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Looking forward

August 10th, 2006

I’ve got a whopping big question today that reflects a lot of discussions that are happening around the AGO these days as we plan our way to a grand opening in 2008. The question is : what is a public art gallery for? Thoughts?

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  • Christopher Gauthier

    Yes, exactly! a Public Art Gallery *is* for _thoughts_.

    Private personal ones, publically shared ones. Big ideas, little ideas.

    Member (and non) discussions.

    And frankly I really think that “you guys” at the Gallery do a bang up job most of the time, but if I might offer a tiny suggestion…perhaps instead of (or as well as) Gallery tours that follow a set routine you might try volunteer facilitated but *participant* led gatherings. In a big city I often think we don’t interact with each other on any sort of meaningful level as much as we should, yet often my favourite times at the gallery are when something interests/puzzles/irritates someone and other opinions are solicited to “solve” the problem.

  • Christopher Gauthier

    Yes, exactly! a Public Art Gallery *is* for _thoughts_.

    Private personal ones, publically shared ones. Big ideas, little ideas.

    Member (and non) discussions.

    And frankly I really think that “you guys” at the Gallery do a bang up job most of the time, but if I might offer a tiny suggestion…perhaps instead of (or as well as) Gallery tours that follow a set routine you might try volunteer facilitated but *participant* led gatherings. In a big city I often think we don’t interact with each other on any sort of meaningful level as much as we should, yet often my favourite times at the gallery are when something interests/puzzles/irritates someone and other opinions are solicited to “solve” the problem.

  • Clara Carolyn Robin Sheffe

    Public art galleries serve a multitude of purposes all of which are important in a healthy society: an artists view of history and the evolution of attitudes, insight to other cultures and their uniqueness/similitudes, equality of enjoyment of the arts (few other artistic venues offer free days/evenings and affordable admissions), the opportunity for freedom of expression by both the artist and the “viewer”, provides a haven of tranquility even admist the most turbulent times, weaves communities together by providing an open venue of enjoyment where there is no need of a common language, a set level of eduation or social standing and race/age barriers do not exist, promotes independent thought and offers the opportunity to react to many and varied forms of expression and media forms, a gathering place for artists to not simply exhibit their creations but form a common bond of creativity and education. Long live the public galleries of the world.

  • Clara Carolyn Robin Sheffe

    Public art galleries serve a multitude of purposes all of which are important in a healthy society: an artists view of history and the evolution of attitudes, insight to other cultures and their uniqueness/similitudes, equality of enjoyment of the arts (few other artistic venues offer free days/evenings and affordable admissions), the opportunity for freedom of expression by both the artist and the “viewer”, provides a haven of tranquility even admist the most turbulent times, weaves communities together by providing an open venue of enjoyment where there is no need of a common language, a set level of eduation or social standing and race/age barriers do not exist, promotes independent thought and offers the opportunity to react to many and varied forms of expression and media forms, a gathering place for artists to not simply exhibit their creations but form a common bond of creativity and education. Long live the public galleries of the world.

  • http://conniecrosby.blogspot.com Connie Crosby

    My response is from the gut: for me, a public gallery is a place from which I can learn and be inspired, or perhaps sometimes a place to which I can escape, but is not some hallowed closed off place where only members can go. Thus the social interaction aspect is important. And that is one of the reasons why I think using social software such as this blog is bang on.

    I also like the previous commenter’s idea about bringing other face-to-face interaction into the mix.

  • http://conniecrosby.blogspot.com Connie Crosby

    My response is from the gut: for me, a public gallery is a place from which I can learn and be inspired, or perhaps sometimes a place to which I can escape, but is not some hallowed closed off place where only members can go. Thus the social interaction aspect is important. And that is one of the reasons why I think using social software such as this blog is bang on.

    I also like the previous commenter’s idea about bringing other face-to-face interaction into the mix.