The Art Gallery of Ontario continues their AGO Friday Nights series, staying open until 9 pm on Fridays to extend visitors' opportunity to learn from expert guest speakers, participate in hands on demonstrations, indulge in drinks and appetizers and enjoy live music. The program changes monthly, with past evenings focusing on Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism, and Interactive Modern exhibits made completed with appearances by Toronto’s up and coming artists alongside artistic powerhouses like Patti Smith, Grandmaster Flash and Ai Weiwei. Debuting tomorrow night, July’s programming is focusing on local talents, inspired by the AGO’s current exhibit The Idea of North: the Paintings of Lawren Harris. Curated in collaboration with Steve Martin (yes, the Steve Martin), The Idea of North was conceptualized to introduce audiences to one of the lesser known founding members of the Group of Seven. As a Torontonian, Harris drew heavily on his childhood neighbourhoods when creating his landscapes. Now as the main muse for July’s Friday Nights, the AGO has suitably invited other Torontonian artists to reinterpret Harris’ work for the theme, titled Toronto does Toronto. Inviting newcomers and established creators alike, tomorrow evening will welcome singers/songwriters Alex Lukashevsky, Colin Bergh and Juno Award winner Emilie Mover to contribute a three song cycle for the evening’s entertainment. Whether you are a Canadian art history buff or just looking for an introduction to the scene, the variety of contemporary and historical Canadian talents means everyone will come away with a deepened understanding and a renewed sense of appreciation for local talents. By Lindsay Cooper Banner photo of Lawren Harris' Lake and Mountains (1928) courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.