Library & Archives Unshelved: Artists of the Heliconian Club open house event

Archival material and ephemera from the Special Collections
and Heliconian Club File, collection of the
Edward P. Taylor Library & Archives, at the AGO 

(Art Gallery of Ontario)
Image courtesy The Art Gallery of Ontario

Today Steven and I enjoyed a very cool event at the Art Gallery
of Ontario showcasing art and memorabilia from the AGO Library
and Archives collections featuring artists from The Heliconian 
Club -- and as you know I'm a current member. The Heliconian
Club was formed in 1909, but took over the Heliconian Hall
on Hazelton Avenue in Toronto in 1923

Here's how the AGO described today's event:

"Friday April 10, 2026, 6-8 PM (drop-in)

Marvin Gelber Print & Drawing Study Centre,
Art Gallery of Ontario

This drop-in series, hosted by AGO librarians and archivists,
offers visitors a first-hand glimpse of highlights from the
AGO Library & Archives collections.

In this installment, Acting Special Collections Archivist
Camille McDayter will share archival materials relating
to the lives and careers of women artists who were
members of Toronto’s Heliconian Club. This year marks
the 150th anniversary of the construction of Heliconian Hall,
home to the club since 1923. 

The display will feature a selection of photographs, sketches,
 correspondence, and ephemera, shown alongside works
 on paper from the AGO’s Prints & Drawings vault.

Please visit the Marvin Gelber Print & Drawing Study
Centre at any point between 6 and 8 PM to experience
 this glimpse into Toronto’s artistic history."

So we did visit, and so did many members of the Heliconian
Club, and many art appreciators, artists and collectors.
It was a wonderful event.  

Have a loving your life day!

An amazing day yesterday

Flowers for you
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 18 inches

Barbara Muir © 2026

SOLD ♥

As I told you a  wonderful opening took place yesterday at the
Heliconian Hall for the Colour of Light show on all month by
appointment and open for viewing on April 24 from 1-3 pm. 
This painting sold based on a gorgeous bouquet I bought from
Marvellous| Edible farms at the Brickworks market in Toronto
last fall.  The collector has a beautiful art collection and I feel
honoured to be part of it.

This show has been an exciting and in a way brand new art
experience for me.  Our determination to be kind and
fair to one another from the start of this idea has made

the whole experience a pleasure.

I was just discussing change with an artist friend

yesterday.  And apparently 330 billion of our cells
renew every day.  That sounds like a lot, but
apparently it's only 1% of the total you. So we are

changing every minute of every day. What a great
idea. To all the guests who came yesterday who
"use to be" artists. You still are.  Just begin again.
The world will be delighted that you did.

Tonight I felt completely happy and content, having
immersed myself this past week in our art
openings.  And I thank you for this magnificent time
we've all shared in great conversations.

To everyone who volunteered to help us, and to all
of our visitors -- thank you.

Have a loving your life day!

Super opening today at the Colour of Light exhibition

Picnic at home
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2026
(and my husband and I
did picnic at home tonight.)

A delightful opening at the Colour of Light opening today at the Heliconian Hall.

I met so many people from all over the world! So cool.  People really enjoyed the
show.  I don't think I've showed you this painting before. The show is up for the month of
April, so I will try and show you more of my work in the show as April continues.

Our next and last opening is on April 24 from 1-3 pm.  We'd love to see you there.

My thanks to all of my friends and collectors who came out today, and to 
everyone who helped with the show -- thank you! To Steven, my husband who
has helped infinitely. And of course my thanks goes to Henrietta Walmark the wonderful
photographer who inspired the show, and Vivian East who very kindly decided to
join us, and whose paintings are awesome.

Now for a bit of rest before the next exciting artistic adventure.

Have a loving your life day!

Please come and see our wonderful show tomorrow April 8, 4 - 7:30

I brought us a picnic
Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2026

Tomorrow there is an opening of The Colour of Light between 4 and 7:30
This is the third opening of The Colour of Light - featuring the

fabulous painter, Vivian East, and the amazing photographer Henrietta
Walmark, and my art at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue
from 4 - 7:30 p.m.

I hope you'll come out -- I'd love to see you. People have really enjoyed the
exhibition, and said it's a happy escape from the news. That's part of what
we're hoping to do -- make people happy. Once again we'll have treats, and
it will be a good time. Our visitors on Friday and Saturday loved being there. 
So much fun and beautiful art!

Have a loving your life day!

Happy day off

 

Pip the Lionhead 

rabbit delivers eggs

8 x 8 inchs

Acrylic on canvas
Barbara Muir © 2015

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend too. We are 
lucky that today is a day off for both of us.  This is another
kind of bunny. We are not religious at all, but we do like the bunny
and egg fun -- which goes way, way back in history.

It's a short post today.  Wishing you a fabulous day whether you're
hard at work, or like us, deciding how we'd like to spend the day.
Perhaps a trip to the lake would be good although it is very
cold today.

Wishing you a happy day whatever you are celebrating. 

Have a loving your life day!

Happy whatever you're celebrating and please come to our third opening Wednesday!

Harold and the blue eggs

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

 Barbara Muir © 
(This painting got revised last year, and
the eggs became poppies, but it seems right
for today in its former appearance.)

I hope you had a super time with family and friends this weekend.  We
enjoyed two of the openings for The Colour of Light on Friday and
Saturday.  Today we drove to London for a delightful dinner with
family.

Next weekend the family celebrations continue.  And there is an
opening of the beautiful The Colour of Light show at the Heliconian
from 4 - 7:30 on Wednesday, April 8.  We would love to see you
there.  So it has been a very happy weekend.

I found this peace on happiness from a former blog and I like it:

"It’s too bad that happiness as a concept is suspect. Because
ultimately there’s nothing more important in life than figuring
out how to be happy (and loving). I woke up this morning wondering if just
saying the word "happy" could make you happy. I’m not talking
about being in the middle of a period of deep grief. I mean on an
ordinary day, when nothing awful has happened if you woke up
in the morning and thought I am happy, would it affect the day.

And as one of my former bosses used to say -- "here's
the thing."  People feel guilty about feeling happy when so
many people in the world are suffering horrible wars and
famine.  My question is does our deliberate avoidance of
our own happiness help? We must march, protest, contribute,
donate, vote, speak up, and in all the good moments
in our lives cherish our happiness."

Have a loving your life day!

Second opening of The Colour of Light was awesome. Come see it Wednesday!

 

Summer Leaves

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025
(This is in the show!)

It was a delightful opening today, with friends, artists'
family, and new friends coming and loving the show. 
I was so excited to meet artists, painters, sculptors,

photographers, writers, collage artists -- amazing. 
What a treat!

It was so much fun talking to people, and enjoying seeing the
art in our happy exhibition. 

If you get a chance please come out and see The Colour of Light
on April 8 (this Wednesday) between 4 and 7:30 p.m.  We will
have goodies, treats, snacks, and would love to see you.

Have a loving your life day!