Lights, Camera, Action!

There’s something about an art museum that brings out new and exciting dimensions to live performances. From dancers to poets, musicians and more, the AGO has hosted many live performances, creating unique moments through art. Though the AGO Live stage remains temporarily closed, we’re continuing to connect with artists to bring you all new, and virtual performance experiences.

In our newly created AGO Friday Nights: Home Stage series, we’re working with artists to host live, Zoom-based, performances every other week on Friday evenings. The series will rotate, highlighting new live content with Home Stage, and sparking nostalgia with Moments From The Archives, which features recordings of past performances.

To help you get a taste for what’s in store in the coming weeks, take a look at the performances below:

Moments from the Archives: Friday, May 8th – Zadie Xa: Grandmother Mago.

Last January, artist Zadie Xa presented the Canadian premier of Grandmother Mago, filling Walker Court with acoustic drumming, dance, intricate costumes and painted sculptural elements. Originally presented at the 2019 Venice Biennale, Xa’s piece explores intersectional identities and how families share their histories. Following the Archival performance, Zadie Xa went live from her London home on Zoom for a Q&A with Assistant Curator of Live Projects and Performance Bojana Stancic, to get  an update of her life in lockdown and her 2020 Sobey Art Prize Award.

Home Stage: Friday, May 15th – Memory Pearl's Music for 7 Paintings

Last Friday, Toronto musician Memory Pearl treated audiences to an intimate livestream performance from his living room. On his new album, Music for 7 Paintings, Memory Pearl retraces his steps through North America’s great museums, finding in abstract impressionist artworks the inspiration for seven new songs. As part of AGO Home Stage he performed two songs inspired by works from AGO's own collection: Natural Answer by Helen Frankenthaler and Franz Kline's Cupola. The performance was accompanied by a Q&A with the artist and Kenneth Brummel, Associate Curator of Modern Art at the AGO. 

But what is next you say?

On Friday May 29 TIKA the Creator takes the Home Stage for a live streamed conversation and performance with her circle of collaborators. As an artist, DJ, TV and online personality, this dynamic performer was the final headliner of the AGO’s former art party, First Thursday.

Stay tuned to the AGOinsider for details about upcoming performances, talks and all your art news.