Art Gallery of Hamilton — Attraction in Hamilton

UPDATED REVIEW: Back again to see the current exhibition of the many works of Shelley Niro, titled '500 Year Itch'. This exhibit was an amazing collection of decades of works by the artist. Their talents are expressed through photography, painting, beadwork, videos and mixed media pieces. Their piece called '500 Year Itch' is a take on the image of Marilyn Monroe from the movie ' The Seven Year Itch'. We were also pleased to learn that guided visits are available. What a terrific addition that was. Our guide David had so much background about the artist and their works that really helped to give more context. Thanks, David! I've added some photos from the '500 Year Itch' exhibition as a Photo Update for AGH.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that it has been at least 15 years since last visiting AGH. So much missed opportunity. So glad we finally made an effort to stop in. Taking advantage of free admission available on Thursdays we spent several hours exploring the three exhibitions currently on level one (Wonder, میں اپنی ماں کی بیٹی ہوں ….. I am my mother’s daughter and Breathing in China: Art, Ethics, and Environment). We also spent considerable time on level two looking through the permanent collection. What a privilege to see so many works by exceptional Canadian artists such as Norval Morriseau, Emily Carr, Alex Colville, Lawren Harris, and more. Looking forward to our next (much sooner) trip to...

My family and I visited the AGH today, it was not crowded the reception gave us a warm welcome, our problem is with a security gurd who was very rude to us the whole time, he followed us around as if we are shoplifters, he was nosy and have bad attitude looking his watch as if there is time limit for us or something, he makes us feel unwelcomed and unwanted. That being said we visited the place with our children including toodler, they were running around a little but this is family place and this is expected. We ask the security guard his name but he was not willing to tell us, so we have to cut our visit short and leave. We inform Megan (the security guard supervisor) about our unpleasant stay at the AGH, eventhough she was understanding, she was not willing to give the security guard's name but his licence number which is #11065361. Megan also offered us 3 free thicket to come back another day which we declined, what is the point of visiting a place where the staff makes you feel unwanted and unwelcomed? Such a beautiful place and collection of art, it is a shame we were not allowed to enjoy it. I want to add that there was another security guard who was rounding, checking just doing his job, it is not about rounding, it is that specific person's rude attitude, and the following and trying to find fault to say something, such a terrible...

We visited the Art Gallery of Hamilton last winter. It was a spur of the moment thing, It was bitterly cold outside and we were walking down King St, trying to avoid the Rambler races between the people with the flags attached to their bumpers and the old ladies from the Legion. We ducked in a doorway and found ourselves outside the gallery. It was late Saturday, they were only open for another hour or so, so we decided to do a quick tour of the free area. What a surprise! A lot of phalic African art and there was a nude model posing for noted amateur painter Dalton McGinty. Inside a smaller gallery someone had strung up Christmas lights over a bust of Samson. Not sure what that meant, but it was interesting. There was also a spoken word display with a chap on a megaphone whispering London bus schedules from 1974. The whole place was rather quiet and we had a lot of time to inspect the exhibits. I stood in front of one for a long time pondering it's meaning in the modern world when it dawned on me that I was, in fact, staring at a fire hose and extinguisher. We left the gallery and meandered through the gift shop, eventually buying a replica, full size verision of "The Raft Of The Medusa". It now forms a load bearing wall of our loft apartment. All in all, a fantastic place that really makes you think about modern art and how...