Sept.3 marked the re-emergence of AGO’s First Thursdays. The evening was titled Nostalgia Canadiana and, true to its name, invited attendees to relish in all things Canadian.

By 8:30 p.m, an hour into the event, there was already a line. Party goers in every imaginable attire: from cocktail dresses and suits, to T-shirts and summer dresses, entered AGO’s main doors and headed upstairs to experience the exhibit.

A maze of adjoining galleries revealed paintings and other artwork in various styles, but with one common theme — Picturing the Americas: Landscape Painting from Tierra del Fuego to the Arctic. Spread out between the displays,were pop-up talks and artist projects on the same topic. In one room, Toronto artist, activist and musician Maggie MacDonald invited guests to add to a collage that depicted our national environmental issues.

By 9 p.m., everyone gathered in Walker Court to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic Canadian rock band, Rheostatics. The band’s favourite songs were performed by band leader Thom Gill, with the help of local musicians: Laura Barrett (The Hidden Cameras), Terra Lightfoot, Casey Mecija (Ohbijou), Mike O’Brien (Zeus), Sandro Perri, Marker Starling (formerly Mantler) and special guest Mary Margaret O’Hara.

The evening was a great start to the First Thursdays season, and FAJO looks forward to the next edition.