The December First Thursday: LONG WINTER TAKEOVER 

After a sold-out partnership last January, the Long Winter collective is back to guest-program the final First Thursday of the fall season – and of 2014 – on December 4.

Legendary Toronto band The Hidden Cameras headline a night that will also feature unforgettable musical performances by Toronto No-Wave band New Fries and the Montreal-based pop experimenter Mekele.

Local artists Zeesy Powers, Tough Guy Mountain, Alex Bowron and Gingy will fill the galleries with exciting, experimental work. The night will also feature Part of the Furniture, a pop-up group show scattered throughout galleries on the AGO’s first floor featuring artists Daniel Gruetter, Carey Jernigan, Marty Rosen, Vincent Joseph Monastero, Matthew Alexander Cherkas, Ryan Dodgson, Melissa Fisher, Gord Peteran and Alison Creba.

The action-packed night will also feature the AGO’s next artists-in-residence, Mammalian Diving Reflex, who will create a memorable interactive project titled _______ Looking to Hook. Talwst will mount the performance lanmó, inspired by the AGO’s upcoming exhibition Jean-Michel Basquiat: Now’s the Time. The Regent Park School of Music presents a Parade of Noises, featuring a band of 50 young people and their homemade instruments. Cressida Kocienski will present the film Unorganized North Algoma. And activities with artists Amanda Wyman, Jenn Kitagawa and a group of local illustrators tagging tote bags will make sure visitors can roll up their sleeves and make artwork themselves.    

After a packed panel discussion last year about feminism and art, After School returns with moderator Nicola Spunt leading an exciting discussion. And don’t miss art-making activities with local artists, plus a DJ set by Kevin Hegge.

And it wouldn’t be a First Thursday without pop-up talks – including the AGO’s current artist-in-residence Greg Staats – and delicious food and drinks throughout the galleries.  Book your tickets before they’re gone!