Annual
Report
(2003)
Executive Committee
Chair: Hildegard Lindschinger (Wilfrid Laurier University)
Vice-Chair: Daniel Payne (Ontario College of Art and Design)
Treasurer and Membership Secretary: Catherine Spence (University of Toronto)
Recording Secretary: Lynda Barnett (Canadian Broadcasting Centre)
Past Chair: Larry Pfaff (Art Gallery of Ontario)
ARLIS Canada Representative: Amy Marshall (Art Gallery of Ontario)
The Executive “met” via group email to plan for the Chapter Spring Meeting, held in Waterloo on May 9, 2003. We also met in August at the Ontario College of Art and Design Library to discuss implementation of ideas from the spring meeting, and to plan the Chapter Fall Meeting.
An important initiative this year was the inauguration of the ARLIS/NA-Ontario newsletter, started up and edited by Daniel Payne. The newsletter is in PDF format, and is distributed quarterly via email to members. Daniel has issued Vol.1 #1 and #2. Members are encouraged to contribute articles about their collections and any of their special projects and initiatives.
Amy
Marshall continued to maintain and update the ARLIS/NA-Ontario webpage
throughout the year, an important service appreciated by all.
Spring Meeting
The Spring meeting was held at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo on May 9. During the registration/coffee time, attendees perused brochures and posters put on display by a number of members, with interesting information about their libraries.
At the business meeting, reports were given by the treasurer, membership secretary, fundraising committee, and ARLIS Canada Chair, Irene Puchalski. Discussion ensued about ways to attract new members, librarianship initiatives the chapter could undertake, and the possibility of working with the Banff group to host an ARLIS conference.
After the business meeting, there were three presentations. Michele Laing brought us up-to-date on the exciting new Waterloo Architecture Library, which will be located in the city of Cambridge, Ontario. Jean Stevenson demonstrated the impressive in-house image database used for classroom teaching in the Fine Arts Department at the University of Waterloo. Hildegard Lindschinger’s slide presentation gave a lighthearted art-historical view of art librarianship.
A short talk by University Librarian Sharon Brown about the renovations to WLU Library was followed by a quick tour.
Michele Laing led an architectural walking tour of beautiful historic houses in Waterloo, bringing the group to enjoy lunch in a restored 19th century pub and brewery.
The afternoon was spent in the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, where the remarkably knowledgeable Adjunct Curator Wilhelm Nassau gave a fascinating presentation about the history, science and art of glass-making, followed by a tour of the gallery’s exhibits.
Fall Meeting
The Fall meeting was held in Toronto on
October 17, with an Art Deco theme. The business meeting and lunch were held at
the historic Arts & Letters Club.
At the business meeting, the financial
report was given. Since there had been no application for the 2003 travel award
to the ARLIS conference in Baltimore, it was announced that there would be two
travel awards of $750 each, available to Ontario chapter members to attend the
conference in New York in 2004. The Travel Award Committee will consist of
Catherine Spence, Randall Speller, Mary Kandiuk and Lynda Barnett, with Mary as
chair.
The new slate of officers was chosen for the
coming year. Volunteers were sought to contribute articles for the next two
issues of the newsletter, and to participate on committees. In planning
for future meetings, Lesley Bell volunteered to host the Spring meeting 2004 at
Brock, with special focus on the Rodman Hall collection of art catalogues.
Lucinda Walls will check the possibility of hosting the Fall 2004 meeting at
Queen’s University in Kingston, and Mary Kandiuk agreed to host the Spring
2005 meeting at York.
Margaret Spence gave an interesting tour of the Arts and Letters Club building, historically a significant venue in the development of Canadian art and culture.
After lunch, we enjoyed two tours. First, The Carlu (College Park), the 7th floor of the former Eaton building. This newly renovated space, named after its designer, French architect Jacques Carlu, is one of the finest extant examples of Art Moderne interior style. Mark Robert, one of the co-owners, gave a fascinating tour, explaining the whole restoration process, including the fundraising, technology and craftsmanship involved.
Secondly, at the Royal Ontario Museum, sumptuous Art Deco artifacts from the Victoria and Albert Museum were on display. Seeing exhibits of various historical trends that influenced Art Deco design, followed by the sheer quantity of objects from all phases of life, provided a complete immersion into this time and style.
Silent Auction
This popular event, complete with a delectable potluck of hors d’oeuvres, candlelight and soft music, was held on December 15 in the Library of the Ontario College of Art and Design. There were very generous donations from many members: books, art prints, jewellery, wine, etc. - a lot of beautiful items! Created within our own ranks were wonderful art originals by Lesley Bell and Jean Stevenson, and photographs by Werner Lindschinger.
All this netted a good bolstering to our chapter - $750! - enough to finance an entire travel award!
Lots
of hard work was done by: Margaret English (organizing and running the auction
smoothly), Amy Marshall (creating the impressive webpage advertising the auction
items), Catherine Spence (financial transactions), and last not least, Daniel
Payne, Jill Patrick and OCAD staff (hosting the event, decorating, cleaning up,
and attending to all the details... )
This year, the ARLIS-Ontario Chapter had 41 members.
As of December 31, 2003, the Chapter’s bank balance stands at $5,457.37. Thanks to the very successful Silent Auction, to members generously contributing funds above the cost of membership, to WLU Library’s wonderful support of the spring meeting, and with some moneys slated but not used (including the travel award), we have a good headstart for projects in the new year.
The Chapter Officers for 2004 are:
Chair: Daniel Payne (Ontario College of Art and Design)
Vice-Chair: Mary Kandiuk (York University)
Treasurer and Membership Secretary: Catherine Spence (University of Toronto)
Recording secretary: Lynda Barnett (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
Past Chair: Hildegard Lindschinger; in this capacity also becomes the chapter representative to ARLIS/NA-Canada.
Respectfully
submitted,
Hildegard
Lindschinger, Past Chair.