Prayer bead inside micro-CT scanner. Sustainable Archaeology, University of Western Ontario.
Micro-CT scanning prayer beads from the Thomson Collection
The AGO’s Lisa Ellis, conservator of sculpture and decorative art, and Sasha Suda, assistant curator of European Art, travelled to the University of Western Ontario to answer questions about the intricate construction of two prayer beads from the Thomson Collection currently featured in the exhibition Idea Lab: Research at the AGO, Investigating Miniature Ivory and Boxwood Carvings, running from July 19, 2012, to April 2014.
The complexity of the prayer beads has until now defied attempts to fully understand their construction. Some of these miniature carvings contain close to 100 separately carved elements. Traditional tools like X-radiography and microscopy cannot not fully explain how these objects were made — the way they are pieced together obscures joins from view and stacks elements, making it impossible to fully decipher the objects’ interiors with X-rays.
In order to understand these objects, we required much more sophisticated imaging. For help with our problem, we tracked down Dr. Andrew Nelson and doctoral student Zoe Morris from the University of Western Ontario’s Department of Anthropology, and Dr. Ron Martin from its Department of Chemistry. This highly specialized group of experts introduced us to micro-computed tomography, also known as high-resolution X-ray tomography or micro-CT scanning.
The Sustainable Archaeology facility at Western University has a Canadian Foundation for Innovation–funded industrial Nikon Metrology XT H 225 system microtomography (micro-CT) scanner with a resolution so fine that it can distinguish details as small as 36 micrometers — a third of the diameter of a human hair — in the scans of the prayer beads. Just like medical scanners (which have a slice thickness of 600 micrometers), micro-CT scanners perform non-invasive studies to show internal features not of human anatomy, in this case, but of archaeological and bioarchaeological materials and now artworks.
Micro-CT scanning is now successfully exposing the construction secrets of these superlative carvings: scans of the two prayer beads have revealed hidden joins, pegs and adhesives. With the support of our collaborators at Western, the AGO team is eager to continue our micro-CT investigations into these fascinating objects and scan the remaining eight prayer beads in the Thomson Collection.
Zoe Morris, University of Western Ontario, manipulating and interpreting the scans.
Curious about Conservation?
If you have a burning question about Conservation, leave a comment below. We’ll do our best to give you an answer in an upcoming Conservation Notes post.
Signature Partner of the AGO’s Conservation Program
You’re probably used to finding packets of silica gel in your shoes boxes, electronic packaging, new purses — its uses are many — but did you know it’s also hidden in spots all around galleries and museums? In this post, conservator of sculpture and decorative arts Lisa Ellis explains why it is also a simple but powerful material used in the preservation of artworks. Read the rest of this entry »
Many of the works in our collection are fragile and delicate, but there are some that are fragile and also very, very heavy. In this post, conservator of sculpture and decorative arts Lisa Ellis and mountmaker John Williams explain how our staff members move this kind of work around the Gallery.
Notes on the Storage, Handling and Exhibition Base (SHEB) for Archangel Michael
This superlative and rare sculpture, depicting the Archangel Michael, was an anonymous gift to the AGO in 1997. It is dated to around 1290 and is carved out of limestone.
Depending on exhibition schedules, sculptures at the AGO rarely sit still for any length of time. Instead they tend to move from gallery to gallery and sometimes temporarily reside in storage areas or even travel to other institutions on loan. The AGO conservators and mountmakers assist the Exhibition Services department in the movement of large, fragile objects such as the Archangel Michael. Read the rest of this entry »
The AGO is offering Toronto families nine days of fun this March Break, beginning Saturday, March 9. Inspired by the imaginative miniature sculptures of Kim Adams, the AGO offers children and families tons of ways to play, shop, eat and create. And all drop-in programs and activities are FREE with the price of admission.
March Break drop-in programs will run daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 9 to March 17. And because March Break only comes once a year, the AGO will remain open on Monday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering one extra day of fun for kids and parents in the Gallery. For updates on daily programming, follow the AGO on Facebook and Twitter.
This year’s theme is Itty Bitty Cities, and children and families can explore all things small from small ships to mini marvels throughout the Gallery including:
A Kim Adams kids activity guide and the miniature worlds and unbridled imagination of this acclaimed Canadian sculptor;
All-day play at the Imagination Playground in Walker Court, where kids can bend, stack and build giant blue blocks to create their own sprawling kingdoms;
All the art making supplies kids need to construct tiny additions to the AGO’s own itty bitty city, available in Walker Court;
Free family yoga classes at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. in the Weston Family Learning Centre on Monday, March 11, Wednesday, March 13, and Friday, March 15;
Kid-friendly tours of the Gallery, giving families a “kid’s eye view” of the AGO collection, leave hourly from Walker Court;
Extended hours at the Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre (ages 5 and under), where the Gallery’s youngest visitors can make art, listen to stories and play dress up daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and
Screenings of art-inspired short films from the National Film Board all day long in Jackman Hall.
shopAGOkids is celebrating March Break with a variety of daily in-store events and promotions. Highlights include a book reading and signing on Sunday, March 10, at 1 p.m. with the Governor General’s Award–winning children’s author Cybele Young. On Thursday, March 14, visitors can participate in a hands-on demonstration with neon graffiti pens, and on March 19 families can experience hands-on fashion demonstrations with stylists from Cool and Hot Duct Tape.
What’s happening in shopAGOkids during March Break? Click to expand.
Building miniature cities and shopping is hard work, so kids five and under always eat for free at caféAGO with the purchase of an adult meal. During March Break, FRANK Restaurant is offering families a special three-course prix-fix lunch for just $25. Members will get an extra 20 per cent off. FRANK will open for brunch on Monday, March 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with plenty of kids items on the menu. For reservations call 416.979.6680.
This March, Patti Smith is visiting Toronto, and we’re very excited for her performances here at the Gallery during our next 1st Thursdays event on March 7. She will also be participating in screenings of the film Patti Smith: Dream of Life and doing a book signing while she’s here for the exhibition Patti Smith: Camera Solo.
This won’t be Smith’s first visit to Toronto, of course. She was here more than three decades ago, in 1976, for a Patti Smith Group concert, and we were lucky to hear from a photographer who was there and captured some amazing images of Smith on stage. Below, Toronto’s Vince Carlucci describes the event that brought his appreciation for Smith and her music to a new level and shares his photos.
Camera Solo highlights the many connections between Smith’s photography and her interest in poetry and literature, and this same interest is present in her music. Thanks to Vince for his contribution and for helping us celebrate Smith’s art across all media. Read the rest of this entry »
On May 1, Andrew Hunter will join the AGO as its new Fredrik S. Eaton Curator, Canadian Art.
He has collaborated with the AGO in the past, specifically on Tom Thomson (2003) and Emily Carr: New Perspectives (2007). He has more than 20 years’ experience and is an accomplished curator, artist, writer and educator.
Currently the co-founder and co-principal of DodoLab, an international program of community collaboration and interdisciplinary creative research, Andrew has held many curatorial positions at such institutions as the Vancouver Art Gallery, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Kamloops Art Gallery, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and Charlottetown’s Confederation Centre Art Gallery, to name a few. He has taught at OCAD University, the University of Waterloo (Faculty of Arts and School of Architecture) and lectured on curatorial practice across Canada, the United States, England, China and Croatia.
Andrew graciously answered some questions we had about his outlook on Canadian art and his decision to join our curatorial team. Read the rest of this entry »
We’ve all seen the yellowing of old photos and the fading of fabrics near windows in our own homes. The effects of light on works of art in our collection could be just as harmful, but our ever-vigilant conservators aren’t about to let that happen. In this post, conservator Katy Whitman explains why and how we keep different kinds of light in check. Read the rest of this entry »
On Feb. 10, AGO artists in residence Life of a Craphead presented a new edition of Doored, a monthly performance show that they have been curating and hosting since 2012. Doored features exciting new work from performance artists and comedians in Toronto. This edition’s participants were Bridget Moser, Cameron Lee, CN Tower Liquidation, Daniel Goodbaum, Fake Injury Party, Glenn Macaulay, Gwen Bieniara, Laura McCoy, Lisa Smolkin, and Neil LaPierre and David Tallis, with live music by Man Made Hill, visuals by Nikki Woolsey and door by Zoe Solomon.
Doored is part of the regular programming at the artist-run venue Double Double Land in Kensington Market.
About Life of a Craphead
Life of a Craphead is the collaborative work of Amy Lam and Jon McCurley, comprising performance, comedy, theatre and video. Established in 2006, their projects include transporting two psychopaths in a cage on the back of a truck, touring a live comedy show, giving away everything on a restaurant’s menu, and building a three-storey maze. Their first feature-length film, Bugs, is in post-production. Life of a Craphead have presented work at The Power Plant, Toronto; Gallery TPW, Toronto; Hotel MariaKapel, Hoorn, The Netherlands; Department of Safety, Anacortes, U.S.; and the Banff Centre, Banff, as well as at numerous comedy venues and music shows in Canada and the U.S.
Life of a Craphead live and work in Toronto and collaborate frequently with other artists and performers.
Participating performers
Bridget Moser is an interdisciplinary artist whose performances combine inanimate objects, affect, prop comedy, and escape art. She has presented work in various venues across Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Cameron Lee received his BFA in Drawing and Painting from OCAD U, the University of the Imagination. He hasn’t drawn or painted much since graduating.
CN Tower Liquidation is Sebastian Butt, Charlie Murray and Xan Hawes. They specialize in the dematerialization and reconstitution of objects into cubes. Recent shows include Free(or Best Offer), Ed Video Media Arts Centre, Guelph; THASDF FORDFBDFG CDFBLLimdbbing MEAD, Gendai Workstation; and Paul Petro’s Christmas Spice.
Daniel Goodbaum is either an artist/comedian or a comedian/artist. He’s attempting a ‘reverse Woody Allen’ by starting as a filmmaker and working his way into standup. He makes videos about food, fashion, film, and one or two things that don’t start with the letter ‘f’.
Fake Injury Party are three full grown men who know how to get the job done and have fun doing it! Experience: catering, dishwashing, serving.
Glenn Macaulay has been performing comedy in Toronto since 2005. He believes in true love and has to get to the theatre nice and early in order to fully enjoy the experience.
Gwen Bieniara is an artist from Toronto who works closely with performance.
Laura McCoy lives and works in Toronto.
Lisa Smolkin is an artist living in Toronto. Some of her creative stand-out moments include hosting a connectedness workshop, having a home-museum tailored to its visitors, and co-presenting a performative installation about the idea of emotional receptivity/industrial receiving areas.
Man Made Hill is the Solo Funk Agenda of Randy Gagne. Incubated in a crusty basement in Cambridge, ON, Man Made Hill has been steady mutilating sounds since 2004. Armed with a modest arsenal of synthesizer/sampler/drum-machine/voice/dance MMH assumes a series of transformational stage personas including Extra-Terrestrial Sex Judge, Diseased Futuristic Priest, Energy-Mayonnaise Demonstrator, Prison Disco-Enthusiast etc…
Neil LaPierre and David Tallis are prophets of the hypercassional (events you’ll be finding yourself doing everyday several times a day). This is their first performance at the AGO.
Nikki Woolsey lives in Toronto and makes mostly sculpture and photography. She collaborated with Life of a Craphead at the Hotel Maria Kapel residency in The Netherlands and contributed to CN Tower Liquidation’s performative “Theory of Condensation” event at the AGO. She was included in the recent exhibition “That’s not a run in your stocking, it’s a hand on your leg” at Narwhal Art Projects. She sometimes works as a prop maker and production designer.
Sometimes it’s not the work itself but the materials we use to display it that need help. In this post, photograph conservator Katy Whitman describes how she fixed a pesky case of glass deterioration.
A view of the daguerrotype through the cover glass before treatment.
In this video, executive chef Anne Yarymowich shows how to make the Buttermilk Bacon Biscuits served alongside Nova Scotia Clam Chowder on FRANK’s Winterlicious lunch and dinner menus.
Buttermilk Bacon Biscuits
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup cold butter
1/2 cup cooked bacon bits, drained of fat
1 cup buttermilk
For the bacon:
Use good quality double smoked slab bacon. About 8 ounces raw will yield a half cup cooked. If you are using a commercial sliced bacon your yield will be much less. Cut into quarter-inch cubes.
Render in a pan on medium low heat until most of the fat is rendered out but the bacon still has a bit of chew. Remove from fat and drain well on paper towel. Set aside to cool.
For the biscuit dough:
Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl, whisk together until well blended.
Cut in the cold butter using a cheese grater. Work the butter into the flour mix with your fingers, until well incorporated.
Add in the cooked cooled bacon.
Add in the buttermilk all at once and mix just until liquid is incorporated and the dough comes together.
Turn onto a lightly floured board. Roll out to 1 inch thickness.
Cut into 2×2-inch squares or with 2-inch round cutter.
Place on parchment lined tray.
Bake at 375 F for 12 minutes, turning the tray once, halfway through the baking time.
Serve immediately
Video by Danny Winchester/AGO.
Art. Food. Talk. Find out more about FRANK, including its hours, menus and special events and see photos of its modern, inviting setting.
