Our Instructors (winter 2013)
All AGO children and youth courses are taught by experienced educators who are practicing artists. Instructors work with students to facilitate artistic feedom and build a strong repertoire of techniques and skills, while having fun!
Amanda Arcuri
Amanda Arcuri is an award winning, emerging photography-based artist working out of Toronto, Ontario. Her work has been exhibited at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, the Gladstone Hotel and has been part of Scotiabank's Nuit Blanche and Contact Photography Festival. Amanda recently graduated from Ryerson University with a BFA in Photography. She is currently enjoying teaching Art and photography classes to children where she can inspire and encourage artistic play and exploration; while doing so in her own work. Amanda hopes to pursue further education and complete a Masters in Fine Art in the near future.
For the winter semester, Amanda is teaching Integrated Studio Projects.
Kieran Dick
Kieran Dick is an artist, editor, writer, director, musician, animator, student and teacher who divides his time between Toronto and New York. Some may call him a renaissance man, others may say he lacks focus. Some of his moving images have appeared in festivals and galleries around the world, while some of his works have never been shown to anyone. Kieran has worked as an instructor at the AGO since 2007. Currently pursuing an MFA degree in Documentary Media, his own films live somewhere between fact and fiction. He sometimes gets confused writing about myself in the third person.
For the winter semester, Kieran is on leave.
Jemma Egan
Jemma Egan is a British artist and art educator, currently working in Toronto. Her work is diverse and varies in both subject matter and material from piece to piece, though pieces often share some common ground and link together in some way. Jemma finds inspiration going about everyday life and her work derives from something quite random that she quickly becomes fascinated by or even obsessed with. Jemma has recently been drawn to things she would describe as fake or imitation, and is interested in what these things can represent and how the artificial qualities and shiny exterior façade belie their true nature. Jemma has a BA in Fine Art and a Post Graduate in Education from Liverpool John Moores University, and has several years experience teaching art in schools and informal settings in the UK. Between 2007 and 2010, Jemma was co-director of The Royal Standard artist-run gallery in Liverpool, UK.
For the winter semester, Jemma is teaching Integrated Studio Projects.
Patricia Gora
Patricia has been working in the Education Department at the AGO since 2006. She has extensive experience working in School and Family Programming and as a summer camp Studio Instructor. Patricia has an MA in Early Childhood Studies and a BA in Early Childhood Education. In addition to working at the AGO, Patricia is an Instructor and Associate Researcher at Ryerson University and volunteer with ArtSync – Canadian Art Connected. Patricia’s teaching philosophy reflects her confidence in collaborative, student-centred teaching methods that encourage learning to reflect personally meaningful creative expression and understanding.
For the winter semester, Patricia is teaching Side By Side: Little Kids.
David Lapp
David Lapp is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, and the University of Western Ontario(B.A.Psychology). He has been teaching cartooning at the AGO for 12 years. His artwork can regularly be seen in Taddle Creek magazine. Dave has created two graphic novels, 'Drop In' and 'Children of the Atom', which were published by Conundrum Press. Dave's work was also chosen for the 'Best American Comics' series for 2010 and 2011. He is currently working on a 500 page graphic novel for which he has received Canada Council grants. In spring 2012, his new graphic novel 'People Around Here' will be published by Conundrum.
For the winter semester, Dave is teaching Cartooning.
Janine Lindgren
Janine Lindgren is a visual artist, working primarily in sculpture and printmaking. She is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design University, and BA in fine art from the University of Guelph, as well as a BEd from the Ontario Institute of Education, University of Toronto. Her artistic and technical skills have led to many freelance commissions, and assistant work for established sculptors. Janine has participated in group art exhibitions and solo shows, and her work is in private and public collections. Going on 22 years, Janine has been a studio instructor at the AGO. Janine also teaches for the Toronto District School Board, conducts workshops, and teaches privately in her studio. Previously she has taught Anatomy for Artists at the University of Guelph, and sculpture at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre.
For the winter semester, Janine is teaching Drawing 2 (Sundays).
Daphne McCormack
Daphne McCormack is a graduate of Ontario College of Art and Design University. After a successful career as an illustrator in both Canada and the U.S., she took on a new pursuit as an Art’s Educator in various cultural institutions across Toronto including The Royal Conservatory, Harbourfront Centre and Station Gallery in Whitby. She has enjoyed working with children on large scale murals within the Toronto District School Board. She finds inspiration from her students, both young and adult, and of course, always hopes to inspire through technique, exploration and discovery.
For the winter semester, Daphne is teaching Side by Side: Little Kids.
Olia Mischenko
Olia Mishchenko is an emerging artist living in Toronto. She has been exhibiting in both solo and group shows since 2003, including Mercer Union, Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Diaz Contemporary, YYZ and Doris McCarthy Gallery and has recently participated in an artist residency in Münster, Germany. She is represented by Paul Petro Contemporary Art in Toronto. Mishchenko has studied Architectural Theory and Fine Art History at the University of Toronto and she has worked at the AGO as a summer camp instructor and family programs guest artist, and YYZ Artists’ Outlet in Toronto. She is currently an educator at Oakville Galleries and a sessional instructor at OCAD in addition to her work at the AGO.
For the winter semester, Olia is teaching Random Acts of Art.
Tiana Roebuck
Tiana Roebuck is an award winning multidisciplinary artist and educator based in Toronto. She holds a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and a MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art Bloomfield Hills, MI. A former artist in residence and teacher in the Craft Studio at Harbourfront Centre, she has also worked as an instructor with OCAD, the Koffler Centre of the Arts and the York Region Catholic District School Board. Her art practice, based in traditional crafts techniques and traditions, has more recently grown to include digital media and installation.
For the winter semester, Tiana is teaching Drawing 1 (Saturdays and Sundays)
Jennifer Sutton
Jennifer has been teaching in the Gallery School at the Art Gallery of Ontario for the past 18 years. She is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto. Jennifer is primarily a painter although she has a background in printmaking having studied printmaking at OCA and Guelph as well as being an apprentice to three professional artists earlier in her career. Jennifer has exhibited her work in many group shows and recently had a solo show of paintings and photographs in November of 2011.
For the winter semester, Jennifer is teaching Painting 2 (Saturdays and Sundays)
How to Register
Online
By telephone
Call 416 979 6608
Monday to Tuesday 9 am – 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am – 8 pm
Thursday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
In person
Visit the Program Sales and Service Office at 317 Dundas Street:
Monday to Tuesday 9 am – 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am – 8 pm
Thursday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
Please note: Members must provide their membership number in order to process requests. All orders must be paid in full at time of booking. There is a $2 handling fee per order for all classes, courses, lectures and talks.
Please read the Gallery School Policies.