Art Gallery of Windsor

Excellent free family activity. The staff members were very inviting and nice. We lucked out because we were invited to stay for an open art studio session for the public, which occurs every Sunday form 12−3pm which is also free of cost. It is a great activity for kids. Today we created food art in real dishes. The studio has a beautiful view of the detroit river. Overall, it was a wonderful experience.

I loved my visit there, they had lots of art on display with little articles about them. The third floor was not completely finished but will be finished April 4^th. I am going to go again to see the third floor exhibit finished. I would recommend going there to see beautiful art and marvellous sculptures.

I really enjoyed my visit here, even though it was blustery and cold outside. I’ve never been one to spend an exorbitant amount of time in an art gallery or museum. If a museum has a large collection, I would much rather take my time and look around at a few and come back another time to see the others. Rather than rushing, this paves a more relaxing time. Thus, allowing us art geeks to fully immerse in the pieces on display.
Art Gallery of Windsor, however, was different in that I spent not only more than 2 hours at one location, but one that I wanted to explore all in a visit. By no means is this place huge, but it is a great size, very manageable. With three floors of art pieces, each focusing on a different era and genre. Since we arrived 3 hours before closing time (it closes at 5pm on a Sunday), the first floor was already closed, but the 2^nd and 3^rd floors were still open.
We really enjoyed the hands on feel and the experimental pieces showcased by fellow Canadian artists and some collaborations with Michiganders. Abstract, yet modern, approachable yet mysterious, each piece was thoughtfully arranged, designed, and laid out. I kept on commenting on how the gallery flowed seamlessly with just enough large exhibits and smaller wall pieces. There were even electric experiments!
You really have to come here to see what fun pieces they have, and best of all, FREE ADMISSION. I liked that they have kids’ studios, and «green» rooms that are displayed with local kids artwork. Plenty of lounge places, and even in the stairwells, there are fascinating displays.
And did I mention the view across to Downtown Detroit? It is amazing, and if you have a panoramic lens for your DSLR, TOTALLY take advantage of it and use it. I can only imagine how beautiful it looks in other seasons, but winter was a sight to see.
Oh, and there is a building outside of the Art Gallery that is being built for the Kids’ International Games this year. Looks like an indoor water park! Well anyway, I’ll definitely be back to see future installations! :)

You’re not going to find much in the way of the Dutch masters or even a wing featuring the Group of Seven. You will find an entirely pleasant local art gallery, however. The AGW has a strange history. It sat on this plot of land, inhabiting an old brewery, until the casino came to town. The casino took over the AGW’s building as the «temporary casino» (supplemented by a river boat casino that stayed moored).
The AGW was relocated to Devonshire Mall (aka The Mall). Initially the butt of many jokes — an art gallery in a fuckin’ mall? Seriously? — it proved one of the most serendipitous moves in the history of the art world, rivaling Jackson Pollacks discovery that you could just dribble paint on a canvas and New York insurance companies would pay you $ 200,000 for your canvas. The AGW at the Mall was like a way to re-​humanize yourself. Shop til you drop, drop into the AGW, view some art, drop a couple toonies in the donation box, drop some money at the gift store. Ah, the AGW gift store. At the mall. That proved to be a huge boon at Christmas time.
And then the casino moved to its permanent digs up river and, per agreements, the AGW was moved back to its downtown location and given a brand spanking new building.
The move was akin to trying to drag a 5 year old away from a Dora the Explorer marathon on Treehouse TV for a bath, ear drops, and a spoonful of cod liver oil. No one wanted the AGW to move back to downtown Windsor except for the politicians.
And here it is. This lonely building beach heading Windsor’s fabled «Western super anchor». What is the «western super anchor»? It’s a kind magic hat that if you say the correct magic words and throw the correct amount of public tax dollars into the magic hat, then out of the magic hat will pop public buildings that — we swear this time — won’t be another parking garage we have to pay people to park in or a flammable Holiday Inn. The magic hat will transform the money and political promises into a part of town people will visit. And by «people» we mean people who will visit then wander away from and walk up Ouellette and buy fur coats and new shoes and not people who will wander up Ouellette to get a tattoo, shawarma, or a hand job.
Which brings me to my real point. The AGW no longer has an awesome gift shop as the magic hat requires the western super anchor to have the main library in the art gallery as well. I came here looking for the gift shop and discovered it no longer existed. I could have wasted my time getting a hand job. Fah.
It is quite a lovely building with great public areas offering a nice view of Detroit (why does Detroit only seem appealing when viewed from a distance?).
I do, however, love there’s no longer an admission. It’s free. FREE. FREE! Thank you Casino Windsor! Which I guess is now called Caesars Windsor.

Good display of contemporary Canadian artists as well as some hotter US stuff.