Looking for something to do in North York this weekend? Spend some time in the sun checking out the Oh Dear: public art that unhinges North York’s sense of modesty exhibit. This is your last chance—the exhibit is only on until Monday August 26. As a bonus, if you need a break from the heat, a few of the installations are located indoors. You can view the installations at various North York spots, including North York Central Library, the Toronto Centre for the Arts, North York Civic Centre, Mel Lastman Square, Gibson House, and the Ontario Historical Society’s historic John McKenzie House.

North York Central Library

The Oh Dear art exhibit celebrates the rich history of North York. In examining North York history, we need look no further than our very own North York Central Library. North York Central Library opened more than 25 years ago in its current location, but its previous iteration was housed in the Gladys Allison Building, North York Public Library’s first stand-alone library. Prior to the Gladys Allison Building’s construction, the library operated out of a Bookmobile as well as the children’s library, which was housed in a portable on the Gibson House property (note: building on far right below):

Planning for a central library in North York was underway in the early 1950s (supported by the North York Public Library Association), construction kicked off in 1958, and the building opened to the public on July 8, 1959. The Gladys Allison Building’s innovative design featured a frieze created by Harold Town, which might look familiar to you: you’ll see it in the North York Central Library atrium if you approach the library from the south entrance.

Remembering Gladys Allison

Wondering who Gladys Allison was, and why the first North York Public Library building was named for her? It’s impossible to discuss the history of the North York Public Library system without giving credit to Gladys Allison. She was a fierce advocate for the creation of the North York Public Library system:

She began to campaign for a library service in 1938; helped set up a library in the basement of [the Willowdale United Church] in 1945; and served on the Library Board both as a member and chairperson from 1950 until 1966. (Cross, Kettel, & Myrvold, 2012)

Gladys Allison asked, “Why can’t my own community in Willowdale have a library?”—but didn’t stop there; instead of merely posing the question, she sought to resolve the problem by helping to drive the development of the North York library system.

Oh Dear!: the Exhibit—Get Involved

View the art exhibit, then offer your own contribution to the project: Share what you like about North York, why you think North York is unique, and where you think the neighbourhood will be headed in a few years or even a hundred years into the future.

Fill out one of the postcards available throughout the North York Central Library. When you drop off your postcard in the Willow box on the first floor, take a few minutes to pop up to the sixth floor and wander the Gladys Allison Canadiana Room. Here, you can access information about Mrs. Allison and view her portrait, painted by artist May C. Setchell.

To find out more about the Oh Dear art installations, visit the project website at http://OhDearNorthYork.blogspot.com.

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Sources consulted include: Historical Walking Tour of North York Centre: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of North York Central Library, 1987-2012, by Mary Ann Cross, Geoff Kettel, & Barbara Myrvold; North York History vertical files (Note: all sources available in the Gladys Allison Canadiana Room, North York Central Library).