Art is in our nature. Beyond the galleries, you can explore 100 acres of forested land in the Humber River Valley – from a ridgetop ‘wilderness garden,’ planted by the McMichaels to echo the northern forest beloved of the Group of Seven, to the heritage waterway important to indigenous peoples in this area.
Luthier David Wren created this guitar inspired by the artist Franklin Carmichael, and Wren will be in a moderated conversation with musician Mike Francis about the creation of the guitar before a live performance, where Francis will perform.
This fun and intense introductory weekend workshop is geared toward those who would like to begin expressing their creativity through painting, whether that’s with realism, abstraction, or conceptual techniques. The workshop begins with the basics: drawing, composition, observation skills, values, colour, colour mixing, brushstrokes and use of media. Participants then learn how to develop and refine painting techniques by building on those basic skills. This class is taught in acrylic and water-mixable oils and, if needed, watercolour.
A guided tour in French of Passion Over Reason: Tom Thomson and Joyce Wieland, the exhibition that offers a new critical look on the life and work of Tom Thomson through the feminist lens of Wieland’s art. The event will begin at 10 am with a petit déjeuner of coffee and baked goods.
Luthier George Gray created this guitar inspired by the work and life of Frank Johnston. Gray and Jonhston share a passion for flight, and Gray's guitar incorporates a photograph he took from his own two-seater airplane of the same view of Beamsville that Johnston painted from above. Gray will be in a moderated conversation with musician Don Ross about the creation of the guitar before a live performance, where Ross will perform
Culture Days at the McMichael is a unique opportunity for the whole family to discover the latest innovative exhibitions through the public tours and enjoy art making through O’ Canada, a family drop-in art workshop inspired by the mixed-media works of Joyce Wieland currently on view at the gallery.
Instruction will be offered to artists working to refine their offerings in the subject of their choice—landscape, still life, figurative/portraiture, wildlife/pets—and in their individual style, be it realism or varying degrees of abstraction. Demonstrations will be done in water-mixable oils and acrylic; offering solutions in areas artists need help in. Sample topics covered include: mastering perspective, reflections in water, patterns, texture, skies and clouds, dramatic light, depth, using negative space, and more. Special attention will be given to basic drawing techniques, composition, colour, texture, use of materials and effective brushstrokes. Andrew Sookrah uses a combination of painting demonstrations and individual guidance to create a fun, supportive and collaborative atmosphere in the McMichael’s well-lit Pine Cottage studio.
A curatorial talk on art books with the McMichael’s Chief Curator, Dr. Sarah Stanners, and the launch of the Passion Over Reason bookwork.
Luthier Tony Duggan-Smith created this guitar inspired by the work of Arthur Lismer. Duggan-Smith will be in a moderated conversation with musician Kevin Breit about the creation of the guitar before a live performance, where Breit will perform.
Designed for advanced artists, this course will assist participants in developing a personal voice when painting the land. Through observation and analysis, participants will interpret landscape through relevant principles of design and then reconstruct it in paint using individual styles and techniques. Participants are encouraged to bring research material, sketches, or photographs to be used as a base for the work completed in class.
Join the McMichael as it celebrates the commemoration of Remembrance Day with a smudging and prayer ceremony with Ian Akiwenzie (Ojibwe Pottawatami), followed by a performance by two-time world hoop dance champion Lisa Odjig (Odawa Ojibwe).
Engaging both epic-scale and stylistically historic techniques, Zachari Logan's meticulous drawings involve a visual language that speaks to the metaphoric as well as the metaphysical. In this unique artist’s workshop, participants will have an opportunity to discuss Logan’s works included in the Passion Over Reason: Tom Thomson and Joyce Wieland exhibition, learn about his creative process, and engage in a pastel workshop to further develop their own drawing skills.
Did a blow from a canoe paddle knock Tom Thomson unconscious and into the water? Was he fatally injured in a drunken fight? Did he end his life out of fear of being forced to marry his pregnant girlfriend? Or, as was decided at the time, was his death accidental? Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of the renowned Canadian landscape painter, The Many Deaths of Tom Thomson, published by Dundurn Press, is an authoritative review of first-hand testimony and archival records about Thomson’s tragic demise. The book is a National Post bestseller. The Writers' Trust of Canada listed it among the Best Books of 2016. Join the author, Dr. Gregory Klages, for this special talk followed by a book signi
Please join the McMichael for a presentation with Elder Garry Sault about the importance of Wampum belts in the history of treaties, vital to the Reconciliation process. Described as visual interpretations of covenants and agreements, Wampum belts communicate history through symbolism and interpretation.
The eighth instrument presented in The Group of Seven Guitar Project is a baritone guitar created collaboratively by all seven luthiers working together. Join the exhibition's curator, Dr. Sarah Stanners, and the guitar makers in this final conversation focused on their fascination with Tom Thomson whose art and life have inspired this fine instrument. The conversation is then followed by a live performance from their friend, Stephen Fearing, celebrated Canadian folk singer and songwriter.
La sélection des œuvres logées dans les réserves de la Collection McMichael d’art canadien est née de mon désir, en tant que nouveau directeur général, de découvrir la collection rapidement et en profondeur. Monter une exposition me semblait la solution idéale.
Be inspired by the season while creating festive gifts and greeting cards for friends and family! Learn unique printmaking techniques as you work with ink and various printing tools. These family workshops are designed specifically for children and youth living with special needs. Take full advantage of the McMichael with discovery tours, art making, and social activities designed for various skills and abilities.
Celebrate the season with art and music by participating in artmaking workshops and attending our afternoon concert of winter holiday classics performed by trumpeter/composer Suresh Singaratnam with vocalist Joanna Majoko, pianist Stu Harrison, and the Blythwood Winds. The concert begins at 2pm, and the repertoire will include the world premiere of a new carol composed by Suresh to celebrate #Canada150.
En inuktitut, tukilik désigne « une chose ayant une signification ». Cette exposition explore les nombreuses significations et interprétations artistiques des inuksuit (le pluriel d’inukshuk) de l’île de Baffin, y compris des dessins, estampes, sculptures et plus de soixante photographies provenant du riche fonds des Archives Norman E. Hallendy conservées au McMichael. Les inuksuit comptent parmi les structures les plus anciennes et les plus importantes jamais érigées dans l’Arctique. Les Inuits ne les considèrent pas comme des œuvres d’art. Ce sont des points de repère et tous ne sont pas à l’image d’un humain. Leurs formes et leurs fonctions sont des plus diverses. Ils servent d’aides à la chasse, de repères ou de symboles, de monuments commémoratifs, ainsi que de lieux de pouvoir et de vénération. Étant donné la nature sacrée de nombreux inuksuit, ils sont rarement représentés dans l’art inuit. Au cours de la dernière décennie, l’inukshuk s’est imposé comme symbole des Inuits, de leur terre, voire du Canada.
Join the McMichael and Ojibway Elder Garry Sault in the unveiling of a new Ceremonial Garden. Elder Sault will share his knowledge through ceremony and storytelling revolving around the Indigenous presence and use of the land on which the McMichael is situated. Warm up with a cup of hot cocoa and take part in artmaking activities celebrating our connection to the land.