Spacing editor Shawn Micallef is the Blogger-in-Residence at the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Art Matters blog in anticipation of the grand re-opening of the new AGO. He will be cross-posting some of the entries here on Spacing Toronto. To comment on this post, click here and head over to Art Matters.
The AGO opened its doors the media yesterday with a press conference featuring Frank Gehry and Matthew Teitelbaum. Press previews are strange events — you can feel the anxiety in the room. Everybody is trying to get the quote and money shot they need, then hurry back and package it for the evening or morning news. As was pointed out to me by a television producer, it’s also a room full of rivals. If there ever was a crowd destined not to enjoy themselves, this was it. Still, there seemed to be as many of the childlike awe-moments as there were during member preview days (looking up in the Walker Court at the new staircase, looking out the back of the Barnacle Staircase at a Toronto Skyline never seen from this angle).
Gehry, looking very California casual, fielded questions for about a half hour, often joking about his Canadian and neighbourhood roots. At one point — a clip destined to be used for years to come — he said he thinks this is indeed a real Frank Gehry building.
Later I took a walking tour of the building with Craig Webb, one of the partners in Gehry’s firm. Most interesting is that Webb talked about the art as much as the building, indicating they spent a considerable amount of time thinking about what and who was going to into the building as much as what it looks like from the outside. Also while on the tour I got the feeling that Ken Thompson’s ghost is everywhere in the building. Webb and other Gehry architects seemed to get into his head and understand his personality so much that by mid point in the tour, I felt like I was walking through Thompson’s living room, looking at his various objects, laid out exactly the way he wanted.
For those that don’t have the patience or desire to follow a live Twitter feed, what follows are some of the (edited) notes I made during the day:
Walker court fills. Camera guys pushy for positions. Maybe last assignment was Afghanistan. Globe and Mail guy is “ok with staircase”
Flurry of music. Bankers, starchitect & CEO take stage. Under massive staircase, just hanging there.
Reached new fundraising goal of 276 million dollars. Building is paid for. 3500 donors. TV producer next to me confused by hammering sound from below.
Gehry on stage. Only one not in suit. Seems like most avuncular of starchitects. Now he talks.
Gehry gives cute wave. Sez he’s a laid back Canadian like Ken Thompson. “He was frugal in a sweet way”. Wants kids to come to AGO.
Wanted to create porch on Dundas. Says streetcar going by is like being in same room with it.
G says “I think this is a real Gehry.”
Panel questions. Never hold a microphone upright in your lap when sitting on stage.
French reporter just asked question in French to people who don’t speak French. Ballsy.
Writer from Fab asks about G’s fascination with fish.
G wonders if Barton Myers (previous architect) is “pissed off” at him. Also Alsop enabled the tower over grange park! Wished for more $.
G says entrance fees from $15 going up to $18 is “highway robbery”.
Free passes will be given to new Canadians and students after school.
G: Gallery that shows the Mona Lisa is “crappy”. Paid attn to how art is hung. “Let pieces breath.”
-post press conference events follow-
Spent 20 min wondering where washroom was. Nice though, once I found it.
Craig Webb: “Hardest part was fitting it into the ‘hood.”
The press do not like being told the can’t take pictures.
Many galleries designed to be lit with natural light. Calculated brightness and will close shutters when needed.
Following a Californian talking about Toronto. Neat view on our city. Little more frank about things? Not Gehry Frank, but frank frank.
People asking why no trees? No space is answer. Ribs on front fan out from centre.
Put railings in the Kreighoff room so people could lean into paintings. An experiment.
Ruben’s “Massacre of the Innocents” more violent than video games or True Blood.
Craig Webb has great California haircut. Architectural. Wait, it’s Bilbao hair, totally.