Thursday Curatorial Tour: Loose Parts

sophia bartholomew, dances around a living tree (detail), 2022, wood, found materials and organic matter, string, C-clamps, and laminated sheets.

Join curator Hannah Keating for a guided tour of the exhibition Loose Parts, which includes work by sophia bartholomew, Akash Inbakumar, and Justin Mezzapelli.

Thursday Curatorial Tours are free and open to everyone. They provide deeper insight into the themes, context, and content of our exhibitions. Seating options are available. For more information about access and our facilities, please visit rmg.on.ca/visit/ or contact Hannah Keating at [email protected] with any specific requests.

No advance registration required.

Community and Joy

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG) teamed up with the Abilities
Centre in Whitby, to develop a photography project for their TR
Creative Café participants to explore personal expressions of
community and joy.

The Abilities Centre’s mandate is to provide:
“…accessible and inclusive programs and services of the highest
quality and value. Abilities Centre supports members of the
community, no matter their ability, age or background, to improve
their quality of life by positively impacting health & wellbeing, social
inclusion and economic participation.”

The TR Creative Café, is a new art centered therapeutic recreation
(TR) program that encourages creative expression as a way to build
the skills required to cope with change, express emotion, explore
values and identify creative goals and strengths. In a two-part
program with the RMG, TR Creative Café participants were asked to
take and share photographs that reflect who their community is and
what brings them joy. The resulting photographs capture a range of
favourite activities including community events, spending time with
loved ones, sports, and hobbies.

This exhibition is installed in the Thomas Bouckley Collection
corridor, where the RMG regularly highlights photographs from the
community. The Thomas Bouckley Collection, housed at the RMG, is
a collection of over 3,500 photographs that visualizes the history of
Oshawa. However, the collection lacks the stories and perspectives
of many of Oshawa’s residents.

This project is part of the RMG’s ongoing efforts to present diverse perspectives from the community. The RMG and Abilities Centre would like to express their thanks to the participants for their willingness to explore the ways photography can be used to share and express lived-experience.

Family Day 2023: Personalized Buttons, Eye Spy and More!

This Family Day, we are doing a number of different family oriented activities! Families can design their own personalized pin-on buttons, work together by creating collaborative art, and explore sketching skills with a silly still-life challenge! Check out our new Eye Spy game in the permanent exhibition space, who will find all the artworks first?

January OPG Sunday: Winter Wonders

This month, we will be inspired by the beauty of winter. Join us to make unique paper quilled designs inspired by winter landscapes. Then, use watercolour paint to design elegant symmetrical snowflakes!

This event is generously sponsored by Ontario Power Generation.

March Break Art Camp

Ages 5-7 – This camp is full.

Ages 8-12

9am to 4pm

$200 Members| $210 Non-Members

Do you want your kids to dive into creativity? Are they looking for exciting new adventures? Campers are encouraged to interact with art in fun and playful ways as they share their thoughts, and express their ideas through art. We will get hands on with some messy and imaginative art making activities that will truly inspire all budding artists. Spaces are limited.

Here’s how March Break Camp will look this year:

The RMG will remain closed to public on Mondays – only camp participants onsite
Drop-off between 8:45am and 9am
Small camp cohorts
Mask friendly camp for staff, volunteers and participants
Rigorous cleaning throughout the day
Pick-up at 4pm

COVID -19 protocols and guidelines

We will continue to follow COVID -19 protocols and guidelines outlined by the Durham Region Health Department and the Province’s Chief Medical Officer. Our goal is to ensure the health and safety of staff and participants, and create an enjoyable experience.
If we must cancel camp due to public health restrictions, we will issue full refunds. Cancellations by participants will be subject to our cancellation policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions or concerns that aren’t addressed here, please feel free to contact the Learning Department. More detailed information about camp will be sent to registered families prior to the first day of camp.

I see that you do online registrations, can I register in-person or over the phone?

While we prefer online registrations, we do accept in-person (cash, debit, VISA and Mastercard) and phone registrations (VISA and Mastercard). There is a mandatory registration form that needs to be completed fully for each camper at the time of payment. These forms are reviewed by staff and documented in order to ensure we are aware of pertinent information. We may reach out to families if we have follow-up questions prior to camp.

Families who choose to make payment over the phone will be emailed a copy of the registration form. The form must be filled out and sent back by the first day of camp.

What is your maximum capacity?

15 campers maximum per camp.

What if I have a child that is outside the age range, can they still join?

All of our camps are geared specifically for children within the designated ages. In order to ensure the best experience for everyone, participants must fall within the indicated age range.

Are pre- and post-care available?

No, unfortunately, we are not able to offer this service.

Can I register for one or two days instead of the whole week?

Unfortunately, we ask families to commit to the full week as often our art making fun requires multiple days to complete (many requiring time to dry before paint or adding final details).

What type of activities have you planned, are campers outside at all?

Campers will be spending equal time in the Lookout and the Studio. The camp will have in-gallery interactive visits including looking activities, games, and sketching. Campers in the Studio and Lookout will have opportunities to create with a variety of mediums! We have a fully fenced in backyard, and if weather permits we will be spending lunch and snack breaks outside.

Do you provide snacks/lunch?

Parents are asked to pack a water bottle, peanut free snacks and lunch daily. There are two snack breaks and lunch is from 12-1pm.

What else might my child need to bring?

If you believe your child may need a change of clothes please provide that. The Studio has fluctuating temperatures, and dressing in layers is suggested to account for this. Please ensure your child wears art friendly clothing and comfortable footwear.

What is the staff to camper ratio?

We aim for a minimum of 1 to 7 ratio.

Do you provide a “kiss and ride”?

Drop-off takes place from 8:45am – 9:00am. On the first day, we ask campers are signed in with a staff member in the front lobby. Families can choose to escort their camper to their “homeroom” or a camp staff member can ensure your child gets to their room.

Families may choose to do a “kiss and ride” drop off in the mornings at the front of the building Tuesday to Friday starting at 8:45am.

We require all families to pick up their camper at the end of each day at 4pm. Only authorized adults will be allowed to sign out campers.

PA Day Camp

CAMP FULL / Registrations now closed

Ages 5 to 10

$45 Members/$55 Non-Members

Here’s how Camp will look this year:

Drop-off between 8:45am and 9am
Small camp cohort
Mask friendly camp for staff, volunteers and participants
Rigorous cleaning throughout the day
Pick-up at 4pm

COVID -19 protocols and guidelines

If we must cancel camps due to public health restrictions, we will issue full refunds. Cancellations by participants will be subject to our cancellation policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions or concerns that aren’t addressed here, please feel free to contact the Learning Department. More detailed information about camps and the Learning Team will be sent to registered families prior to the first day of camp.

I see that you do online registrations, can I register in-person or over the phone?

While we prefer online registrations, we do accept in-person (cash, debit, VISA and Mastercard) and phone registrations (VISA and Mastercard). There is a mandatory registration form that needs to be completed fully for each camper at the time of payment. These forms are reviewed by staff and documented in order to ensure we know pertinent information. We may reach out to families if we have follow-up questions prior to camp.

Families who choose to make payment over the phone will be emailed a copy of the registration form. The form must be filled out and sent back before the start of camp.

What is your maximum capacity?

15 campers maximum.

What if I have a child that is outside the age range, can they still join?

All of our camps are geared specifically for children within the designated ages. In order to ensure the best experience for everyone, participants must fall within the indicated age range.

Are pre- and post-care available?

No, unfortunately, we are not able to offer this service.

What type of activities have you planned, are campers outside at all?

We will have a gallery portion of the day where campers get to explore our exhibitions, get an exclusive tour and participate in an exhibition activity! In the studio, we will get messy and play around with a variety of art-making projects. We have a fenced in backyard, if weather permits we may spend some time outside to play.

Do you provide snacks/lunch?

Parents are asked to pack a water bottle, peanut free snacks and lunch daily. There are two snack breaks and lunch is from 12-1pm.

What else might my child need to bring?

If you believe your child may need a change of clothes please provide that. The studio has fluctuating temperatures, and your child may feel comfortable in layers. Please ensure your child wears art friendly clothing and comfortable footwear. If weather permits we may spend some time outside to play.

What is the staff to camper ratio?

We aim for a minimum of 1 to 7 ratio.

Do you provide a “kiss and ride”?

Not at this time. Drop-off takes place from 8:45am – 9:00am. We ask campers are signed in with a staff member in the front lobby. Families can choose to escort their camper to the studio, or a camp staff member can ensure your child gets there!

We require all families to pick up their camper at the end of day at 4pm. Only authorized adults will be allowed to sign out campers.

Kazuo Nakamura: Influence and Legacy

This event is open to the public, but registration encouraged.

Join us for a conversation about the lasting impact and legacy of artist Kazuo Nakamura. The discussion will be led by panelists Louise Noguchi (artist), Bryce Kanbara (artist and recent Governor General Award recipient), and John Hatch (art historian). Kazuo Nakamura laid the groundwork for younger generations of Japanese Canadian artists and achieved great success in his lifetime. This event compliments the current exhibition at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Kazuo Nakamura: Universal Pattern, on view until March 5^th.

Refreshments will be served.

Louise Noguchi was born in Toronto, and has been active in the Toronto art community since 1981. Her work has been included in solo and group exhibitions across Canada and internationally. A selection of these exhibitions follows: “Das zweite Gesicht”, Deutsches Museum, Munich (2002); “Track Records,” Oakville Galleries, Oakville, and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Ottawa (1997-1999); “Modus Operandi,” Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, and the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan (1996); and, “Louise Noguchi Selected Works: 1982 – 1985,” The Power Plant, Toronto (1989).

Dr. John G. Hatch is associate professor of art history at Western University in London Ontario. He received his doctorate from the University of Essex in art history and theory. His area of research is twentieth-century European and American art and theory, with a particular interest in the points of convergence between art and science. His articles have examined the work of Robert Smithson, Cindy Sherman, Francis Bacon, Frantisek Kupka, Shi Zhiying, amongst others, and most recently the German photographer Thomas Ruff. He is the Art Canada Institute author of monographs on Paterson Ewen and Kazuo Nakamura and is currently working on his third title examining the life and work of Doris McCarthy.

Kanbara has been working for nearly five decades: across media in painting, printmaking and sculpture, and as a curator and arts administrator. He was a founding member and the first administrator of Hamilton Artists Inc. (known then as Hamilton Artists’ Co-op) in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, going on to hold curatorial positions at Burlington Art Centre; Art Gallery of Hamilton; Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant; JC Gallery at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (Toronto). He was also Executive Director of the Toronto Chapter, National Association of Japanese Canadians, Chair of the NAJC Endowment Fund and National Executive member. As one of the first to open a gallery space along Hamilton’s James Street North in the early aughts, Kanbara has been the proprietor of you me gallery since 2003. In 2021, he won a Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts for his countless contributions.

Winter Exhibitions Opening

Remarks at 2PM

Coming from Toronto? We have organized a bus to bring you to and from the opening! Pick up will be in front of OCADU at 100 McCaul St at 12:30PM. The bus will leave the RMG at 3:45PM to return to OCADU by 5PM.

Reserve your spot!

On November 26, we are celebrating two new exhibitions at the RMG:

Powerful Glow
Jordan Bennett, Patricia Deadman, Ursula Johnson, Mike MacDonald, Peter Morin, Luke Parnell, Archer Pechawis, Anne Riley, Fallon Simard, Becca Taylor, Art Wilson and T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss
November 26, 2022 – April 9, 2023
Curated by Lisa Myers

If we think of land and waterways as readable with a range that is fluid and ever changing, living and legible, then we can see how one’s understanding of land grows over long periods of time.
Gathered around the medicine and butterfly artworks by the late Mi’kmaw artist Mike MacDonald, this exhibition brings together artists whose works are rooted in and stem from specific plant and land vocabularies that reflect place-based knowledge and nuanced perspectives of medicine.

Loose Parts
sophia bartholomew, Akash Inbakumar, Justin Mezzapelli
November 19th, 2022 – February 19th, 2023
Curated by Hannah Keating

Loose Parts encourages viewers to think about the intimate connection between grief, world building, and kinship. When things fall apart or their edges fray, we can see the component parts more clearly. Instinctively, especially in grief, we try to hold on, but it’s in loosening our grip and letting the pieces scatter that we find ourselves and discover tools for building new worlds. The artists in Loose Parts embrace provisional and in-between spaces, looking to ancient mythologies, dreamed-up futures, and personal stories of becoming for wisdom and ways forward.

Recently Opened:

Kazuo Nakamura: Universal Pattern
October 8, 2022 – March 5, 2023
Curated by: Sonya Jones

Kazuo Nakamura was a founding member of Painters Eleven (1953-60), Ontario’s first abstract art collective. Although sharing in the other members’ use of abstraction, Nakamura’s work was distinguished within the group by his use of more subdued brushstrokes, simpler structures and monochromatic palette. Drawing primarily from the RMG’s permanent collection, this exhibition pulls together works that reflect the scope of Nakamura’s artistic career and his constant search for truth and understanding of the world around him.

The Ties That Bind
October 8th, 2022 – August 20th, 2023
Curated by Sonya Jones

Feeling connected is a fundamental psychological need. In nature, ecosystems depend on interactions and connections in order to thrive. Similarly, humans flourish through connections that are physical, emotional, and social. After two years of feeling disconnected, this exhibition pulls together artwork that reflects on the different ways we seek connections, whether through relationships, finding peace and perspective in nature, or exploring shared histories.

Also on view:

The Beyond Within
Annie MacDonell
September 24, 2022 – February 12, 2023

Complete Freedom
Abstract artworks from our permanent collection
December 11th, 2021 – March 5th, 2023

Come Together
Photographs from the Thomas Bouckley Collection
June 18, 2022 – January 8, 2023

Powerful Glow

Join us at the Winter Exhibitions Opening on November 26, 2022, 1-4pm.

If we think of land and waterways as readable with a range that is fluid and ever changing, living and legible, then we can see how one’s understanding of land grows over long periods of time.

Gathered around the medicine and butterfly artworks by the late Mi’kmaw artist Mike MacDonald, this exhibition brings together artists whose works are rooted in and stem from specific plant and land vocabularies that reflect place-based knowledge and nuanced perspectives of medicine.

MacDonald was a documentarian and media artist who also created garden artworks. Through documenting medicine plants for Elders in Gitxsan territory, MacDonald came to consider flora and butterflies as his teachers. Over several years, he planted more than twenty garden artworks across the land known as Canada. Through these plantings he developed a detailed vocabulary of medicinal plants, butterflies, and their diverse ecologies. Medicine takes material form through plants and food, but this exhibition invites you to imagine medicine as care and teaching; as continuance and memory; as mentorship and learning; and to consider that medicine can manifest as courage to defend land and resistance against ongoing colonial state violence.

The conversations exchanged among these artworks create a powerful glow made possible through a commitment to reciprocity, remediation and remembering. Reciprocity evokes the acts of offering and then doing, where remediation contends with the context at hand and is about being from and for. Remembering, whether through one’s body or material archives, can be painful, nourishing, interpretive and reflective ways to access ancestral knowledge.

Reciprocity, remediation, remembering – fluid, ever changing, living.

Looking Back

Rooting into Mike MacDonald’s work with butterflies, butterfly gardens and the passionate defence of the environment that inspired his life’s work, we invite you to explore this archived version of the artist’s website. This site was recognized with the Aboriginal Achievement Award for New Media in 2000, alongside MacDonald’s essay “Indians in Cyberspace.” Engage materials about plants, butterflies and some of the work featured in Powerful Glow.

Installation of Powerful Glow at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, 2022. Images by Toni Hafkenscheid.

Holiday High Tea at the RMG

Join Berry Hill Co. for Holiday Tea at the RMG!

Beginning the night of our Holiday Market, Berry Hill Co. will be hosting a Holiday High Tea in Arthur’s on the 4th. From Thursdays to Sundays, there will be two seatings at 11AM and 1:30PM. Check out the menu for adults and children under 12!

Reservations and any queries must be made directly through Berry Hill Co. on their website.

Any one who attends the Holiday High Tea will also receive 10% off in the RMG Shop! Make a day of it and be sure to include a visit to one of our exhibitions.