ROM's Material Ball: Diamonds

On the same day as the Gehry /AGO unveiling, the Royal Ontario Museum was holding a very stylish gala in honour of their current diamond exhibit (featuring the third largest diamond in the world on display)

The ROM celebrated this stunning exhibition with a gala fundraising event Material Ball: Diamonds, hosted by Jeanne Beker.
The evening featured the North American premiere of the spring 2009 collection by world-renowned fashion designer Giambattista Valli. Proceeds from the evening will support the ROM’s Burnham Brett Endowment for Textiles and Costume and the Renaissance ROM campaign.




I showed up around 10 PM to shoot the post-dinner fashion show that was staged within the angular walls of the Michael Lee Chin Crystal.
Waiting for the show to start, I marvelled along with the other photographers at the exquisite gowns and dresses the women were wearing as patrons drifted into the area.
It was like a designer show had come to life in the audience seats.

The show itself featured beautiful couture clothes and formal wear but was staged on an awkward triangular runway.
Oddly, the models did not stop in front of the dozen or so cameras, sailing right past the media riser oblivious to our presence.
Weird.

Also the runway was carpeted. The only other time I've seen a designer use carpet on a runway was at Fashion Week and it was a real trial for the models in their towering heels.
Last night proved to be no exception as one girl fell and all of the models walked in a very tentative manner.
Note to show designers: Carpet / runway / bad idea .

Still, I had the feeling from the post-show buzz that the evening was a success, and people enjoyed the glimpse of European couture the show afforded. The designs were really quite exceptional, and at a level consistent with ROM standards.

Olympus E3 and E510 w/ 50-200mm 2.8 and 12-60mm 2.8 Digital Zuiko Lenses

All photos copyright Torontowide.com

the most important day of the year.

(thanks to brooke, for the best birthday cake of all times...)

it's almost here... the most important day of the year. MY BIRTHDAY. NOVEMBER 16. i won't be near a computer on sunday, so i'm kicking the birthday celebrations off a little early this year. oh wait, i always kick off the birthday celebrations early.

some of you will appreciate this picture. seriously, i just took it. "it really IS 11:16, and that's my birthday."

i think birthday week/month started on wednesday with the hotel cafe tour concert (posting soon) with brooke. she knows the way to my heart. concerts.

today's line up includes the office birthday celebration AND the white trash poser party at chuck-e-cheese. miss jen said she didn't want to have a plain ol' house party, cuz i'm the only one with a house and she didn't want me to hagve to clean up after my own party. thank you. so... she's thinking, thinking... "what is aubry NOT??" well, in jen's eyes, at least - white trash. again, thank you. and thus... a white trash poser party. at chuck-e-cheese... in layton, no less.

tomorrow - NKOTB with miss jen, brooke, and lara... puff painted shirts included.

sunday - the real birthday day... who knows... what if i'm home alone on my birthday!?

i love my birthday, i love my friends, and i love to party.

The New Rejuventated AGO

I had the opportunity to photograph the newly redesigned Art Gallery of Ontario before it opened to the public today.

Although the project has often been referred to as a ‘Reno job’ owing to the fact that much of the structure was left intact, in fact the final result is a building truly transformed. Frank Gehry’s vision of glass, natural light and wood has breathed new life into the AGO, visually and spiritually.

Even with the final touches still being applied – at the time I was there the magnificent spiral staircase in Walker Court, and the 2nd floor galleria were still being worked on ahead of tomorrow’s official public opening of the building – it is a building that just feels completely sorted from the moment you enter.

Perhaps one of the best compliments that could be given Gehry’s design is that I think the people of this city will recognize themselves in his creation. As Torontonians, as Canadians.
The building speaks to me in a way the older structure simply didn’t. Inspired glass vistas, thick wooden tresses, the integration of the city views into the design, this is a thoroughly modern interpretation that celebrates our history and pushes the AGO into a new era.

Well done to all who worked on, and contributed to this project. And for the many that gave so generously so it could exist, thank-you!

The Art Gallery of Ontario opens tomorrow for free public tours all weekend long.
Don’t miss it!

Olympus E3 w/ 9-18mm Digital Zuiko lens

All photos copyright torontowide.com