FAbEx at the AGO

I confess: I can't resist Rothko. When I heard awesome reviews of the Abstract Expressionists exhibit at the AGO, and then found a flyer in the newspaper at work, I decided it had to be my next* stop for TOLaT. I sent word out on Twitter and Face book and my friend Julia decided to join me. Good thing too, because it was a sunny day--so the crowds were smaller than they could have been--but it was still fairly busy. And since this is a rare chance to see some of MOMA's regular collection in Toronto, I suspect the show will only get busier.

I haven't been to the AGO in ages. I've been past it, but apparently neglected to notice the gorgeous sky-reflecting facade. Once inside I was delighted with the lightness of the structure, and the smooth curving wood of its staircases. I had to restrain myself for Julia's sake not to spend half an hour taking taking picture after picture of its various angles and perspectives, imbued with warm summer light.

We went at 2:00 p.m. on a beautiful Sunday. There was no line up, but the AbEx exhibit was fairly full. The only hiccup was when we got to the gallery entrance and I was asked to leave my bike helmet at the coat check. A little odd, but what was more anoying was that there was no sign advising what items should be checked, or that the coat/bag-check was free, so by the time we were turned back we were steps from going inside and we had to go all the way to the front door. It wasn't too bad, just frustrating, but on a busier day it would have been more of a challenge.

Julia and I were jonesing for some Abstract Expressionism, so we headed straight for the special exhibit. (It added an extra $5.50 on top of the regular admission price, but the gentleman who sold our ticket was so pleasant I couldn't even muster an internal objection to the extra cost.) The way to the AbEx section was clearly marked, which was a pleasant surprise. The exhibit itself was breathtaking, and the curation was a delight (including an entire room of Rothko) with interpretive signs everywhere. There were video displays and headphones (and chairs for sitting while you listen, which my mom would appreciate) in almost every room, explaining the art, the artist, the medium, the method or the movement--making the extra $5.50 seem like money very well spent. As an added bonus, I could take all the non-flash photos I wanted. And there was even a special mini-gift shop for the AbEx exhibit. I may sound like I'm being sarcastic, but seeing something so fabulous you want to always remember it and then finding out there's nothing you can take with yo--to help you remember--is disappointing for tourist and local alike. After a good 90 minutes, Julia and I had drunk our fill; and having both of us know that one can only absorb so much art before it becomes a blur, we decided to cross the street for lovely lattes and snacks at Orange Alert Coffee. Julia wholeheartedly approved of being mentioned in my TOLaT post, and even suggested we go on a guided Toronto "ghost walk" in the fall.

Obviously, it's been so long since I've been to the AGO that another visit is needed to review their regular collection. Another AGO post coming soon! But in the meantime, if you are jonesing for some Abstract Expressionism too, go see AbEx before the New York art works head home.

See more photos at my Flickr pool here.

Art Gallery of Ontario:
317 Dundas St. W., Toronto
Phone: (416) 979-6660
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except closes 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday; closed Monday
$25.oo for AbEx exhibit; $19.50 regular admission (full prices here)
FREE Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8:30 pm (Permanent Collection only. Excludes surcharged exhibitions.)

*Technically, my first TOLikeaTourist stop was Casa Loma. I just haven't blogged about it yet. Boo, Kyla!