RMG Fridays April: Emerging Superstars

We encourage you to Bring-a-Friend to our RMG Fridays April event on April 10 from 7-10m (*Note Special Date) to share in the fun! The night features performances by highly-acclaimed pop singer/songwriter Scott Helman, the 2014 nominee for the CBC Music Rising Star award and smart-pop, love-rockers So Young from London. This event runs alongside the opening of Speak Up! Youth Art Exhibition.

For more information:
Speak Up: https://www.facebook.com/speakuposhawa
Scott Helman: http://www.scotthelmanmusic.com/home/
So Young: http://soyoung.bandcamp.com/

On the first Friday of the month, join the RMG in celebrating local talent. The gallery buzzes with live musical performances, interactive art experiences, open gallery spaces, social mingling and more. Suitable for music lovers, youth, families, date nights, and culture-vultures.

Free to attend | 7-10pm | Cash Bar | All ages welcome.

Follow the twitter feed at #RMGFridays!

The RMG is grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support of this programming.

RMG Friday March: Evolving Form

Our March event on 6 March from 7-10pm will engage with your senses! Both Graham Nicholas and Ryan Carr are acoustic roots singer-songwriters who will take us on a musical journey.

We also celebrate Jock Macdonald: Evolving Form, the major retrospective of the abstract artist and Painters 11 member Jock Macdonald. Create an artwork using your senses, tour the collection and learn more about the symposium, Abstraction in Canada hosted by the RMG on Saturday 7 March.

For more information:
Jock Macdonald: Evolving Form – https://rmg.on.ca/jock-macdonald-evolving-form.php
Ryan Carr- http://www.reverbnation.com/ryancarr
Graham Nicholas – https://www.facebook.com/grahamnicholasmusic

On the first Friday of the month, join the RMG in celebrating local talent. The gallery buzzes with live musical performances, interactive art experiences, open gallery spaces, social mingling and more. Suitable for music lovers, youth, families, date nights, and culture-vultures.

Free to attend | 7-10pm | Cash Bar | All ages welcome.

Follow the twitter feed at #RMGFridays!

The RMG is grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support of RMG Fridays.

Image credits:
Left: Graham Nicholas. Photo by Laura Proctor Photography
Middle: Jock Macdonald, Rim of the Sky, 1958; oil on canvas; Collection of The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Right: Ryan Carr

RMG FRIDAYS… 4 Years Later

As we approach a milestone, Norah O’Donnell, the Manager of Community and Volunteer Development finds herself reflecting on the past 4 years of RMG Fridays programming. What a whirlwind experience! Our Communication Coordinator, Sam Mogelonsky asked her a few questions – here is the result.

Norah at the mic

Sam: For those who are not aware, what is RMG Fridays?

Norah: RMG Fridays is a free, community-focused series held at the RMG on the first Friday of each month. It is a fun night where we meet as a community to take in 2 musical performances, exhibition openings, community collaborations, a cash bar and interactive art projects! We are very grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for supporting this program.

Sam: You mentioned community collaborations. Who has partnered with RMG Fridays?

Norah: The partnerships that have developed through the program are vast and varied. They continue to diversify programming and our audience base. Over the past 4 years, we have collaborated with Durham College, Trent University, UOIT, Spark Centre for Innovation, City of Oshawa, Oshawa Public Library, Rotary Club of Oshawa, AIDS Committee of Durham, Girls Inc., Core 21, Durham Tourism, Oshawa Community Museum, Empty Cup Media, Cinefest Durham, Pride Durham, Oshawa Space Invaders, Broken Arts and Next Winter Festival.

Sam: How many participants have been involved?

Norah: I have made many friends at RMG Fridays! I love seeing new and familiar faces each month. Since 2011, our staff and volunteers have welcomed over 8400 guests!

RMG Fridays July 4, 2014. Photo by Licianny Matos

Sam: Could you talk a bit about the planning process of RMG Fridays?

Norah: RMG Fridays is a collaborative effort amongst staff. We plan 4 months at a time to coincide with our newsletter production. The project scope has increased over the years to now include Nutshell Tours, exhibition openings and more. We have a great team of RMG Fridays volunteers who help run the event each month. A special thanks to all those who are currently involved and those who have helped over the past 4 years. We could not do it without their support. In addition, each month I am grateful to Nate and Jacob at JMS Audio for making us sound so specular!

Sam: What has been your favourite RMG Fridays moment?

Norah: It is almost impossible for me to choose just one. I would say my top 5 in no particular order has been:

Forest City Lovers performing to a record number of attendees
Launching the Gig Poster Show with the Marvelous Beauhunks and Viva Mars
Celebrating the eve of International Women’s Day with Girls Inc. Durham, the barbershop quartet Surround Sound, Jenny Berkel, and Heather Luckhart and her Colbalt Babies.
Dave Stathem swinging us into the holidays!
The GeekFreaks breakdancing in the Isabel McLauglin Gallery

Sam: Who would be your dream band to perform at RMG Fridays?

Norah: Uptown Funk is currently stuck in my head on repeat. Bruno Mars is my current pick!

RMG Fridays: 4th Anniversary Bash!

Join us on Friday 6 February from 7-10pm as we celebrate our 4th anniversary, this RMG Fridays is not to be missed! Our co-hosts for the night include The Honourable Mayor John Henry, Dr. Tim McTiernan of UOIT, Don Lovisa of Durham College, and Leo Groarke of Trent University.

The night is jam-packed with sights and sounds including the much-anticipated performance by Grey Lands, Wayne Petti’s return to his alt-country roots and indie rockers Howie Sutherland and The Indigos. Share your favourite RMG Fridays moment and check out the opening of Closeups: Margaret Rodgers.

On the first Friday of the month, join the RMG in celebrating local talent. The gallery buzzes with live musical performances, interactive art experiences, open gallery spaces, social mingling and more. Suitable for music lovers, youth, families, date nights, and culture-vultures.

While you’re at the RMG, enjoy a selection of tapas prepared by Pillar’s Catering.

Free to attend | 7-10pm | Cash Bar | All ages welcome.

Follow the twitter feed at #RMGFridays!

The RMG is grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support of RMG Fridays. The RMG also extends its thanks to the Aked Endowment, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Oshawa and the Canada Council for the Arts for the support of our exhibition programming.

Image – Margaret Rodgers, Fireman and Fan, Prospect Park 1900, 2014 and Grey Lands

RMG Fridays January 9: Funky Fusion

Kick off 2015 with a memorable night that will fuse acoustic-pop with funky-jazz. Performances by Whitby natives Rhyme Jaws and Oshawa newbies Good Ghost.

Celebrate the grand opening of Gallery A, our new exhibition and studio space and opening of Running On Empty. Enjoy tea tasting provided by Honey & Tea Co.

For more information:
Gallery A – https://rmg.on.ca/gallery-a.php
Running on Empty – https://rmg.on.ca/running-on-empty.php
Rhyme Jaws – https://www.facebook.com/rhymejaws?hc_location=timeline
Honey & Tea Co. – http://honeyandtea.ca/
RMG Fridays 2015 – https://rmg.on.ca/RMG-FRIDAYS.php

On the first Friday of the month, join the RMG in celebrating local talent. The gallery buzzes with live musical performances, interactive art experiences, open gallery spaces, social mingling and more. Suitable for music lovers, youth, families, date nights, and culture-vultures.

Free to attend | 7-10pm | Cash Bar | All ages welcome.

Follow the twitter feed at #RMGFridays!

* Note Special Date

The RMG is grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support of RMG Fridays. The RMG also extends its thanks to the Aked Endowment, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Oshawa and the Canada Council for the Arts for the support of our exhibition programming.

Images:
Left – Monica Tap, One-second Hudson no. 4, 2007
Right – Gallery A Artist in Residence Pete Smith

RMG Fridays December: Swing into the Holidays

Welcome winter on Friday 5 November from 7-10pm with a knockout double performance by Dave Statham and the Swing Shift Little Big Band! Step back in time in our photobooth & check out the high-energy dance troupe, That Swing! We present our December event in partnership with the Rotary Club of Oshawa.

David Statham: https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Statham/113444095396892

Bees’ Knees Dance: https://www.facebook.com/beeskneesdance

On the first Friday of the month, join the RMG in celebrating local talent. The gallery buzzes with live musical performances, interactive art experiences, open gallery spaces, social mingling and more. Suitable for music lovers, youth, families, date nights, and culture-vultures.

Free to attend | 7-10pm | Cash Bar | All ages welcome.

Follow the twitter feed at #RMGFridays!

The RMG is grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support of this programming.

RMG Fridays November: Winter Festival

In partnership with their Next Winter Festival running 6 to 9 November, we have performances by Bad Child and The Elwins. Join us on Friday, November 7 from 7:00pm – 10:00pm

Next Summer is a new youth collective committed to providing events for diverse voices.

Our November event also celebrates the opening of “Ron Shuebrook: Drawings.” https://rmg.on.ca/ron-shuebrook-drawings.php

Find The Elwins on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheElwins

Find Bad Child on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/badchildband

On the first Friday of the month, join the RMG in celebrating local talent. The gallery buzzes with live musical performances, interactive art experiences, open gallery spaces, social mingling and more. Suitable for music lovers, youth, families, date nights, and culture-vultures.

Free to attend | 7-10pm | Cash Bar | All ages welcome.

Follow the twitter feed at #RMGFridays!

RMG Fridays October: Culture Counts

RMG Fridays October highlights Culture Counts: The Oshawa Arts, Culture and Heritage Plan. We’ve invited City Council candidates to come and discuss what “Culture Counts” means to them!

Local duo Darling and the Fox perform followed by a not-to-be-missed performance by First Nations poet and singer Tara Williamson.

This evening also celebrates the opening of “Reading the Talk.”https://rmg.on.ca/reading-the-talk.php

Tara Williamson www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Williamson/399395516760266

Darling and the Fox www.facebook.com/darlingandthefox?ref=br_tf

Join us on Friday, October 3 from 7-10pm – entry to RMG Fridays is free of charge.

RMG Fridays September 2014: Space Invaders

Join us on Friday, September 5th to celebrate the closing reception of the exhibition “Re: purpose”, at our September event that features performances by Oshawa’s RedVIOLET & Toronto’s Pins & Needles, a group who met at Girls Rock Camp! We’ll also help kick off the return of the Oshawa Space Invaders.
Free to attend | 7-10pm | Cash Bar | All ages welcome.

Space Invaders: http://www.oshawaspaceinvaders.com/

RedVIOLET: http://redviolet.bandcamp.com/ andfacebook.com/redvioletband

Pins & Needles: http://pinsandneedlesband.tumblr.com/

Re: purpose: https://rmg.on.ca/exhibitions-repurpose.php

Looking for something to do AFTER RMG Fridays?
Check out the Professors of Funk’s First Friday Residency at The Moustache Club!

Special thanks to our summer beer sponsors Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co.

Follow the twitter feed at #RMGFridays!

The RMG is grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support of this programming.

Making Methods at RMG Fridays

Our fall RMG Fridays event series has been announced. The lineup includes exhibition openings, book readings and launches, short film screenings, and more, all set alongside the incredible live music performances you’ve come to expect! We’ve got even more in store, so stay tuned as we add new components to each event as we move closer to the date.

Friday 6 September is our first fall RMG Fridays and it is another busy event!

The opening of the exhibition Making Methods is the centrepiece. The artists Becky Ip, Mark Stebbins and Sam Mogelonsky will all be present to discuss their work.

The event also celebrates the opening of Community Curates II, a new exhibition of works from our permanent collection that were recently selected by our community through an online survey!

The Isabel McLaughlin Gallery will host the musical guests Isla Craig and Native Other (formerly called The Louder Sounds). Isla was recently profiled by BlogTO as a “breakout band.” Read more about her work here.
Native Other are a young emerging band from Oshawa. We’re excited to host both of these performances.

At the event we’ll also help kick off the OshawaSpaceInvaders art exhibition pop-up event. OshawaSpaceInvaders places contemporary art is temporary spaces. In mid-September, six groups of artists will take over vacant retail spaces in downtown Oshawa and fill them with diverse artwork. You can learn more about this group by visiting their blog, and pick up a schedule of events and map at RMG Fridays in September.

As always, RMG Fridays is free to attend and is open to all ages. A cash bar is available at the event. The gallery is open 7-10pm, with a new Nutshell Tour (a quick 10 minute tour) each month, starting at 7:15pm.

Join the RMG Fridays September event page on Facebook for regular updates.