Canada Day Tours
Through virtual tours of the McMichael’s current exhibitions, we invite all Canadians to view their country through artists’ eyes, bringing to life various historical, social and personal stories.
River of Dreams: Impressionism at the St. Lawrence, Curatorial Talk
Exhibition co-curator Anne-Marie Bouchard will lead a journey down the St Lawrence River and surrounding landscapes as seen through the eyes of legendary Quebec Impressionist artists including James Wilson Morrice, Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté, Maurice Cullen, Clarence Gagnon, William Brymner, Ozias Leduc, Henrietta Mabel May, and others. Bouchard will explore these works in the social context of a rapidly changing society, as rural life in Quebec gave way to modernity.
Tafelmusik Chamber Series: Midsummer Follies
Tafelmusik at the McMichael: CHAMBER 3 — The days are long and the nights short, and we welcome the summer solstice with musical follies. We look beyond the courtly music of the baroque to the dance music and songs that were popular in the cafés, taverns, and country fairs. Our midsummer celebration takes us from the British Isles to northern Europe—and from France to New France, featuring music that migrated across the Atlantic and remain part of the Québecois folk tradition today.
Jackson’s Wars, A.Y. Jackson before the Group of Seven, Curatorial Talk
Acclaimed author, historian and exhibition co-curator Douglas Hunter will reframe the legacy of Canada’s most significant artists through a close look at Jackson’s rarely seen early paintings of Italy, Belgium and France, as well as his evocative depictions of rural Quebec and Ontario. Learn more about this acclaimed Montreal-born and trained member of the Group of Seven and his roots in Quebec art.
Live from the McMichael: Bertram Brooker
Live from the McMichael Virtual Tour of Bertram Brooker: When We Awake! The McMichael is pleased to present the premiere livestreamed virtual tour of Bertram Brooker: When We Awake! Led by an experienced McMichael Educator, this hour-long tour will highlight Bertram Brooker’s artistic versatility, which allowed [...]
People of the Watershed, Curatorial Talk
Curatorial Talk People of the Watershed: Photographs by John Macfie Saturday, May 11 | 2 pm Join McMichael Associate Curator Emily Laurent Henderson for a curatorial talk featuring nîpisîhkopâwiyiniw (Willow Cree) exhibition guest curator, writer, cultural advocate, and Indigenous Archival Photo Project founder Paul Seesequasis. Seesequasis will [...]
Canadian Art Hop at the McMichael
Curatorial Talk Canadian Art Hop at the McMichael Coinciding with the inaugural Canadian Art Hop weekend organized by the Art Dealers Association of Canada, explore two of the McMichael’s current exhibitions with curators Emily Laurent Henderson and John Geoghegan. Date & Time Sunday, April 28 [...]
J.E.H. MacDonald: Up Close Gallery Talk
On Sunday, April 14 join Kate Helwig, Senior Conservation Scientist at the Canadian Conservation Institute, and Alison Douglas, Conservator at the McMichael, as they share findings from their research into the painting materials and techniques of J.E.H. MacDonald, a founding member of the Group of Seven, a tranche of whose recently 'rediscovered' works have sparked an authentication controversy. Helwig and Douglas's scientific research played a crucial role in unraveling the mystery behind the alleged MacDonald sketches currently on view at the Vancouver Art Gallery in the exhibition J.E.H. MacDonald? A Tangled Garden, and this talk will delve into the science and art of authentication within the context of their research.
McMichael Slow Art Day
McMichael Slow Art Day On April 13th the McMichael will observe Slow Art Day, a day that encourages people to “discover for themselves the joy of looking at and loving art.” On Slow Art Day the galleries will be as quiet as possible with lots of extra seating. [...]
Watercolour Explorations: Discovering the Polar Regions and Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest with David McEown
Join award-winning artist David McEown as he guides visitors through the landscapes of the Arctic, Antarctica and Canada’s West Coast wilderness on his travels as a working artist. In this multimedia presentation David will share stories of wildlife encounters, observations of climate change, and the artistic challenges of working on location. After the presentation, enjoy an hour-long watercolour demonstration and technical talk as David discusses the evolution of a sketch into Spirit of the Forest, his new watercolour mural.
Owning Yellow Virtual Artist’s Talk
Wednesday, March 20 at 7 pm join McMichael Executive Director and Chief Curator Sarah Milroy for a virtual artist’s talk with Toronto-based visual artist Sandra Brewster about her work Owning Yellow (2023), which was recently acquired by the gallery. Milroy and Brewster will discuss the artist’s unique photo-based practice and the importance of identity, cultural memory, and representation in contemporary art.
Tafelmusik Chamber Series: Divertimento
Tafelmusik at the McMichael: CHAMBER 2 — Showcasing the three lowest members of the string family, the music presented in this concert is centred around the musical genre of the “divertimento,” from the Italian divertire “to amuse.” This often light-hearted music was frequently played at social functions, sometimes outdoors, bringing people together to delight and revel in the antics of the performers. Works of the late 18th and early 19th centuries by composers including Beethoven, Rossini, and Michael Haydn display humour and wit in this concert of duos and trios.
McMichael Highlights In-Person Tours
McMichael Highlights In-Person Tours About the tours Join a McMichael Docent for this overview of the gallery's permanent collection and special exhibitions. With a focus on key themes and artworks, this tour will introduce visitors to highlights of the art of Canada – both beloved favourites and new discoveries – including works [...]
Abstraction and Realism: The Versatile Genius of Bertram Brooker, Curatorial Talk
Curatorial Talk Abstraction and Realism: The Versatile Genius of Bertram Brooker Bertram Brooker was a painter, graphic designer, art critic, writer, musician, and advertising executive. He gained notoriety on the Toronto cultural scene for his 1927 exhibition of his "world and spirit" paintings at the Arts and Letters Club. This exhibition is considered [...]
Early Days, New Directions for Indigenous Art at the McMichael, Virtual Curatorial Talk
Virtual Curatorial Talk Early Days, New Directions for Indigenous Art at the McMichael Sunday, January 21 | 3 pm The recent publication of Early Days, Indigenous Art from the McMichael signals the gallery’s commitment to center Indigenous voices in the curation and interpretation of Indigenous art in [...]
Tom Thomson Virtual Public Tour
Tom Thomson Virtual Public Tour About the tour Inspired by an astute reading of the artist’s oeuvre by Ian Dejardin, McMichael Executive Director, this virtual tour invites viewers to explore the groundbreaking painting technique of Tom Thomson, the ultimate Canadian modernist landscape painter. Based on exhibition stills, the tour will present several [...]
Acoustic Conversation: The Tom Thomson Guitar
Acoustic Conversation: The Tom Thomson Guitar Celebrating the inter-generational dialogues of Canadian art. Friday, December 1 at 8 pm BUY TICKETS The Tom Thomson Guitar, the culmination of the McMichael’s 2017 Group of Seven Guitar Project, has finally entered the McMichael’s permanent collection. Created through an [...]
Teaching Artist Series with Dominik Modlinski
TEACHING ARTIST SERIES Journey Through the Wilderness with Dominik Modlinski Program Description Join artist Dominik Modlinski as he shares the stories behind his paintings and creative process. Following in the traditions of countless Canadian historical artists, Modlinski’s journeys through the wilderness help inspire his en plein air works through [...]
Tafelmusik Chamber Series: Making Herself Heard
Chamber Series at the McMichael By Tafelmusik Chamber Series at the McMichael Making Herself Heard: Music by baroque women Friday, November 24 at 8 pm BUY Tickets TICKETS COMING SOON CHAMBER 1 Making Herself Heard: Music by Baroque Women Celebrating [...]
Exhibition Opening Talks: Cobalt: A Mining Town and the Canadian Imagination & Moridja Kitenge Banze: Topographies
Exhibition Opening Talks Cobalt: A Mining Town and the Canadian Imagination & Moridja Kitenge Banza: Topographies Saturday, November 18 Speakers: Dr. Catharine Mastin and Moridja Kitenge Banza With John Geoghegan, Sarah Milroy Date & Time Saturday, November 18 from 1 to 3 pm [...]