Art
Toronto just got a landmark exhibition from a world-famous art museum
A landmark exhibition is making its only Canadian stop — and its North American debut — at the AGO in Toronto.
Featuring over 30 Black British artists, Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s-Now was the first exhibition of its kind at London’s Tate Britain. The Toronto edition opened at the AGO on Dec. 6 and runs until April 1 next year.
Julie Crooks, the AGO’s curator of arts of global Africa and the diaspora, told blogTO the exhibition is about the journeys made by these artists and the Caribbean diaspora.
“Do you make the decision to stay there or you move on to other Commonwealth areas like Canada? And what does that journey look like?”
Neil Kenlock, Black Panther school bags, 1970, printed 2010. Gelatin silver print, Overall: 38.1 × 25.4 cm. Courtesy of the Neil Kenlock Archive. © Neil Kenlock
Crooks’ colleague Karen Carter, of the Band Gallery, had seen the London show in 2021 and approached co-curator David Bailey about bringing it to Toronto. Crooks says it took about a year to fully bring the exhibition to life in the city.
The exhibition includes videos, installations, textiles, paintings, sculptures, and photography.
It also features an installation unique to the AGO — Michael McMillan’s The Front Room: Inna Toronto/6ix.
Michael McMillan, The Front Room: Inna Toronto/6ix,2023. Mixed media site-specific installation, on view in Life Between Islands Caribbean British Art 1950’s – Now, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, December 6, 2023 – April 1, 2024. © Michael McMillan. Photo: Sean Weaver © AGO.
The English artist built a physical room based on fictional characters. These “front rooms” are meant to evoke the typical migrant home. In the AGO’s front room, it’s a Caribbean immigrant’s home in Canada as shown by their photos, music, and furniture.
“Michael McMillan is taking the tropes of the Caribbean domestic life and inserting all of these different elements and tchotchkes and furniture to create this unique experience,” Crooks says.
“So in Toronto, we suggested that perhaps the individual to whom this space belongs should be a nurse — someone who trained in London, like many Caribbean women had.”
Michael McMillan, The Front Room: Inna Toronto/6ix,2023. Mixed media site-specific installation, on view in Life Between Islands Caribbean British Art 1950’s – Now, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, December 6, 2023 – April 1, 2024. © Michael McMillan. Photo: Sean Weaver © AGO.
In this case, the house is meant to belong to a woman named Gloria in the 1980s. She becomes a nurse in Scarborough and marries Marcus, a teacher from the Caribbean; together, they have two children, Marcus Jr. and Michelle.
The images on the walls were provided by the Vintage Black Canada Archive.
Michael McMillan, The Front Room: Inna Toronto/6ix,2023. Mixed media site-specific installation, on view in Life Between Islands Caribbean British Art 1950’s – Now, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, December 6, 2023 – April 1, 2024. © Michael McMillan. Photo: Sean Weaver © AGO.
Other artists included in the exhibition are Aubrey Williams, Donald Locke, Horace Ové, Isaac Julien, Sonia Boyce, Barbara Walker, Alberta Whittle, Steve McQueen, and more.
The exhibition starts with the Windrush Generation — those who came to live in Britain between 1948 and 1971. Then it moves into the economic and social pressures of the following decades.
After that is a small section called “Caribbean Reimagined: Carnival and Creolization.” Then comes McMillan’s front room and the final section, which focuses on contemporary artists.
Alberta Whittle. We Remain With You, 2022. Raffia, acrylic, cotton, synthetic braiding hair, doillies, wool, felt and cowrie shells on linen, Overall: 172.7 × 165.1 × 20.3 cm. Courtesy of Alberta Whittle and Nicola Vassell Gallery © Alberta Whittle. Photo: Adam Reich Photography
As part of the programming for the exhibition, on Feb. 24 British-Trinidadian artist Zak Ové will be in conversation with Crooks to chat about his own work and the legacy of his father Horace, whose work is featured in the show. The younger Ové’s 18-foot sculpture, Moko Jumbie, is on display at the AGO’s Galeria Italia.
The exhibition can be seen with general admission to the gallery ($30) and is free for AGO members, annual pass holders, visitors aged 25 and under, and all Indigenous visitors.
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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