Cultural Weekend

I may circle back and add a few photos later, but I thought I would mention what I got up to this weekend. I couldn't book any Warhol tickets at the AGO on Saturday, but I got a general admission ticket and checked out the Matthew Wong exhibit. I wouldn't say Wong is a super accomplished artist, technically speaking, but some of his pieces had a bit of a Van Gogh vibe to them.

Matthew Wong, Untitled (Hotel Room), 2019

I then ran across the street to Bau-Xi Gallery and then swung over to 401 Richmond. A few additional galleries have reopened, but it's still fairly quiet. At Abbozzo, I saw the new exhibit. I think Bill Boyko was the most interesting from the group show. In addition, they had signed copies of a book with all the plates from Naoko Matsubara's exhibition last month for only $20, so that was quite a deal.  There was also a fairly provocative exhibit called Everybody Rides a Bicycle in Heaven, which had a number of photos of the ghost bikes that are installed when a cyclist is hit and killed by a car or truck driver.  I thought this one was the most artistic and effective, though I would say that the more gentrification in a neighbourhood, the more likely that there will be traffic calming and slightly safer biking conditions....

Tenzin Dorje, Inus Goussard, 37, 2021

Sunday, I got a fairly late start after doing the grocery shopping.  However, it was a nice day, so I biked out to MOCA.  I wasn't too interested in the art on 1st or 3rd floor, but Spaghetti Blockchain, Mika Rottenberg's solo show, is pretty interesting and takes up the entire 2nd floor.  It does take about an hour to watch all the videos.  It's up for one more week.  I do wish more video artists would consider putting their work on DVD as generally I don't have time to stay and watch full pieces, though I can sometimes make exceptions, as I did today.

As I was so far west, I went a bit further to Roncesvalles and stopped in at A Good Read.  I picked up a signed copy of Findley's Headhunter.  (They had so many of these, they have them stashed in the basement!)  I hadn't really planned on it, but 1313 Queen West was open, so I ran in there and checked out some of the photographs.

It isn't entirely set, but I am going to try to go to the McMichael on Thurs, on my way over to Stratford.  At the moment, there is rain the forecast, but I'm hoping the rain either doesn't materialize or is just light.  Stratford says their show will go on regardless, but I don't want to have to drive in the rain, as I am out of practice!

If all goes as planned the week after that, I'm running over to Ottawa to see the Rembrandt exhibit.  And just possibly that weekend, I'll take the bus out to Hamilton to check out the Art Gallery of Hamilton, combining it with a visit to McMaster.  (So hard to believe that my son is getting ready to think about college tours!)  

I know this seems like a hectic schedule, but with Delta looming, I figure there is no point in delaying.  In many cases, if you postpone an event, then you lose your chance to go.  At least that is my experience recently.