If you’re looking to beat the heat, and take in a little culture while you’re at it, I have the perfect place for you. The Art Gallery of Ontario has two exciting exhibitions for the summer.
The first exhibit is Vija Celmins:To Fix the Image in Memory. Vija was born in 1938 in Riga Latvia. and has been a working artist for over five decades. Her practice involves a variety of mediums such as painting, sculpture, and detailed drawings. Throughout her 50 year career, she’s taken inspiration from the environment around her such as nature, or found images. The work in the exhibition is chronologically places from the 1960s to her present work.
One of her most famous pieces which is also the title of the exhibition is called To Fix the Image in Memory I-XI (1977-82). The piece involves 11 real stones, and stones Vija has created duplicated of. They are so identical, it’s impossible to figure out which one is real! The show will travel to the MET and is sponsored by Max Mara. Catch it before it closes August 5th!
The other exhibition is Brian Jungen Friendship Centre.
Canadian artist Brian Jungen (b. 1970) has his first solo exhibition in over 7 years at the AGO! The show entitled Friendship Center is the name for gathering spaces for indigenous people located in major cities. For the show, sections of the gallery were turned into a gymnasium basketball court.
Some of Brian’s most exciting work involves Air Jordan sneakers assembled into masks, a tipi tent created out of a leather couch, and a large whale skeleton made from patio chairs. Curated by Kitty Scott, the playful show displays a variety of mediums Jungen works in such as film, painting, drawing, and sculpture. His work touches on topics such as concern for the environment, and indigenous ways of creating. My favourite pieces are the neon mirrors. Visit Friendship Center before it closes August 25th!
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