Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Two and a Half Hours at the AGO

A couple of weeks ago, I was in downtown Toronto for an interview, so I figured since I was already there, I'd take a break from my studying and check out the new and improved Art Gallery of Ontario....

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I had been waiting for the new Frank Gehry addition to the AGO since 2006 when they started construction.... it is his first major work here in his own hometown.... I liked it better than I had expected... I thought it looked kinda boring from the scale models and renderings.... I thought it could have been more funky, it is Frank Gehry after all... but I guess the finished product is funky enough, but boring enough to fit right in here in Toronto.... the glass facade took on an almost metallic quality in the sunshine.... quadruple click the center of the picture to see how it looked back in June 2006....

Very cool and purdy.....
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From Grange Park, you can see the back of the new and improved AGO....AGO 031i quadruple click The Grange to see it back in 2006.... I'd bet that building would disappear if the sky was just the right colour....

Twisty stairs....Twisty stairs echoed by the trees....
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Twisty stairs continued inside....AGO 048i
Climbing those stairs got me dizzy.... literally....
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I met up with my friend Chuck at 6pm, admission is free on Wednesdays from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm.... I figured I might as well appreciate some of the art inside, and not just the architecture..... fortunately, she is an art appreciator.... unfortunately the AGO doesn't allow you to take pictures of the art.... but don't underestimate the power of the Force....
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We didn't get to see all the art because we joined a tour of The Grange.... it turned out to be more interesting for me than the art.... The Grange is the oldest brick house in Toronto, and is part of the Art Gallery of Ontario.... it was built in 1817, and donated to the art gallery in 1911... during the time of the renovations, the gallery received letters written by the original butler of the house, and it told of a young maid named Mary O'Shea, who the butler often caught keeping candle wax leavings and then burying them all over the house.... he would follow her secretly taking note of where she would bury the pieces of wax.... included in his letters was a map of where she had hidden her treasures.... so during the renovations, they decided to excavate.... they found the little treasures and so much more.... the first piece of wax they found was rolled up into a ball and contained within it was DROPS OF BLOOD..... dooo do do do doooo.... I won't tell you the rest of the story coz you should check it out for yourself.... but let me just say it gets weirder and weirder....

Anyways, here's what the glass facade looks like from the inside....
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I'm gonna have to go back to see the rest of the art.... I also intend to do some more clandestine photography.... I don't get why we can't take pics, most of the other museums I've visited allow photography.... oh well, I love a challenge.... stay tuned..... here's a last shot, you can see the CN Tower's reflection....AGO 036i

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11 comments:

Puss-in-Boots said...

What a fabulous building, Angelo. I love the way it reflects the sky so well and as you say, if it was the right colour would disappear. The warm colouring on the inside is very welcoming I expect but the stairs I would leave alone, although they do look pretty spectacular. Thanks for an interesting post, Angelo. Take care.

Angelo said...

Thanks as well, Robyn. Ya, I don't think I'll be doing those stairs again in one sitting.... I underestimated them!

ghee said...

awesome pics as usual,Pom!
I do remember your old post about the Gallery and yes,I may say that there`s a huge improvement!I fancy those curves,the architecture is stunning!

BTW,keep on modeling your suits,hehe.its good to see you in your blog. :D

sending my hugs to Nermal!!

Angelo said...

Ghee: Ghee!!! Thanks as usual, haha yeah right, I realized when I saw the pics that I need to start wearing my bad luck grey suit more often.... Nermal says meeooow!

haze said...

You have captured them perfectly Angelo ! You could make a very nice collage and frame them :D ! Ganda !

Hahaha powerful ka talaga ;)! How did you do that ???

Angelo said...

Haze: Thanks Haze!

Hahaha, my secret is that I'm strong in the ways of the Force. I can teach you my young padawan. May the Force be with you.

Jen Laceda | Milk Guides said...

Hi Angelo,
Found your blog through Nomadic Pinoy. I'm a fellow Canadian living in Toronto.

By the way, I should drop by AGO. Could you believe that I haven't been inside since the reno? Thanks for sharing your photos! Hope the interview went well.

See you around,
Jen

Angelo said...

Hi Jen, thanks and it's nice to meet you! Funny, I was actually heading to the AGO tomorrow coz my friend and I didn't get a chance to see everything. You should check out the tour at the Grange if you like a mystery. See ya around!

Kelly said...

wow! That is a very cool building. Even got my teenage son to comment on it, and he never likes anything! :)

Angelo said...

soontobemomof9: Thanks soontobemomo9 and son, I totally agree! That's pretty high praise coming from a teenager :)

MeL said...

I thought I'd back read on your posts...

So as usual. I love this post! Just by looking at the twisty stairs made me dizzy already. What more if I climb it? lol. Take me there ok? Now you have two places to take me to when we meet - Niagara Falls and AGO. :D

Have a good weekend! It's been raining here for almost a week now. Weird summer we have here. Kisses for Nermal, Philippe and Mushu.