First Thursdays springs into April with a series of rebellious performances and installations inspired by the AGO’s new special exhibition Outsiders: American Photography and Film, 1950s–1980s. Challenging mainstream depictions of American life, the artists featured in Outsiders sought a more authentic and diverse portrait of America, and April First Thursday salutes the contemporary artists in Toronto who follow in their footsteps.

Legendary rock icon Carole Pope headlines April First Thursday, taking the stage in Walker Court at 10 p.m. A provocative and fearless onstage presence, Pope is an icon of new wave rock in Canada. Supporting her will be Montreal-based band She-Devils, with their own brand of next generation anti-establishment pop. Toronto filmmaker and artist Iris Fraser-Gudrunas a.k.a DJ <SIRI> will be spinning beats throughout the night and in Galleria Italia enjoy a tribute to the rockabilly sounds of the 1950s courtesy of Hideki Sato from the Black Dice Café.

Paying homage to the marginalized woman who shaped history, legendary Toronto performance artist, sex columnist and academic Sasha Von Bon Bon will perform in Gallery. Giving voice to a photograph, Hazlitt senior editor Alex Molotkow will read a series of poems and fiction by Dorothy Karen "Cookie" Mueller, a NY writer and actress featured in Nan Goldin’s films and images. And visitors seeking inspiration will have the opportunity to see selections from Toronto artist Jeff Harris’s ongoing self-portrait a day project, featuring works from the past 16 years.

Pop-talks include commentary by Outsiders co-curators Sophie Hackett, AGO’s Associate Curator of Photography and Jim Shedden, AGO’s Manager of Publishing. 

Plus, don’t miss the usual First Thursday favorites, including our monthly Out of the Vaults exhibition, a one-night-only exhibition of prints & drawings generously supported by The Volunteers of the Art Gallery of Ontario; interactive art-making activities; and our fabulous Night Market featuring delectable snacks prepared by AGO chefs.