At The Art Gallery

 This Keith Haring show is on at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and this is a show I am planning to see. I love his work and in the meantime there are several different posters up around town advertising the event.

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

What A View

This is my favourite view of the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) which really shows the hand of Frank Gehry at work. This is taken from in Grange Park which is directly behind the gallery and was probably a place where Gehry played as a child.  I love the blue titanium and that wonderful staircase projecting out of the wall.

Gehry Curves

 This is the front facade of the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario). The ladies I showed you yesterday were walking under the overhang to the entrance. This curved area is part of the Frank Gehry designed redo of the gallery which took place in 2004. Behind the curves is a wonderful bright space the Galleria Italia. Gehry grew up just a couple of blocks from the gallery so it is nice that he got to put his own stamp on it. I'll show a bit more tomorrow.

Shop At The AGO

While wandering around near the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) I saw these women coming towards me along the walkway and had to catch a shot of that orange outfit. I love it! They were heading into the gallery to see an exhibition. More from this area tomorrow. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Spring Day At The Park

This is a shot looking in the other direction from yesterday's pic. I was in Grange Park which is located directly behind the Art Gallery Of Ontario (AGO) and beside the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD). OCAD features that wonderful addition suspended over the older traditional building which you see in the background. The architect for the addition was Will Alsop. I love it.

From The Archives

I haven't been to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) since the pandemic arrived but when I do go I always make a point of visiting the Henry Moore Sculpture centre there. The AGO has an internationally known extensive collection of Moore works, most gifts from the artist. The collection contains over 900 works including many of the original plaster sculptures that would be later cast in bronze. This plaster cast, Three Piece Reclining Figure No 2: Bridge Prop, has been cast several times and the bronzes are located around the world. The centre is a wonderful place and I must get down there soon for a fix of art.

A View From Grange Park

This sculpture, "Large Two Forms" by Henry Moore, sat out in front of the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) for many years before being moved to Grange Park which abuts the gallery to the rear. Here the sculpture has a fine location with the wonderful blue Frank Gehry designed AGO addition as a backdrop. And this is another view that looks better in the winter with the tracery of the trees visible against the gallery.

Grange View

I'm back at Grange Park behind the Art Gallery of Ontario for another pic. This shot was taken from the playground in the park looking towards the Financial District visible under the great stilted overhang of the Ontario College of Art and Design. I love this view!

"Large Two Forms"

One of the main features of the newly renovated Grange Park is this wonderful Henry Moore sculpture called Two Large Forms. It has been located at the corner of Dundas and McCaul Streets at the entrance to the AGO since 1973 and was relocated to this prime spot in the park. The setting is wonderful for it with the blue wall of the art gallery behind it!

The Grange

Hidden behind the trees in yesterday's post was this fine building known as the Grange. It was built in 1817 as a manor house and what is now Grange Park was the front lawn of the home. The home and property were bequeathed to the Art Museum of Toronto (now called the Art Gallery of Ontario)  in 1910 and the Grange is part of the art gallery now. There is quite a contrast with Frank Gehry's wall and stairs!

Another Renovated Park

This is Grange Park which is found at the back of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) whose wonderful blue titanium wall and Frank Gehry stairs are visible above the trees. The 1.8 hectare park has just been reopened after being closed for 15 months for a $15 million renovation which included planting 80 new trees, a new fountain, newly designed playgrounds, off-leash dog area, new benches, lighting, and more to come. I'll show you a few more shots over the next few days including a pic of what is hidden behind those trees.

An AGO View

This is the view from the top of the Frank Gehry staircase at the AGO ( Art Gallery Of Ontario) looking north through the slightly dirty glass. What you see are a couple of residential streets and then the taller sprawling buildings of U of Toronto. I thought the clouds were quite spectacular the day I was there.

Turner Show

It was wonderful to see so many works by Turner all in one show at the AGO as I mentioned yesterday. It was much easier to get a pic of the poster outside the entrance to the show than it was to fight the crowds inside.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Caught

There is a show of J.M.W. Turner paintings on at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) and they actually allow photography but there were so many people there when I went that it was hard to take pics of the work. I thought I would take a crowd shot and was spied by this gentleman who didn't look totally amused!

Tai Chi Mural

I found this mural near Grange Park which is beside Ontario College Of Art and Design (OCAD) and the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and which is the location of daily Tai Chi sessions all year round. I could find no info on the artist for this one.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

More Reflection at the AGO

The African art gallery at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of my favourite areas. The collection of African pieces is the largest in Canada with 95 pieces, almost all of them donated by Dr Murray Frum. They are located in their own dedicated gallery which was designed by architects Brigitte Shim & Howard Sutcliffe and it is a wonderful space. These 2 pieces are from Nigeria and of course the one in the middle is from Toronto!
Taking part in Weekend Reflections. Click HERE to see more reflections from around the world.

April Theme Day - My Camera-shy Self Portrait

The City Daily Photo Blog community's April theme is basically a camera-shy selfie, so of course I have been taking a lot of reflection shots. In this shot I was attempting to take a pic of the neon crowns in the window of the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) which are there to promote the Basquiat show since the crown is Basquiat's trademark. After I uploaded this pic to my computer I saw the 'selfie' sign in the upper right and of course that is a shy me to the left with Dundas St reflected in the window.
Taking part in the Theme Day. Click HERE to see more selfies from around the world.
Also taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Downstairs

When I was at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) to the Basquiat show I took this shot from under the Frank Gehry staircase, looking up through the middle. I had shown you the wonderful staircase a couple of years ago HERE.

"Think About Life"

The Art Gallery Of Ontario (AGO) has a major show on now of the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat (click HERE for info). Unfortunately there was no photography allowed but I quite liked this banner at the entrance. I need to go back for another viewing to make up my mind about his work.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE for more signs from around the world.

Fox Terrier

"Woman and Terrier" is another piece from the Alex Colville show at the AGO which I really loved. It was done in 1963 and once more shows his wife Rhoda as a model with one of their dogs. He did many works featuring dogs but I have real fondness for terriers so that along with the round shape makes this one special for me.