Every week we look at artworks that speak to the times, from themes of staying at home to how we will re-emerge into our community.

This week Julian Cox, AGO Deputy Director & Chief Curator is joined by filmmaker Charles Officer for a conversation about his work in the film and media industry, as well as artwork that inspires him during this difficult moment in our culture.

Charles Officer is an acclaimed filmmaker and the founder of Canesugar Filmworks. His work in fiction, documentary and television spans from his debut feature Nurse.Fighter.Boy that earned ten CSA nominations in 2010. Documentary works include the 2012 Emmy Award-winning Mighty Jerome. Unarmed Verses that received Best Canadian Feature Awards at Hot Docs, Vancouver International Festival and TIFF Top Ten Festival. The Skin We’re In, featuring journalist Desmond Cole that examines of anti-black racism in Canada. Coming in 2020 is his latest feature Akilla’s Escape. The crime-noir stars poet and actor Saul Williams in a chronicle about the politics of generational violence. Charles has been a member of the AGO Board of Trustees since 2018.

Julian Cox joined the AGO as Deputy Director & Chief Curator in 2018. He leads the curatorial team in designing meaningful art experiences that embrace multiple—and often challenging—points of view. He focuses on exhibition planning in addition to developing the AGO’s significant collections, positioning Toronto and Ontario’s rich artistic landscape in the widest context possible to ensure the Gallery is inclusive and welcoming, and reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. Before joining the AGO, Julian was Chief Curator of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), working across two museums, the de Young and the Legion of Honor. ‌