Toronto Star

The Art Gallery of Ontario welcomed its last visitors yesterday before shutting its doors indefinitely to complete a $254 million facelift by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Patrons have put up with a smaller space and the occasional sound of power tools since construction began more than two years ago, but now the gallery will be closed to the public while the redesign enters its final phase. A reopening date has not been set, but museum officials estimate the building won't be ready until the latter half of 2008. Terry Grier was one of about 1,500 people who took advantage of free admission yesterday to view the featured art while she had a chance. "There's no question that progress has to be made, and you have to make some sacrifices to have progress," said Grier, a retired woman in her early 60s, while standing in front of a sculpture by the 17th-century master Gianlorenzo Bernini.