Shake It: Soca at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON -- Thurs Feb 1st!

Welcome to 2018! In the darkness of February we launch the new year of First Thursdays with hopes to release the past, and resist in a continuous present. 'Shake It' is a unique program, that looks at tradition in a contemporary way, and as always through the eyes of the artists. In all this we honour the season, and history of Carnival.

Headlining is artist Juliana Huxtable with a DJ set at 10 pm. Juliana has occupied both clubs and galleries with her work which weaves history and body through gender, race and futurism. She is also the founder of the famous New York underground party, Shock Value. Before Juliana takes the stage DJ Nino Brown of Yes Yes Y’all, Toronto’s biggest and longest running inclusive, hip hop, R&B and dancehall party, will move the crowds in Walker Court.

Elsewhere in the building, theatre artist Rhoma Spencer will be recreating the custom of Viey la cou,or the old yard, where traditional Mas is performed. The Gallery will be transformed into a performative tableau inhabited by selection of traditional Trinidad and Tobago Carnival characters, specially scripted by the artist. Jasmyn Fyffe, an emerging choreographer and dancer will present a new work exploring her relationship to J'ouvert tradition and its emancipatory folklore.

Galleria Italia will be host to soca sounds all night courtesy of Toronto's leading soca DJ crew D’ENFORCAS, and don’t miss a specially curated selection of Out of the Vaults, themed interactive projects and talks, including Natalie Wood, throughout the evening. As well, this month’s unique artist-designed program will be created for the night by 19-year-old Toronto artist Alexis Eke.

Location: The Art Gallery of Ontario, 17 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON

Time: 10pm-2:30am

Tickets: $10-$15

For tickets click here

AGO First Thursdays - Borderlines with DMC of Run-DMC @ Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON - Thurs Sept 7th!

AGO First Thursdays

September 7 – Borderlines

First Thursdays are back, and we’re launching our fall season with one of our biggest lineups yet. Headlining the event: #AGO1st is thrilled to welcome hip-hop legend DMC of Run-DMC. The night also features local artists who break boundaries and challenge borders, inspired by the exhibition Every.Now.Then: Reframing Nationhood.

Time:  7p–11:30 pm

19+ (ID required) | Cash Bar

Advance Tickets: $13 | $11 AGO Members

At the door: $16 | $14 AGO Members

Location: Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON

For tickets and info click here

AGO First Thursdays @ Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON - Thurs Jun 1st!

THE JUNE FIRST THURSDAY: THE OFFICIAL PRIDE MONTH LAUNCH PARTY
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Art Gallery of Ontario

On June 1, the AGO celebrates a vision of Pride created by the programmers of Blockorama, its longest running stage, featuring a headlining performance by Junglepussy.

Pride Toronto 2017 celebrates its official launch at the AGO with a visionary program created by Syrus Marcus Ware and Kyisha Williams on behalf of Blackness Yes, who have programmed the legendary Blockorama stage for nearly 20 years. The night brings together DJs artist projects, performances, talks, interactives, special installations and a performance by the New York-based hip hop artist Junglepussy to celebrate Black queer and trans lives, art and activism, and all things Pride!

Highlights include:

DJ sets by DJ DurtyDabz and DJ Craig Dominic
Artist projects by Melisse Watson, Rodney Diverlus and Ella Cooper
A special installation of artist-designed banners created for the Blockorama stage
Pop-up talks by artists, activists and curators including Barak adé Soleil
Hands-on interactive art-making Nadijah Robinson

An artist-designed program by Amber Williams King
A headlining set by Junglepussy at 10 pm in Walker Court
Plus, more surprises to be announced...
And of course, it wouldn’t be First Thursday without delicious food in our Night Market, drinks and dancing. Plus, don’t miss Out of the Vaults, our monthly one-night-only installation of rarely seen works from the AGO collection. Start your summer off with a celebration of community power at the AGO. All are welcome!

Member Price
$11.00

Public Price
$13.00
At the Door: $16 Non-Members / $14 AGO Members

Location:  Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON

Time: 7p - 11:30p

For info and tickets click here

AGO First Thursdays @ the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON - Thurs Oct 2nd!

The October First Thursday: A Pre-Nuit Sneak Preview

AGO First Thursdays turns two on October 2, and to celebrate the AGO is partnering with Scotiabank Nuit Blanche to fill the galleries with sneak peeks at some of the eye-popping installations that will fill the city two nights later. Featuring a headlining performance by Tim Hecker, whose 2013 album Virgins made the 2014 Polaris Prize Long List and was tagged by Pitchfork as Best New Music upon its release, the night focuses on artists who push boundaries and experiment with exciting new ideas and approaches.

Time:  7 – 11:30 pm
19+ (ID required) / Cash Bar
GENERAL ADMISSION
Advance Tickets: $12 / $10 AGO Members
At the Door: $15 / $13 AGO Members

Alex Colville
EXHIBITION ENTRY + GENERAL ADMISSION:
Advance Tickets: $22 / $10 AGO Members
At the Door: $25 / $13 AGO Members

*Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. First Thursdays consistently sell out, and tickets are not held back for at-the-door purchase.

Location:  Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON

More info click here

AGO First Thursdays with Cadence Weapon @ The Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON - Thurs Aug 1st!

August's AGO First Thursday takes inspiration from Kim Adams' dazzling and detailed sculptures, inviting you to focus on a kaleidoscope of miniature worlds inside the Gallery for one night only.

Two-time Polaris Prize nominee Cadence Weapon headlines in Walker Court. Deemed "hip hop's saviour" by Dazed and Confused, Cadence Weapon is a sonic pioneer who is constantly pushing the limits of rap and electronic music. His most recent album, Hope in Dirt City, led the Toronto Star to dub him “a bona fide, trend-oblivious rap trailblazer.”

DJ Casey Mecija (of Ohbijou) keeps the beats going in Walker Court, while DJ Mama Knows spins mid-tempo jams in Galleria Italia.

One-of-a-kind encounters with artist-created miniatures and multiples will fill the galleries, including the Northern Beaver Gallery, making a special appearance and offering unique artworks by Canadian artists for sale from a vintage vending machine.

Go behind-the-scenes with pop-up talks on the strange and wonderful objects inside the Thomson Collection of European Art (like snuff bottles and boxwood carvings) and the incredible Thomson Collection of Ship Models. And don’t miss our monthly Out of the Vaults exhibition, only on view at First Thursdays. This month's show will focus on the tiniest works on paper on our collection — and magnifying glasses will be on hand.

Plus, delicious food, tasty drinks, more tiny surprises and big performances to be announced in the coming weeks. Buy your tickets now!

AGO First Thursdays with Cadence Weapon
Location:  Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON
August 1, 2013 | 7 - 11:30 pm
Advance Tickets: $12 / $10 AGO Members
At the Door: $15 / $13 AGO Members
19+ (ID required)
$2 service charge per non-member ticket ordered online or over the phone

For tickets click here

More info visit:  http://www.ago.net