It was (hard) hats off to Lawson Hunter on Friday as supporters of the Ottawa Art Gallery paid tribute to a man who’s shown exemplary leadership in the creation of a cultural meeting place that this city can be proud of.
The long-time head of the OAG board and avid collector of Canadian art has “put his money where his mouth is” and donated $100,000 toward the expansion of the public art gallery. Work has begun and construction is scheduled to be finished by 2017.
“Simply put, we would not be having a new Ottawa Art Gallery without Lawson,” Tom Houston, a long-time volunteer with the gallery and a partner at Dentons Canada LLP, said in his remarks at the annual Hats Off appreciation party. “Absolutely, he is the tenacious force that has caused it to happen.”
Similarly put by Barbara Uteck, another long-time supporter: “When he puts his mind to something, there’s absolutely no stopping him.”
Lawson’s gift toward the gallery’s $3.5 million Art Now – L’art ici capital campaign will be used to establish the Lawson A.W. Hunter Permanent Collection Gallery, to be located on the 3rd floor of the new and improved building at 2 Daly Ave. The fundraising campaign is also being led by Hunter, who, when not giving of his time, talent and money to the gallery, is counsel at Stikeman Elliott LLP.
At the podium, Hunter named close to a dozen contributors who have helped make his “labour of love” happen. “I’m very appreciative of the time I’ve spent here,” he told the room. “I’m not quite done yet.”
The OAG is more than halfway toward achieving its campaign goal, having topped $2 million in donations.
The evening drew local artists, collectors and supporters of the gallery, located in the Arts Court building at 2 Daly Ave. Guests were encouraged to wear hats (rarely is the hard hat more flattering than when worn by OAG director and CEO Alexandra Badzak).
The event included an award ceremony recognizing the many volunteers, members, donors and organizations who have supported the OAG throughout the year. Among the recipients were Amy Jenkins and Leslie McKay for heading up the organizing committee for the le pARTy art auction fundraiser. Accepting on their behalf was Ottawa artist and OAG board member Danny Hussey. He’s co-chairing this year’s annual event, slated for Thursday, June 9.
Alexandra Badzak, CEO and director of the Ottawa Art Gallery, welcomes guests to the OAG’s annual Hats Off appreciation party, held Friday, November 27, 2015, at the Arts Court building at 2 Daly Avenue.
Ottawa Art Gallery board member Danny Hussey was good humoured as he stepped in to accept, from OAG special events coordinator Meredith Berriman, a pair of girly-looking gifts at the OAG’s annual Hats Off appreciation party, held at Arts Court on Friday, November 27, 2015.
Stephanie Germano, manager of the Ottawa Art Gallery’s ART Rental & Sales, is flanked by, from left, Emily Putnam and Jaime Douglas, who received a recognition award from the OAG, along with Eva Fiedler, at the art gallery’s annual appreciation event, held Friday, November 27, 2015.
From left, Jennifer Johnson and Heather Tasseron wore their best hats, as suggested, for the Ottawa Art Gallery’s annual Hats Off event, held Friday, November 27, 2015, in recognition of the volunteers, members and donors who have supported the OAG throughout the year.
From left, Ottawa artists Tim desClouds and Jaya Krishnan at the Ottawa Art Gallery on Friday, November 27, 2015, for its annual Hats Off event in recognition of volunteers, members and donors who have supported the gallery throughout the year.
Ottawa Art Gallery board member Lilly Koltun, retired director general of the Portrait Gallery of Canada, with board chair Lawson Hunter, whose $100,000 gift was announced at the OAG’s annual Hats Off appreciation party, held Friday, November 27, 2015 at the Arts Court building.
From left, Tom Houston, a law partner at Dentons, with Vic Duret, an Ottawa Art Gallery board member and partner with KPMG, Claudia Chowaniec, an OAG board member and president of Precept Inc. and Duret’s wife, Hilary McCormack, newly appointed chair of the Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada, at the OAG’s Hats Off appreciation party, held Friday, November 27, 2015.
Local artist Nicolas Grégoire and his wife, Janet, were a fine-looking hat-wearing pair at the Ottawa Art Gallery’s Hats Off event, held at the OAG on Friday, November 27, 2015.
Ottawa Art Gallery board chair Lawson Hunter addresses the room after it was announced at the Hats Off appreciation party, on Friday, November 27, 2015, that he had donated $100,000 to the OAG’s capital campaign.
Barbara Uteck, a long-time supporter of the Ottawa Art Gallery and a former Secretary to the Governor General, was among the speakers at the OAG’s annual Hats Off appreciation event held at Arts Court on Friday, November 27, 2015.
Ottawa lawyer Tom Houston, a long-time supporter of the Ottawa Art Gallery, spoke at the OAG’s annual Hats Off appreciation party, held Friday, November 27, 2015.
Bridget Thompson and Danny Hussey, who’s on the board of the Ottawa Art Gallery, got into the headwear spirit of the OAG’s annual Hats Off appreciation party held at the gallery on Friday, November 27, 2015.
From left, Heba Abakar was presented the volunteer of the year award from Ottawa Art Gallery curator Stephanie Nadeau at the OAG’s annual Hats Off appreciation event, held Friday, November 27, 2015.
