Convergence Music and Art Festival

Kick off Oshawa’s Convergence Music and Art Festival at the RMG! The launch party will be taking place at the Gallery on Friday, September 20. During the Festival on Saturday, September 21, find us at the ARTBLOCK and at the Family Zone.

RMG Friday: Convergence Launch Party

September 20, 2024
7-10pm
Location: The Robert McLaughlin Gallery

Join us to celebrate the launch of the Convergence Music & Arts Festival. Enjoy live musical performances by Joel Anderson, Christina Smith, and Desarae Dee* as well as art-making activities, exhibitions, and food from local restaurants.

* Please note: due to unforeseen circumstances Desarae Dee is unable to perform.

Joel Anderson is a songwriter with a rich, smooth tone that fuses elements from R&B and Gospel. His music, characterized by heartfelt storytelling and passionate delivery, deeply resonates with listeners through its authenticity and emotional depth.

Scarborough-born, Jamaican-raised Christina Smith’s unique sound is a combination of elements. Some of her musical influences include FKA twigs, Halle Bailey, Kathleen Battle and Qveen Herby. She describes her sound as classical fusion, pulling from the vocal technique and delivery of classical music, and the instrumentation of contemporary music (including, R&B, pop, house and rock).

Join local guest artist Chelsea Frattura in the art studio to get your geek on! Dive into the nostalgic world of 8-bit artwork as you design and create your own custom magnet. Using the grid method, you’ll bring your favourite pop culture icons to life—or invent your own design! Perfect for beginners.

ARTBLOCK

September 21, 2024
11am-7pm
Location: Former Oshawa GO Bus terminal

At the Convergence Music & Arts Festival, the City of Oshawa and The Robert McLaughlin Gallery are co-presenting ARTBLOCK, an art-centered festival Zone showcasing local artistic talent. This area will include a public art exhibition in the former Oshawa GO Bus terminal, art by local artists, participatory art activities and more!

Feature in ARTBLOCK: Points of Connection

For over 20 years, the Oshawa Bus Terminal served as the site for countless homecomings, goodbyes, greetings and adventures. Now no longer in use, it stands like a monument to past memories while awaiting its future redevelopment. For Convergence Music & Arts Festival, the terminal returns to its former glory, packed with people and stories, as the site of the art exhibition Points of Connection.

Points of Connection brings together work by locally connected artists to explore how our personal histories are tied to collective experiences and settings. The exhibition gathers us to reflect on the ways we seek connection; through personal histories, community, technology and nature.

This Bus Terminal connected Oshawa’s communities to and from, far and wide, making it a fitting location for an exhibition that considers how we as a community flourish through connections.

Presented by the City of Oshawa and The Robert McLaughlin Gallery.

Family Zone

Saturday, September 21, 2024
11am-7pm
Location: Family Zone

Join us in the Family Zone at the Convergence Music and Art Festival! We will be designing our own unique band t-shirt art using watercolour resist techniques to create awe-inspiring creations.

This event has been financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.


The RMG reserves the right to modify or cancel this event due to circumstances beyond RMG’s control or not reasonably anticipated, including but not limited, to weather, or inability of Facility to host Event.

RMG Teen Art Zone: Fall 2024

Come hang out in our onsite art studio! Each session will bring a unique theme where you will be encouraged to explore new techniques, work with a variety of materials, and express your unique personality through art.

Ages 14-17

Free drop-in, no registration required.

Upcoming Sessions

September 26, 2024

October 31, 2024

November 28, 2024


FAQ

Do I need to sign up ahead of time?

As a drop-in program, you do not need to sign up. Come on in! If you would like to communicate with the organizer directly, please contact Farah at [email protected]

What is the space like?

You are encouraged to either come alone or with friends! Plug into your own music or listen to the chatter. Materials and refreshments are provided. As a drop-in, you can come for a little time or a long time.

Where is it happening?

The studio on the lower level. The gallery is free to visit. Walk in through the front doors, turn right and go down the stairs, turn right again once you see the door to the studio. Or, take the elevator near our gift shop to level 1.

Is the environment low-sensory friendly?

We tend to keep the lights dimmed but they are still on. We play music on a medium volume, however this can be turned off upon request. The noise level in the room is about medium. For a pause from the art-making, the exhibition spaces offer quiet seating.

For more details on accessibility, visit this link: https://rmg.on.ca/visit/accessibility-and-accommodations/

Do I need to know how to do art ahead of time? Do I need to be an artist?

No! The art activities are beginner friendly. We offer all the necessary materials and instruction to complete a project. We also value abstract art, ugly art, and silly art. Feel free to try new things.

Presented by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation.

Teen Art Studio Open House

Ages 13-17

Come hang out with us in the studio!

We will be exploring the world of felt appliqué and clay coil pots, two no-fail art activities that are perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Not only will you have the opportunity to create some amazing art, but we’ll also have refreshments and music to keep the energy going. We can’t wait to see what you create!

No registration required. If you have any questions regarding this event, please email [email protected].

Presented by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation.

Teen Art Studio Spring 2024

Ages 13-17

4:30pm to 6:00pm

Come hang out in our onsite art studio! Guided by our Youth and Family Programming Assistant, you will be encouraged to explore new techniques, work with a variety of materials, and express your unique personality through art. Each week’s activity is influenced by the artistic trends of youth in the local community to provide a positive outlet in a safe and inclusive environment. We will play around with printmaking, animation, sewing, and more!

Materials will be provided at no cost to participants.

Upcoming Sessions

April 25: Mixed Media Blackout Poetry

May 9: Open House

May 23: Underpainting with Acrylic Paint Landscape

June 6: Oil Pastel and Watercolour Still Life

Please register ahead of time using the online form or by email at [email protected].

Presented by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation.

Teen Art Studio Winter 2024

This class is full.

Ages 13-17

4:30pm to 6:00pm

Come hang out in our onsite art studio! Guided by our Youth and Family Programming Assistant, you will be encouraged to explore new techniques, work with a variety of materials, and express your unique personality through art. Each week’s activity is influenced by the artistic trends of youth in the local community to provide a positive outlet in a safe and inclusive environment. We will play around with printmaking, animation, sewing, and more!

Materials will be provided at no cost to participants.

Upcoming Sessions

February 1, 2024: Felt Appliqué

February 8, 2024: Linocut Prints

February 29, 2024: Doodle GIFs

March 7, 2024: Ink and Watercolour Painting

Please register ahead of time using the online form or by email at [email protected].

Presented by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation.

Doors Open at the RMG

RMG

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is celebrating Doors Open in Oshawa on May 6th. Come discover this year’s theme with us, FOOD!

Admission and events are all FREE!

Join a guided architecture + art tour

11 AM and 2 PM

Our welcoming Visitor Engagement Assistants will deliver tours of this stunning modern building. Discover the original vision for Oshawa’s public gallery, brought to life in 1969, and how architect Arthur Erickson designed a massive 36,000-square-foot extension that made the gallery what it is today.

Participate in a family-friendly art-making activity

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Have fun making your very own food inspired piece of art, combining gel plate printmaking with decorative paper collage techniques. It’s a recipe for creativity!

Spend time with our exhibitions

RMG Shop

Visit our gift shop

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery has a history of supporting and promoting local artists, artisans, and makers. The RMG shop features products from across Ontario, including jewelry, ceramics, books, home goods, and Indigenous designed and manufactured products. Each sale helps support local artisans and our free community programs.

The RMG Shop is located in the lobby of The Robert McLaughlin Gallery.

Explore more Doors Open events in Oshawa.

Doors Open at the RMG

RMG

The RMG is celebrating Culture Days and Doors Open Oshawa on Saturday, September 24th. There’s so much to explore!

Admission and events are all FREE!

Join a guided architecture + art tour

11 AM and 2 PM

Our welcoming Visitor Engagement Assistants will deliver tours of this stunning modern building. Discover the original vision for Oshawa’s public gallery, brought to life in 1969, and how architect Arthur Erickson designed a massive 36,000-square-foot extension that made the gallery what it is today.

Participate in a family-friendly art-making activity

1 PM – 3 PM

Design your OWN gallery! Led by our Learning and Engagement team, this drop in activity will invite you to explore Journeys, the major permanent collection exhibition, through an interactive scavenger hunt; then, use the inspiration you find to create mixed media artworks in the studio.

Installation view of The Beyond Within at Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 2021. Documentation by Toni Hafkenscheid.

RMG Shop

Visit our gift shop

The RMG Shop is located in the lobby of The Robert McLaughlin Gallery. We feature lovingly crafted, handmade artisanal products from across Ontario as well as a wide selection of Indigenous designed and manufactured products. Our boutique is stocked with unique, one-of-a-kind items including jewelry, homewares, and gifts. Each tax-free sale through the RMG not only helps to support local artisans and crafts people, but also goes towards funding our free community programming. 

Explore more Doors Open events in Oshawa.