A Heavenly Staircase
A walk through a Frank Gehry masterpiece
I love visiting the Art Gallery of Ontario. It has a huge collection of artwork from Canadian and Indigenous artists as well as many European masterpieces from the likes of van Dyck, Monet, Picasso, Magritte and Degas to name a few. It’s also home to the world’s largest collection of work by sculptor Henry Moore. Definitely a “must visit” if you’re an art enthusiast.
However, for me, the most impressive piece of art is not a painting, photograph or sculpture. It is the Frank Gehry1 designed staircase. The staircase was part of Gehry’s overall design for a massive transformation of the art gallery that was completed in 2008. The vision was for the staircase to link the old part the gallery with the new extension. Gehry wanted the staircase to be an experience for visitors and it truly is quite the experience.
Usually, I like to run up stairs for a quick hit of cardio. However, to run up these stairs would be nothing short of sacrilegious. You have to take your time and slowly walk up the 138 steps. Study and feel the curves, patterns and smooth texture of the stunning Douglas fir cladding. It is an experience to be savoured not rushed.
And then, as you go higher, the staircase breaks through the gallery’s outer wall and you now find yourself looking outside.
And finally……….
For those of you who haven’t yet seen it, I recently participated in the Sunday Interview series hosted by fellow photography Substacker
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Frank Gehry is one of the world’s most renowned architects. He was born in Toronto and lived not too far from where the AGO is located until he was 18 when he moved with his family to California. He’s probably best known for designing the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. His work on the remodelling of the AGO was his first project in Canada.
Terrific set, Mark. I, too, am a big fan of that staircase. I've photographed it in colour, but I think it works better in B&W. I visit the AGO whenever I visit Toronto. I also love the David Milne room and (as I am Canadian) I make the obligatory visit to the galleries featuring the work of the Group of Seven painters.
Love empty chairs, there is a link at my website for empty chairs.
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