Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Mammalian Artist-in-Residence at the Art Gallery of Ontario this winter, from December 3 to February 8. We're taking our new research wing, Methods for Mammals, out for a spin and running The AGO Youth Receptiveness Assessment Initiative, an assessment of the gallery's potential permeability to young people according to the principles we've developed in our Mammalian Succession Model for Youth Engagement.
We're meeting and interviewing 40 staff members, canvassing and surveying the surrounding neighbourhood to knock on every single door and talk to every single youth, holding a panel on program evaluation, a workshop to share the basics of Qualitative Comparative Analysis, producing a report summing up our findings with recommendations for the gallery and having tons of events and performances.
We kick it all off on Wednesday December 3rd (TONIGHT!) with:
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Walker Court
Come take part in a series of unflavourful events where the squeamish squirm their way out of their shells and commit the unthinkable. The Torontonians have conjured and curated a list of dares that will be randomly selected by participants who will challenge public etiquette. We invite all tall, short, chubby, lean, young, old, social, anti-social people and everyone else in between to break the ice at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Mammalian is in the house, baby. Hosted by Torontonians Sanjay Ratnan and Nerupa Somasale Asingua. This one out of the head of Nerupa.
At this point, our complete AGO event schedule looks exactly like this:
The Mighty Research Wall and Video Screenings
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014 – February 8th, 2014 (ongoing)
McEwan Gallery (west wing)
Mammalian Diving Reflex presents a selection of recent video works including High School Health (2014), and Sleeping with Family (premiere, 2014). Additionally, an evolving research wall illustrated by Director of Creative Production, Eva Verity, will detail the findings of The AGO Youth Receptiveness Assessment Initiative as they emerge throughout the residency period - stop by and check out the wall at any point during our residency for the most up-to-date findings. Research wall by Darren O'Donnell and Eva Verity; Vids by Dineer Ali, Irina Rouby Apelbaum, Nicole Bazuin, Phat Le, Darren O'Donnell, Mohit Rai, Sanjay Ratnan, and Nerupa Somasale.
Security Guards Just Want To Give You a High-Five
Friday December 19th, all day, all the way
This Friday, the security guards of the AGO just want to give you a high-five. They’ve been working hard all day protecting that art, so feel free to give them some skin. Annie Wong is the brains of this operation.
What a Drag
Monday December 29th, 1:00PM – 3:00pm
Level 4 – 5
Oh, the reluctant museum companion. You know who you are: that friend who hesitantly agreed to check out this or that at the museum, dragging those weary legs through 5 levels of art. Well, Mammalian has a treat for you. Head up to levels 4 and 5 and we’ll have a team ready to drag you around the galleries on an inflatable device along a course curated by teens. What better way to experience contemporary art than being dragged around by teens? Again, Annie Wong = brilliant concept.
Chozin Drinks a Beer
Wednesday January 7th, 7:30 – 8:30pm
Galleria
Tenzin Chozin started working with Mammalian Diving Reflex in the summer of 2010, at the age of 14 and is one the first Torontonians. He has collaborated with Mammalian on over 20 projects, including Night Walks with Teenagers (2011-2012), Producers of Parkdale (2012), How to Hook Up (2012-2013), AWKS (2013-2014), Promises to a Divided City (2014). January 7th marks his 19th birthday. He’s been waiting 19 years for this, so join us as we celebrate his first legal sip of alcohol and the retirement of his fake ID. Of course, Darren thought of this one.
Makeover Mom and Dad
Sunday January 18th, 2015, 1pm – 3pm
Weston Family Learning Centre
Makeover Mom and Dad is a wonderfully ridiculous experience for moms, dads and kids under 12. Moms and Dads are invited to undergo a full facial makeover and get their nails done, all under the creative direction and execution of theirs and other children. Then we'll take them for a stroll around the AGO to show them off. Then the children will choreograph a dance on the parents. Why? Why not?! Makeover Mom and Dad is exactly the sort of fun children have always wanted to have. They will be very happy. Mom and Dad will be very silly. We will be very golden. Another one from Darren.
Counting Chickens: Measuring Impact, Outcome and Deliverables in the Youth Arts Sector
Wednesday January 21st, 2015 - 2 – 4pm
Weston Family Learning Centre
Youth arts programs are intended to make a difference in the lives of young people and the world they inhabit. This panel brings together some of Toronto’s leading practitioners in youth arts and asks them to carefully, methodically, and rigorously share their strategies.
A Very Basic Introduction to QCA, a brains-on workshop
Saturday January 24th, 2015, 1 – 5pm
Weston Family Learning Centre, Seminar 1
Invented by American sociologist Charles Ragin to handle both qualitative and quantitative data, Qualitative Comparative Analysis is a research method that uses set relations to study social phenomena. The core of the method uses boolean algebra to simplify logical statements to determine the sufficiency and necessity of particular conditions for particular outcomes. This 4-hour introductory workshop led by Darren is intended for anyone who practices social research or works in fields where complicated mixes of social factors require parsing to determine relevance. The method is applicable across disciplines and to a wide variety of research questions. The workshop will be part lecture and part brains-on with practical exercises of the basic operations of the technique. Participants will leave intrigued by this method, but will require additional training, study and relevant software to apply it. SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20 SO PLEASE REGISTER BY CONTACTING darren@mammalian.ca
Sanjay, Kathy and Ngawang Drink Vodka
Wednesday January 28th, 7:30 – 8:30pm
Galleria
One day in the summer of 2010, Sanjay Ratnan and Kathy Vuu, then 14 years old, met with Darren, then 45 years old, at a local Burger King to collaborate on a video about being an artist. From there the Torontonians, Mammalian Diving Reflex’s youth cohort and main artistic collaborators, were born, with Ngawang Luding joining soon after. Kathy, Sanjay and Ngawang have been working with Mammalian ever since and have collaborated on over a dozen projects. This January they all turn 19. They’ve been waiting 19 years for this, so join us as we celebrate their first legal sip of alcohol. Again, Darren's idea to buy them a drink.
And there might be other things happening - you never know - so keep checking our website and follow us on Facebook for ALL the up-to-date AGO information you need.
Offsite and and slightly related:
Gossip Session with Some Ten-Year-Olds about Althea Thauberger's Work
Saturday December 6th, 2pm
Susan Hobbs Gallery 137 Tecumseth St.
Darren with be in conversation with Emma and Isabella, a couple of ten year olds, about what they think of Althea Thauberger's recent video Preuzmimo Bečić. Althea won't be there, so we can say whatever we want.
Being and Artist is Alright; Some Jobs are Alrighter
Saturday December 6th, 8-10pm
Art Square Gallery & Cafe, 334 Dundas St. West**
In response to the most 'liked' status update he's ever written, Darren referees a relay discussion* over drinks about why the hell everybody wants to be an artist, why so many other jobs are more creative and meaningful and why art has jumped the shark. Whip off your beret, slide on your boxing gloves, slip in a mouth guard and get ready to rumble.
*a relay discussion features a talking ball which is passed from person to person to person with each person permitted to talk for a minute max before passing it on and waiting until the ball circles back. Taking a pass is welcome and speaking less than a minute is smiled upon. The moderator will establish the parameters of the discussion and blow a whistle and flash a yellow card if anyone strays off topic. Two yellow cards and you're out. Any artists complaining about funding will immediately be shown a red card, given a plane ticket to a country with less arts funding and sent packing.
**Mammalian Diving Reflex are Artists in Residence at the Art Square Gallery & Cafe, December 3 - February 8, directly across from the Art Gallery of Ontario, where they are also Artists In Residence, December 3 - February 8.
2014-12-03
Toronto: Mammalian Diving Reflex begins residency at Art Gallery of Ontario