Come tread gently in the Culture Corridor
By Meribeth Deen
Are your eyes crossed yet? If you haven’t already, it’s time to shut the computer down. Yes, we are still in a global pandemic, but you can leave your house now and become re-acquainted with the city’s public spaces. Just be sure to check your venues’ COVID-19-policies so you can follow the rules of entry.
The Royal Ontario Museum, which has been open since July, requires visitors to purchase time-based tickets, wear masks and hand sanitize frequently. Permanent galleries are now open, including Florals: Desire and Design. Winnie the Pooh: Exploring a Classic will re-open in September. September will also bring Egyptian Mummies: Ancient Lives. New Discoveries. This exhibit brings six mummies, each preserved for up to 3,000 years, alongside CT scans, 3D imaging and 200 contemporary objects to recreate the lives of each one. For those of you who are not ready to venture out yet – online programs will continue running.
Make an appointment with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura to check out 50 years of Italian Portraiture in the exhibition, Facing the Camera. Curated by photographer, editor and filmmaker Marco Delogu, the exhibit features the work of 20 photographers in total, and many previously unpublished photographs. In seeking the works for this exhibition, Delogu says he looked for portraits that “started off from personal experiences, in which you can sense the story of the photographer, his or her personal and social identity.”
If you’re feeling in top shape (ie: no fever, cough, chills or other questionable symptoms) book a visit to The Japan Foundation. Be sure to make time for the Manga Hokusai Manga: Approaching the Master’s Compendium from the Perspective of Contemporary Comics, which closes on September 18. Manga fans consider the works of Katsushika Hokusai as the origin of today’s manga, although the appearance of his work and modern manga do not necessarily suggest a continuous tradition. This exhibition approaches the work from a contemporary perspective, “focusing on genre, pictorial storytelling and participatory culture rather than the integration of word and image or the role of popular characters. And instead of aiming at a historiographic verification of influences, the exhibition invites viewers to ponder their own notions about manga by comparing works from different periods while exploring the diversity therein.”
Get back to class! And study French in-person at the Alliance Française. Social distancing rules will be in effect, as well as mask wearing and hand sanitizing stations. For more information, look into upcoming online open house events to get to know the AF community.
Many of the organizations, businesses and institutions affiliated with the Bloor St. Culture Corridor continue to offer events and programming online. No doubt the more than three million members of the public who enjoy these cultural offerings look forward to more live events so that they can tap into the city’s cultural diversity, including: Aboriginal, French, Jewish, Italian, Japanese, Estonian, African and Caribbean arts and culture – but let’s just see how this virus evolves!