miss a chance to go to AGO. It’s small enough to do completely in an afternoon, but it’s wall to wall inspiration. Excellent gift shop, too! Great Jewelry.

The last time I was there I saw these intricate pieces made from ivory which the gallery had recently acquired. I can’t wait for the renovations to finish, though it is very pricey and almost needless. Seems like the AGO is running out of space. The whole front of the building on Dundas St. is pretty boring. Lots of cement, pretty flat.

I went not knowing that most of the museum is currently closed. This was something of a blessing in disguise – instead of only having time to see a few exhibits in their entirety, I got an overview of the whole collection. That, coupled with Frank Gehry’s model for the new building, has me counting down impatiently until 2008.