The Stellas support the Q in Oshawa Campaign with a Song

Friday night the RMG played host to a buzzing crowd for First Fridays. On the 4th floor committee members from the Art of Transition mingled, on the main floor the Gillian Margot Trio performed, while Marina Osmond snapped pictures in a photobooth. Artist Susan Dobson was in attendance, having travelled from Guelph to welcome Oshawa’s crowd to see her exhibition By Design. On the lower level the AIDS Committee of Durham Region hosted POZitive Portrayals, an exhibition of works by HIV positive artists from the region. The atmosphere was electric, and so many people took photos with our big red Q in support of the Q Live in Oshawa Campaign! We’re excited to share those with you in the morning.

The event had the kind of eclectic crowd you might expect, with mohawked teens seated next to seniors, mothers with babies in arms next to twenty-somethings on dates. Art has a way of bringing people of all stripes together. It is always a joy to see. February is the one year anniversary of First Fridays and so we think it would be a great time for Jian Ghomeshi and his show Q to come and check out Oshawa and see what we’re all about.

Tonight, country/pop duo and hometown favourites The Stellas posted this video to show their support of the campaign! Thanks you two! We are honoured to have your support in this competition, which gets to be more fun with each passing day. Learn more about The Stellas on their website www.thestellasmusic.com and be sure to ‘like’ the Q Live in Oshawa Campaign on facebook.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1l0M4TsgsE?wmode=transparent]

August First Fridays

We had so much fun at our August First Fridays event. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect.

(Click to follow links for more info!)

Musician Jeff Leech of Jeff Leech and the Pepperbox Choir opened the evening backed by another well-known local musician Abel Renton. Jeff told the crowd he was happy to be performing at the RMG (though he may have stumbled over our acronym!) and suggested we take a listen to his new album, Pointin’ Fingers, produced by Abel.

Jeff is a friend of the gallery. An artist and local teacher, Jeff recorded a version of his song Soldier Boy in the RMG last winter with local videographer Mike Peleshok.

Next up was singer/songwriter Patrick Dorie, who is soon to perform at the Canadian Country Music Association’s new artist showcase. We’re thrilled to have had him at a free event. Patrick’s video for Hope in High Places was screened at a previous First Fridays event in an awareness raising effort for the Second Marsh. You can hear some more of Patrick’s music on his Facebook page.

Local artist and illustrator Dani Crosby led an interactive mural project, using ink, wood panel and the assistance of First Fridays guests to create an RMG themed three-panel work. We haven’t decided if we can part with the work just yet, but are considering auctioning it at a future event, or keeping it as a mascot. We love the collaboration the work symbolizes!

Local burger business The Patty Shack came to hand out free RMG Vanity Sliders. We were lucky enough to work with Dave from The Patty Shack to design this delicious treat. R stands for Roasted Red Peppers, M for Mozzarella and G for his signature Gardillic sauce. We loved the burger and we’ll be headed back there for a staff lunch soon.

Read More:

Reporter Nathan Mackinnon captured the event on his blog post for the Downtown Oshawa News Blog.
Columnist Will McGuirk mentioned the event in his article for Oshawa This Week.

We’re now looking forward to our next event in September with anticipation. It has a back-to-school theme and we promise it will be much more fun than actually heading back to school!

See the full gallery on Posterous

July FIRST FRIDAYS!

We’re excited to announce the RMG’s sixth edition of FIRST FRIDAYS!

July’s First Fridays is on a special date and time: July 8^th. The party kicks off at 5pm with the opening reception for the gallery’s two new exhibitions, FIERCE and Geordie Lishman: Hidden Worlds. At 6pm Boom Bust & Echo will perform, followed by singer-songwriter Kate Boothman at 7pm. Cash bar and free to attend. Party continues until 9pm!

Kate Boothman is perhaps best known for her work in the band Sunbear. Kate will be performing a solo set and we are excited to welcome her to the gallery. Check out Kate’s myspace page here to hear some of her music.

Boom Bust & Echo are a new local act with a tie to artist Geordie Lishman – his brother Aaron Lishman is in the group!

July’s edition of First Fridays is an event partnership with Durham Tourism www.durhamtourism.ca.

We hope you will all join us for this great evening of art and live music!

True Power, Geordie Lishman