One recent weekend we decided to get a little culture and enjoy the Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris which are on loan for a special exhibition to the AGO. These cultural experiences always seem to surprise me on how expensive they are (we paid $30 each, including the self guided audio tour). I cannot imagine bringing a family of 4 or 5 to see such a thing, it would literally bankrupt most people. It’s actually a quite sad commentary on our society in Canada, where cultural activities are usually only available for the middle and upper classes. Of course, you could visit the AGO on a Wednesday night (general admission is free) for a mere $12.50 each admission to the special exhibitions, but then you are restricted to 6-8:30 pm. JT and I tried this approach several years ago with the ROM, who offer free admission on Friday evenings, but the line up was so long, we speculated we would have a mere 10 minutes to go through the museum once we got in. Sadly, we haven’t tried it since.
Are museums and galleries expensive where you are? And do they offer free time slots?
The Picasso exhibit was very nicely laid out chronologically through his life experiences around women (or so it seems to me that it was). He was a passionate artist and had several girlfriends, wives and lovers who influenced his work. Since he died in 1973, he was able to communicate much of where he was coming from in his art; of course, he left a lot of interpretation to us, just for the fun of it.
I majored in Art History in University, but that was a million, perhaps even a billion years ago, so the AGO was like a second home to me. But in 2008 Frank Gehry (Toronto born) redesigned the building and it’s a far cry from the gallery I recall (sadly, I was unable to find a photo of it). Non-the-less, it is a superbly beautiful building with Gehry’s trademark organic structures that challenge the materials used and is really a joy to walk through; the spaces where the art is showcased will always remain about the art, but the other areas, such as walkways, stairs and common areas are totally about the architecture.
I have to admit that I am not a huge Picasso fan, I find most of his work jarring and disturbing but I can appreciate it for what it is. He was a visionary in two and three dimensional art, looking at his subject as no other. The perspective is quite interesting but for me, finding the beauty of the subject (not necessarily the art) was challenging. By far, my favourite piece had to be Sacre Cœur, one of my favourite views in Paris (and fortunately this fall we will be staying in this lovely neighbourhood!). Because of copyright issues, photography is not permitted in the galleries with installations, but you can google it or click here to see it.. The facets skim the image, giving us just enough information to be able to recognize the building. Perhaps it’s the tones I am drawn to, or that the facets sparkle like the facets of a diamond, I am not sure; I just know it was my favourite of the entire collection.
The exhibit took us about an hour to go through, and we lingered. We could have stayed on to wonder through the permanent collections but we had to do grocery shopping for the week, otherwise we would have no lunches! Perhaps I’ll pop down one Wednesday when it’s free for a few hours and revisit my past. I hope you click on the links to see more of this impressive structure, known as the AGO.
Museums aren’t cheap here in the Bay Area, although the Berkeley Library has free passes to the UC Museum that you can check out and use. On a 1979 trip to Europe I went to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, spent hours there. My favorite thing was looking at Picasso’s drawings — he was a fine draftsman and no one knows it because of his other, weirder stuff. I also like some of his blue paintings.
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We’re going to Barcelona in the fall, I may just have to pop into that museum. But I agree, I prefer Picasso’s illustrations to his paintings; the blue period just makes me sad.
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I thought I was the only one who went to university well into the last century. 🙂
The Queensland museum is $13 to get in the door but special exhibitions are $20-25 on top of that so it’s not cheap here either. I’d eat soup for a week if that’s what it took to go. Museums, galleries and live theatre are my weakness.
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Interesting, Maureen, it’s rather shameful that they are so expensive.
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I’ve been hearing such great things about pork cheeks lately. I will have to try them. I can’t wait to visit such a museum soon! =D
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Thanks SM, it’s not something I have seen a lot on menus but JT mentioned it was very tender.
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Hi Eva! Oh yes, museums are expensive here as well. They do offer free days, but I only go for those during the school year to avoid the major crowds. I won’t even attempt them during the summer or school holidays. I didn’t know Frank Gehry was Toronto born! One of the cos. I work for is doing some work with him. He’s designing a reception desk for the lobby. 🙂
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It is a shame. Wow, how cool is that? I’d love to see a picture of the finished desk.
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I, too, enjoy viewing exhibitions and saw more than a few at the Art Institute when I still worked in the Loop. Up until a few years ago, I had a friend who worked at the Art Institute. He would give us access to major shows about an hour before the doors opened to the public. We were able to view the works, undisturbed and at our own pace. It was truly a bittersweet moment when he announced to us his retirement. You know, Eva, I’ve just realized that I haven’t been back since his retirement. I need to remedy this.
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I was at the Art Institute a few years ago to see the Gauguin and Van Gogh exhibit, it was lovely; although I had to see it with the unwashed masses, and not a wonderful private tour! First time that security searched my purse at a gallery was at the Art Institute.
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You make such a good point about the inaccessibility of museums due to prohibitive pricing… it seems bringing a family of 4 or 5 anywhere these days (even the movies!) is silly expensive. Thanks for the AGO tour – I’m overdue for a trip to TO just hang and enjoy some leisure time…
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I haven’t been to the National Gallery forever, Kelly. I’m embarrassed to admit the last time I was there was when they acquired Voice of Fire. I’ll have to return soon. We should try to get together for a coffee next time you’re in the big smoke.
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Hi Eva – goodness that’s a lot. I don’t mind paying that kind of money at all for something like a lovely classical music concert but so much money to see some art… I’d find it difficult to be honest. I guess I’m not a huge art lover. I have my favourites – I went to see an impressionists exhibition in the Pinacotheque in Paris because I absolutely adore Vermeer and a Magritte exhibition in Brussels too (another favourite) and I would love to see an exhibition of Edward Hopper but in general paintings just don’t do it for me – especially not Picasso… although I vaguely remember going to the Picasso museum in Paris many years ago when I was studying in Paris.
We’re lucky – the first sunday of every month almost all museums (at least a massive majority) are free to enter. Of course there’s a problem with huge queues, but it’s still nice to have the opportunity if you can get there early enough to avoid the throngs of people.
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Hi Charles, Vermeer is one of my favourites too! I love Van Eyck too, and Renoir. My favourite museum in Paris is the Musée D’Orsay; I love the Rodin museum as well. Picasso is not my favourite but I was glad to have seen it.
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That’s a lovely thing to do. We try to fit in some culture every now and then but like you say, it’s not cheap. And that’s really a shame because all those interested should have the opportunity. I don’t think we have discount nights like you do but I’m sure if we did, they would be so popular you would be queuing for hours xx
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Thanks Charlie, it is a shame.
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Wonderful point to ponder. In India, I have unfortunately not visited too many museums or national parks, but the ‘entry fees’ are quite minimal. I have been to a few museums and galleries in Europe and yes, I did feel that they were putting a premium on sharing art and culture. Had we gone as big family instead of as a couple, it would have worked out very expensive!
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That’s great that in India the fees are more reasonable. I’m going to see if we can get a week pass when we’re in Europe this fall.
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I have visited Picasso museum in Paris many years ago and really loved it. I must say that tne art admired in museums can open our eyes to the artists we think we dislike or don’t understand. I still remember how moved I was by Guernica I saw in Madrid (before I found it pointless). This is why there should be an option for people who cannot afford expositions… In Paris I think Sundays are free (but I’m not sure) and they organise The night of museums/Museum night every year, which means that museums are free and open very late at night (maybe midnight?). I have never did the latter but it must be lots of fun and a very special atmosphere.
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Now I know why I think of you as a kindred spirit Sissi – Guernica – yes!
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What a great idea, Sissi, to open the museums until midnight, I bet the energy is incredible! I would like to see Guernica on person; I’m sure it would be provoking just by the sheer size, I would live to experience the impact of emotion to see it.
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Hi Éva,
Kevin and I have a family membership for the AGO, and that makes it affordable for us and the little guy to go see all the special exhibits, or just hang out in the regular exhibits (and the kids area) on a regular basis throughout the year. Otherwise, for sure, it would be pretty expensive for a family outing. Kevin and I went to see the Picasso exhibit this week on our own (aka “in peace”) and we’ll take Rowan another day so that we can focus in on certain pieces that we think he’ll enjoy or relate to (we ask lots of “what do you see in this painting?” or “what do you think this one is about?” – it’s amazing what little ones get out of an art outing…). Sacre Coeur was one of my favourites too, along with the portrait of Picasso’s second wife, Jaqueline with crossed hands, because she’s so beautiful, and the quick outline/portrait of a young boy at the very end, which I can’t remember the name of.
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Glad you had a chance to see it, I think it’s leaving sometime in August. It may even be back in Paris when we’re there in the fall!
The family membership is definitely the way to go, I’ll have to check the other special exhibits to see if we might be interested in it. At any rate, I’ll pop down on a Wednesday night when it’s free just to bum around and feel like a university student again!
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Hi Eva,
Art History was also part of my first degree-along with the subjects of History, Literature and Philosophy, when I was studying at University in Paris-many, many years ago!! Have to say I too gravitate to older art…
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Wow, how very fortunate to have studied art history in Paris! I’ll be going for a visit in the fall, I will be checking out my favourite gallery Musée d’Orsay.
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Eva, my favourite Picasso is Guernica. I do not think there is another painting that speaks about the insanity of war quite like Picasso. Not even Goya could do it. Privately I tend to gravitate toward Gauguin, Csontvary being my all time, absolute favourite painter. I used to see a couple of his works in Budapest while growing up, but when I finally went to see the bulk of his works in Pecs in 1984, I just sat down on a bench holding back the tears. The only other time I felt like this was around the totem poles at the UBC museum of anthropology. I did the fine art thing at university too, I used to be a painter, but I havn’t touched the brush for more than twenty years. All I wanted to do is live and dance with the brush – my paintings were very large and figurative – but I coundn’t afford the paint and the canvas when my kids started to grow. I have rolls of the old stuff stacked away, I even have a few good ones, but I will never know if I could have grown into a good artist or not. I refused to do landscapes or work small, so here I am cooking away whatever little talent I had rusted and shrunken away. But I made peace with it a long time ago.
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I don’t know Csontvary but I will google him shortly. I have a few fav’s Renoir, Jan Van Eyck, Johannes Vermeer. I was very fortunate to see a Gauguin and Van Gogh exhibit in Chicago at the Art Institute a few years ago, it was wonderful. And an enormous retrospective of Manet at the MOMA in NYC in the 80’s.
It’s so interesting how we have gravitated toward one another Zsuzsa without knowing how much we really had in common. I just discovered that Karen at Backroad Journal also majored in Art History in College!
I paint too but on a small scale, although I have picked up a brush since my dear Mother’s passing. I would live to paint large scale with huge globs of paint but I am too inhibited and afraid to waist the money! Perhaps one day I will be inspired.
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When they Csontvary’s works in Paris, Picasso requested an hour of private time in the gallery. If Csontváry Kosztka Tivadar was born in a western country he would have been hailed as one of the greatest painters of all time.
Here is Csontváry képei és Bartók muzsikája:
A bit long but worthwile if you speak Hungarian:
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Thank you Zsuzsa, Hungarian was my first language, but it’s been years since I spoke or even listened to it. I really have to practice before our trip in the fall. It’s too bad that the gallery is in Pécs, I would have like to see it (we’re not going to be anywhere near it on this visit).
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Zsuzsa, I have just read your comment and the answer to mine. I’m really touched learning that you also felt such strong emotions looking at Guernica. We definitely are soul mates. I had no idea you used to paint!
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Sissi, we have kindred spirits all over the world. It is a miracle when we get to know one.
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Your post brought back fond memories of my visit to AGO after it was redesigned by Frank Gehry. Very impressive inside and outside, should visit again next time I am in Toronto.
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I’m so glad Norma, it is indeed a gorgeous building, unexpected in some places. I’m glad we finally have some world class architecture in Toronto.
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I have seen several collections of Picasso’s works but he is not a favorite of mine either. I was an art major in college as well, and modern art was my least favorite class. I’m too much of a traditionalist.
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It’s interesting how much I have in common with the people who’s blogs I’ve gravitated to. Thanks for your comments, they are always appreciated.
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