Van Gogh I am not.

In between good-wine-consumption and climactic-sports-viewing, I managed to pop into the AGO this weekend. The gallery's a big ol' mess these days, what with its very costly and very dramatic renovation and all, but I still like to pop my head in now and again to get the most out of my membership. While my cohort did the work-thing (researching an article on Toronto's crazy architectural boom), I wandered off for some blissfully brainless aesthetic stimulation. In so, I stumbled into an exhibit called In Your Face.
The exhibit is part of the city's Live With Culture program, and is a cool little concept: people submit individual 4" by 6" portraits to the gallery, which posts them up for people to look at. Simple, but effective, charming and addictive.
In keeping with the high number of interactive shows at the AGO recently (a trend I can't seem to get enough of), the room had little kiosks for visitors to try their hand, so to speak, at an ad-hoc self-portrait. Having spent most of my formative years covered in paint splatter, I found myself unable to resist the challenge.
Holy sweet mother of hell.
What a humbling effort. My poor little card fell victim to both my rusty pencil strokes and the gross anatomical inaccuracies perpetrated by my ego. I went through three or four before crumpling all in frustration. I don't know if I should start drawing more or just stop trying to draw myself.
Anyhow. Go see the show, to enjoy the works of those braver than I.
Footnote: I spent Saturday night watching a free showing of The Princess Bride in Trinity-Bellwoods Park with good people and cheap wine. I can think of few better ways to spend a warm July evening. Highly recommended.