Art Gallery of Windsor
Encyclopedia
The Art Gallery of Windsor is a not-for-profit art institute
in Windsor, Ontario
, Canada
.
Established in 1943, the gallery has a mandate as a public art space to show significant works of art by local, regional, and national artists. The Art Gallery of Windsor has created, collected, presented, and conserved one of Ontario
’s most significant collections of Canadian art, and is one of Windsor’s most notable cultural reserves.
’s Willistead Manor
. The distinctive Tudor-Jacobean style building, built by architect Albert Kahn, housed the gallery from 1943 to 1975. It was during this period that the Art Gallery of Windsor was incorporated (1944) and developed the foundation of its collection of Canadian art.
Under the direction of Kenneth Saltmarche the gallery acquired its first collection. In 1947, the Art Gallery of Windsor, or as it was known at the time, The Willistead Gallery, also became one of the founding members of The Southern Ontario Gallery Group, later known as the Ontario Association of Art Galleries
.
By 1958, attendance at Willistead Gallery overwhelmed the small space. Along with conflict between the Art Association, which controlled the gallery, and the library board from which it grew, the Windsor art movement was in danger of collapse. After approaching Windsor City Council
to negotiate the situation, the Willistead Art Gallery became an independent institution with its own board of directors.
However, by 1967 the gallery was in crisis again, and the search for a new home for the gallery began. In 1970 it was suggested that the gallery take up residence in the abandoned Carling
Brewery warehouse on the waterfront, an appropriately modern setting for a gallery in a manufacturing hub. The Art Gallery of Windsor, as it was now known, opened its doors in 1975 and there developed over the span of twenty years one of Ontario’s most significant collections of Canadian art.
In 1993 the Art Gallery of Windsor experienced another major shift in both location and outlook. The gallery moved to the Devonshire Mall
, leasing its industrial waterfront building to the Province of Ontario to house the new Casino Windsor in order to both raise the funds needed to expand the gallery and its collections.
For six years, the Art Gallery of Windsor remained in a limbo of sorts, unable to decide whether to remain in its inadequate Devonshire location, move to another location within the city and renovate, reclaim the warehouse location, or to build a new home for the gallery. Finally, in 1999, Dr. Lois Smedick, president of the AGW board of directors, unveiled plans for a new art museum on the old warehouse location. Shortly thereafter, the old Carling warehouse was torn down and a new modernist building was erected in its place, which houses the Art Gallery of Windsor today.
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Established in 1943, the gallery has a mandate as a public art space to show significant works of art by local, regional, and national artists. The Art Gallery of Windsor has created, collected, presented, and conserved one of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
’s most significant collections of Canadian art, and is one of Windsor’s most notable cultural reserves.
History
The Art Gallery of Windsor was originally located in WalkervilleWalkerville
Walkerville is a name given to several places:Australia*Town of Walkerville, a local government area in South Australia**Walkerville, South Australia, a suburb in north-eastern Adelaide*Walkerville, Victoria, a town in southwest GippslandCanada...
’s Willistead Manor
Willistead Manor
Willistead Manor is a historic house located in the former town of Walkerville, Ontario, now part of Windsor, Ontario. Willistead Manor was designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn in the 16th-century Tudor-Jacobean style of an English manor house. It was built in 1904-1906, and was commissioned...
. The distinctive Tudor-Jacobean style building, built by architect Albert Kahn, housed the gallery from 1943 to 1975. It was during this period that the Art Gallery of Windsor was incorporated (1944) and developed the foundation of its collection of Canadian art.
Under the direction of Kenneth Saltmarche the gallery acquired its first collection. In 1947, the Art Gallery of Windsor, or as it was known at the time, The Willistead Gallery, also became one of the founding members of The Southern Ontario Gallery Group, later known as the Ontario Association of Art Galleries
Ontario Association of Art Galleries
The Ontario Association of Art Galleries was established in 1968 to encourage development of public art galleries, art museums, community galleries and related visual arts organizations in Ontario, Canada. It was incorporated in Ontario in 1970, and registered as a charitable organization...
.
By 1958, attendance at Willistead Gallery overwhelmed the small space. Along with conflict between the Art Association, which controlled the gallery, and the library board from which it grew, the Windsor art movement was in danger of collapse. After approaching Windsor City Council
Windsor City Council
The Windsor City Council is the governing body of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.The council consists of the mayor plus ten elected city councillors representing the city as a whole.*Mayor: Eddie Francis*Ward 1: Dave Brister, Drew Dilkens...
to negotiate the situation, the Willistead Art Gallery became an independent institution with its own board of directors.
However, by 1967 the gallery was in crisis again, and the search for a new home for the gallery began. In 1970 it was suggested that the gallery take up residence in the abandoned Carling
Carling
Carling brands are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. In South Africa it is distributed by SABMiller.Carling Black Label is the name of a brand of Canadian lager in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Africa...
Brewery warehouse on the waterfront, an appropriately modern setting for a gallery in a manufacturing hub. The Art Gallery of Windsor, as it was now known, opened its doors in 1975 and there developed over the span of twenty years one of Ontario’s most significant collections of Canadian art.
In 1993 the Art Gallery of Windsor experienced another major shift in both location and outlook. The gallery moved to the Devonshire Mall
Devonshire Mall
Devonshire Mall is a shopping center located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The mall has Zellers, The Bay, Sears, and other stores, totaling over 200. The mall currently occupies over 1 million square feet in retail space, and it dominates the retail landscape in Windsor and the lower southern...
, leasing its industrial waterfront building to the Province of Ontario to house the new Casino Windsor in order to both raise the funds needed to expand the gallery and its collections.
For six years, the Art Gallery of Windsor remained in a limbo of sorts, unable to decide whether to remain in its inadequate Devonshire location, move to another location within the city and renovate, reclaim the warehouse location, or to build a new home for the gallery. Finally, in 1999, Dr. Lois Smedick, president of the AGW board of directors, unveiled plans for a new art museum on the old warehouse location. Shortly thereafter, the old Carling warehouse was torn down and a new modernist building was erected in its place, which houses the Art Gallery of Windsor today.