• Ever visited a museum and felt like you didn’t understand what you were looking at?

• Is modern and contemporary art baffling to you?

• Ever wished you could have people to discuss art with and ask questions?

 

 

I'm back for season 11 with new tours when the museums reopen! Be sure to subscribe.

 

Seasons 1-9 had 1365 bookings!

Join a great group of people as we explore the amazing artworks in Toronto's museums and galleries.

My name's Gareth Bate. I'm a full time artist, curator and teacher of art history, drawing and painting. I'm knowledgable and experienced and very familiar with the local scene. I also love visiting museums and galleries!

I want art to make sense to you. Art should be accessible, understandable and relevant to the broader world. This is a non-judgemental environment and a zero artspeak zone. I have no time for art world snobs, or pretension.

Experience the art world with all the inspiration and none of the bullshit.

Art is for everyone.

 

“Gareth is the most amazing teacher I've had to date. He really brings his knowledge and passion into each class. He is an engaging teacher and his passion for art is contagious. He shares his thoughts on art but encourages you to think for yourself. His classes are creative, informative, quirky and fun. He loves to teach and wants to share everything he can about art with you. He is a skilled teacher and strives to make every student feel comfortable and welcome. It changed the way I see art. He is an intelligent, sensitive teacher with a great sense of humour.”
- Frances Cumberland

 

 

 

Art World Untangled trips
are for people who want to…

• Learn about art in an unintimidating and friendly environment where your perspective is valued.
• Join a fun group of people where you can have interesting discussions about art.
• Become confident looking at art and interpreting it.
• Experience art with a knowledgable guide.

If you want to take full advantage of the most exciting Toronto art shows this winter then this is perfect for you. Ask me anything.

 

“Changes? ‘Big time’! As a result of Gareth's courses I not only enrolled as a member at the AGO but I took to the road and explored Art museums in Boston, Washington D.C., New York City, Montreal and Ottawa. I never would have explored these great museums had I not enrolled in Gareth's course.”

- John McGoff.

 

Or you could miss out…

What most people do when feeling intimidated by art is to disengage or not even try. Or they get angry when art is challenging to their world view.

That’s a real shame.

I believe that art is the greatest thing we do as human beings. Encounters with art can be powerful, inspiring and sometimes even life changing. By not engaging with art you're missing out on some of the most compelling things that humans have made throughout history. With so many terrible things going on in the world, for me museums are a place of refuge, a kind of sacred space.

 

 

Here's what I find really sad…

• Missing once in a lifetime exhibitions that have come to Toronto.
• Feeling intimidated walking into art galleries.
• Thinking art is a scam or impossible to decipher.
• Wandering around museums not knowing which artworks matter and which don’t.

 

No art background - No problem.

You don’t have to know anything in advance about art. Just bring your enthusiasm and your own life experience. The intimidation many people feel around art is a failure of the art world and something I want to change.

You're NOT arriving as a blank slate and are quite capable of understanding it on some level.

 

“I believe I look at art far more differently than I did when I began taking the art history course and the museum classes. I now look at art for a longer period of time and now can really understand the various styles of each artist. I appreciate art far more now for it’s uniqueness and variances than I ever had before.” - Rachelle Bronfman.

 

It's time to stop ignoring Toronto.

In Toronto we generally ignore our own artists because we're always focused on other cities. We don't appreciate the amazing things we have right here. Toronto is filled with great exhibitions. This is especially true since crossing south of the border is less desirable.

When I go to shows I feel engaged with the city. This is our culture.

Galleries are an excellent way to learn about what the artists of our time are creating. They have dedicated themselves to expressing the spirit of our age. Isn’t it important that we listen to what they're saying?

 

“What a wonderful experience! I really appreciated how organized you were and how you were also able to create space for the spontaneity of personal expression. I was also impressed with how you invited and validated the personal perspectives of everyone in the group. That's a really special quality. I've been raving about the experience to anyone who will listen.” - Christopher Lawley (Founder, StaffRoom Wellness)

 

 

Here's how the class works...

Get together with a group of people who love to look at art.

Each trip is a vigorous look at a section of a museum or temporary show. The class is usually two hours long with a maximum of 12 participants. It's a vastly different experience to spend a few hours in a show. We tend to walk through museums as if we can't wait to get out of there. In the permanent collections often the work is arranged with little sense of order, story or timeline. It’s confusing and hard to actually learn about the art.

Until now.

These trips are not a typical museum tour. You'll never be standing in front of a painting with me talking at you. This isn't a passive class. It's interactive. I'm interested in what YOU have to say. I visit the show the week before and do my prep. I plan a handout with questions. I also send you articles and videos that will add to the experience. First you wonder around on your own a bit and then we get back together to discuss the questions. I also create a slideshow on my laptop giving you the context so often missing from the show. This is hugely valuable and adds so much to the experience. Exhibitions assume the audience knows art history in advance - I don't make that assumption.

We often talk about:

• How to interpret the imagery.
• The evolution of the work and how it was made.
• The artists's life story and their influences.
• The social and historical context.
• The curatorial vision of the exhibition.

 

"Gareth values the ideas of his students. We were asked to look at paintings without reading descriptors until after we had explored the work on our own. Gareth always makes us feel as if we have something worthwhile to offer and just because we are not artists or art critics ourselves, what we think has value. I really liked the open ended questions Gareth provided to help us look more deeply at a painting. The questions also provided a jumping off point for group discussion. He clearly planned each visit before hand with care and insight." - Wendy Ryerson

 

 

About Me

My name is Gareth Bate and I’m a full time artist, curator and art teacher. I work in painting, installation and photography. I've been asked if everything I do revolves around art and the answer is pretty much yes! I've travelled extensively and visited all the major museums in London, Paris, New York, Washington DC, Boston, Montreal and Cape Town. I'm Festival Curator of the World of Threads Festival an international festival of contemporary fibre and textile art in Oakville. I graduated with a BFA from OCAD University and a diploma from Central Tech's adult art program. I've been teaching since 2008. I’ve been featured on CBC News and Radio Canada and in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Now Magazine and La Presse among others.

Here are the courses I teach:

Art World Untangled: Museum Tours
Brushstrokes and Painting Effects
The Colour Mixing Detective
The Colour Mixing Detective Chief Inspector (Advanced)
Colour Stories and Relationships
My Time to Paint
My Inbox Art Project
Abstract Painting
Outdoor Abstract City Drawing Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Art History: The Masters: 1400-1850
Art History: The Moderns: 1850-1980

“You always find the most interesting art, that I almost wish that I could pack you up and bring you on my trips.” - K.S.

 

Booking for Season 11

Each trip is a separate event. So when you see multiple trips for one show that's the same trip offered twice.

 

 

Here's how to book...

Each trip is it’s own separate event. When you register you indicate which trips you want by using the numbers. There are a maximum of 12 people per trip. I require 5 people to run a trip.

 

Individual Trips: $29

+HST

 

 

Plus Photocopy Fee: There is a 60 cent fee per trip.

I require a commitment at registration when you book your trips. You pay in advance for the season.

 

 

Gareth's Art Rocks!
100% Money Back Guarantee

I’m committed to offering you an inspiring and informative trip. If you aren’t happy I don’t want to take your money. If after any trip this fall you're not satisfied or don’t think this is right for you, I offer a 100% money back guarantee for your bookings. No problem. Just let me know via email. I'll send you an e-transfer right away. No strings attached. The only thing I ask is for you to let me know what didn’t work for you. Refunds are offered all the way until Dec. 1, 2019.

 

Refunds Policy

If I cancel a trip you booked onto then I'll give you a credit for a future trip. If you're unable to attend a trip you booked onto and cancel within 48 hours I will offer you a credit towards another trip. I do not offer refunds for trips that you book onto but are unable to attend. Please let me know in advance if you are not coming.

 

How to Pay

New Payments Policy: When you book I'll send you an invoice with your amount calculated. You can send me an online e-transfer or you could also pay by cheque in advance of your first trip. Payment is required within two days of receipt of the invoice.

 

Here's how to Join...

Send me an email: contact@garethbate.com

Subject Line: Booking: Art World Untangled Season 11

What to include in the email:

Your Full Name 

Your Email

Your Cell Phone (So we can communicate if lost or separated on the day)

Which trips above are you registering to attend? Use the numbers designating each trip. Just send me a list like this... 3, 4, 6, 12, 14, etc.

Payment Policy: Payment is required on registration within 10 days of recieving your invoice.

Payment Method: Online: e-transfer or check.

Packages: Four-Pack or Individual Trips

Do you have a membership for any of the museums?

How did you hear about my tours?

 

Important:

• Please check your personal calendar. This is an official booking.
• If you're booking for multiple people please include their names and emails as well so I can communicate with them and send them the info for the trip.

 

What happens next?

I'll confirm your booking via email then send you an invoice with your individual amount calculated plus the photocopy fee.  I'll send you an email the week before your trip with the details about where to meet.

 

Do you have any questions?

Send me an email: contact@garethbate.com

 

 

I'm looking forward to seeing you!

 

Please share these trips with anyone you know who might be interested. Thanks!