Toronto Art Expo 2009

In Toronto there are many art fairs all through the year but some are better than the others the Toronto art expo at the metro Toronto convention center is like the poor sister of the other Art Fairs.
Even the show so boldly billed as the world’s largest art gala, with claims like ” the eyes of the art world will once again be focus on Toronto”
However, every time after I goes, I would amazed how there was little standard for the selection of the art shown. It seems the only standard was if the artist ability to come up with the money to pay for the booth. There so much poorly executed “art” among so few good works, I always felt badly for the better artists in this show.

I know some artists had shown there but after one or twice they all decided to not go back as the expense were so high with so few sale. However, the show seems to have a long supply of bad artists waiting to take the place. Some of these artists I seen their works at others show like the “One of a Kind Show”, either they been painting the same painting over and over or just taking the same works showing at those show until they find their buyer .Most distressing was seeing some of the photo-shopped digital prints passed as original paintings!

One funny thing I noticed while there, some artists put up a no photos sign at their booth as they were usually the not so good ones.
On second thought, they ought to have enough egos to believe their own greatest and think others wanted to copy their masterpiece.

Due to the tough economic time this year, the numbers of the artists are lot smaller but in other to makes it look good, they been offered a larger space. But looking at the body language of the artists: some just sat there lifeless and expressionless. It had been a terrible show in term of sale for them.

AGO gives Boots to 108 employees

AGO's "Massive lay Off" after the "Massive Transformation"

AGO gives boots to 108 employees
After the $300 million “massive Transformation” and facing a huge revenue shortfall, and with too few people passing through its doors, the Art Gallery of Ontario is considering laying off 61 permanent and 47 contract employees next month.
With the attendance and the bookings of event spaces far less than expected and not to mention the increased admission fee to $18 per person. AGO revenues are 20 per cent below projections.
Even I am a AGO member but after my unpleasant experience there, I had not return since. I wonder how many like me staying away for the same reason.

AGO

The new Photography policy at the AGO

The art gallery of Ontario (AGO) is in my neighborhood; in fact I can see the new building from my window. During the last three years while undergo a $300 million make- over by star architect Frank Ghery. Many of us in the neighborhood had to put up with the noise and having one side of the Dundas Street and Beverley Street closed which been great inconvenience for us live and work in the area. When it finally reopened I was excited to have a preview and was impressed with the new added spaces and displays but best of all was at the view of downtown it provided at the new building facing the Grange Park, Since I took many photos of the city I live in I thought it would be a good idea to renewed my membership after a long absent. Right there I took out a family membership because I wanted to invited friends to visit when they come to Toronto.

Sadly, this new made over also comes with a new Hollywood superstar attitude too. As the first time I returned with my new membership. No sooner than I took out my camera, a surely young security rudely asked me to delete my photos and informed me there are no photos allowed in the gallery. If I been caught taking any more photo I will be ask to leave the gallery! As I explained to him I was only taking photos of the outside and not any art in the gallery. No matter, there are no pictures allowed in the building!

I been to many museums all over the world, this is the first time I encounter such strict rule. Many allowed photography to museum own collection as long as no flash used. The only photo restriction usually applies to travel exhibitions.
The painting “Mona Lisa”, no doubt is the most famous and valuable paintings in the world, visitors at the Louver are allowed to take photo of it which only add to its appeal and the popularity.
I been to the AGO countless times, there were not many art I wanted to snap a photo of, most of the art were either under dim light or in glass cases. I did remember the Henry Moore sculpture gallery was popular with tourists to snap some photos.

When I was leaving I ask the woman at the ticket counter about this new photo policy, she gave me a stunning reply “ the architect Frank Ghery consider himself as an artist so all his buildings are copyrighted and therefore no photos allow anywhere in the building”.

However, at the end of December 2008 the AGO announced on their site of the “relaxed photo policy”, now photography of the building is allowed as long as art was in the shot.

I think the real reason for this new “relaxed policy” regarding photography at the AGO are more likely because they finally realized was un-enforceable and also creates ill wills with the paying public.
We are at the age of almost everyone own a digital camera or a camera cell phone. With museum security outnumber by the visitors, it is rather easy to snap a photo or two when the security not around or looking.
Let not forget, it was early 2004, some $1.5 million worth of miniature ivory sculptures on loan by Ken Thomson were stolen right under their nose when it was open to the public with security in full force.

One summer, I was working in New York and during the 4th of July weekend. Since I did not know anyone in the city, I decided to spend my three days holiday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in order to explore the many galleries. After my second visit there, I noticed the Japanese Gallery was close as the day before. On the third day, I inquired about this at the information desk, the nice gentleman told me it was closed due to not enough security on staff that weekend. Amazingly, without asking any questions about me or the reason why I wanted to see this gallery, he just picked up the phone and within minutes, a security been sent down and to open the gallery just for me! Not only I was allowed to take photos and I was told to take as much time as I wish.

Thank You Metropolitan Museum of Art!

Christmas Painting 2008

Every Christmas I would complete a painting to dedicate to a person or an event which were important to me. This year’s painting of a Chinese Garden was for my grandfather whom I knew very little. He was a well respected artist and scholar back in China, the first one from his village to graduated from a major university but he passed away before I was born. Due to the war none of his paintings and writings survived however I inhered his artistic genes because none of my siblings or cousins are artistic. At a trip to China a few years ago while in this garden I felt a strong connection to him
Watercolour on paper 26”x27”.

It is good to be poor

It is good to be poor!
No worry about the price at the pump
No worry about the cost of a house.
My credit is better than yours

It is good to be poor!
With no car
Not even a bike
I am healthier than you all!

It is good to be poor!
No stocks?
No bonds?
No fear of a market crash.

It is good to be poor!
She lost millions
He lost billions
But I lost not even a dime!

It is good to be poor!
No worry for what to wear
No fancy parties to attend
No need to dress to impress.

It is good to be poor!
No need for more stuff
No need for fancy goods
I can make them with no cost!

It is good to be poor!
No worry about a mortgage
No worry about the interest rate
No need to be caged!

It is good to be poor!
No need for a cell
No need for an iPod
My mind is crystal clear.

It is good to be poor!
No need for a $5 latte
No need for a $100 steak
My waistline is smaller than yours!


It is good to be poor!
No need for your social climbers
No need for your internet scammers
My true friends last forever!

It is good to be poor!
No need for Gucci
No need for Tiffany
I can still wear cloth from my twenties.

It is good to be poor!
No need for cigarettes
No need for alcohol
My body is younger than yours!

It is good to be poor!
No rush for time
No flood of mind
I can stop to smell the flowers when I like.

It is good to be poor!
No need to slave at a job
No need to plan for retirement
I will die doing what I love
It is good to be poor!