The RMG family was saddened to hear of the passing of its former Executive Director, David Aurandt. David led the gallery from 2000 to 2010.
David was a scholar, a Latin-speaking intellect who was deeply generous. His passion was education and he epitomized the maxim “lifelong learner.” His was the unique gift of being able to share from his vast well of knowledge on any number of subjects, and he loved nothing better than the art history classes he taught at Oshawa’s Senior Community Centre, and leading discussions with the RMG’s docents about the exhibitions and gallery collections.
David Aurandt giving a lecture to seniors at the RMG, 2007.
He was a story-teller extraordinaire and you knew if he started one of his tales with “when I was in Thunder Bay,” you may as well make yourself comfortable. Never one to take himself too seriously, he had the ability to tell eye-ball rolling puns and loved people’s reactions to them.
For David, art was a journey of discovery through looking at painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, and anything else one might consider art. He helped so many appreciate our world more completely through that enthusiasm for the visual.
We offer our deepest condolences to David’s wife Anne, his children, grandchildren, and many friends.
The RMG Team
David Aurandt’s retirement dinner, 2010.
