RMG Friday: Bubbles in the Backyard

Bubbles, Bubbles, BUBBLES! We’re celebrating the iridescence in all of us as Pride is here! The night will be filled with a cabaret of performances with all the wonderful people in our community. So, please join us for a night of frivolity, dance and letting your troubles float away into the twilight.

The Losing Art of Plating: Drag Aesthetics, Food Security, and Harm Reduction with Mikiki

7:30-9:30pm

In this hands-on workshop, participants will build extravagant plates of highly processed (ā€œjunkā€) food. Performance Artist and Queer Community Activist Mikiki will lead the workshop, facilitating conversations about the politics of food as it intersects with concepts of beauty, gender representation, drag, food security, and harm reduction. Unpacking the language of ā€œjunk foodā€ through creativity and play, this drop-in program is welcoming to people of all ages.

This workshop is offered alongside an installation by Hannah Jickling and Reed H. Reed in the exhibition Contemporary Kids, on view at the RMG from June 1 to October 6, 2024. Their installation After Wrappers, explores collaborative learning, the politics of food and of the potential of garbage.

Please note: Various food products will be available in the workshop space, so please take the necessary precautions if you have a food allergy.

If there is something we can do to support your participation, or if you have any questions about the program, please contact Hannah Keating at hkeating@rmg.on.ca.

Kali Kontour, the sensational drag persona hailing from Oshawa, has been captivating audiences for two fabulous years. With roots firmly planted in her hometown, Kali embodies elegance, sass, and unapologetic charisma. Beyond the spotlight, she champions charitable causes, using her platform to uplift and support her community in true diva fashion.

Dank Sinatra is a non-binary drag thing, librarian, and Dora-nominated theater artist who got their start performing on Coast Salish Territories in 2018. As part of the House of Faith, they took home second place in Absolut Empireā€™s Ball 2023. Boasting the same record collection as your Dad, Dank draws on influences from cabaret to classic rock, burlesque to big band, delivering thrills, chills, and live vocal skills with a heavy dose of stupidity and an old school sensibility.

A trans non binary drag king, thing, and everything in between. Born and raised in Southern Ontario, El Experimento has been gracing the stages of Toronto and the East Coast since winter of 2022. An amalgamation and reclamation of nostalgic heart throbs, heart breakers and hell raisers. His Latin flare and hunky charm transcend time and space, leaving you aching with desire. 

Vital! Contemporary Circus is a small, local circus company founded in 2022 by Oshawa resident Jackie Houghton. Jackie has spent close to 15 years in the circus community as a performer, producer and writer. After moving to Oshawa in 2020, she realized that there was an opportunity to develop a local circus community where there was none. Since then she has performed for local businesses, Canada Day at Lakeview Park, and the inaugural Convergence Festival. In addition to performing, Jackie also produces circus cabarets locally under the banner of Vital! Circus Cabaret. Jackie continues to work towards her goal of sharing her love of circus with Durham Region and she’s very excited to be working with the Robert McLaughlin Gallery!

In the studio, make D.I.Y. Pride themed pins using polymer clay! This project is simple and fun, no experience required. Ages 12+

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.

Reflect: Seniors Art Competition and Exhibition 2024

Join us at the Exhibition Opening and Awards Reception: Wednesday, August 20, 2024 at 2:30pm

The Seniors Art Competition and Exhibition is a showcase of creativity and technical skill among members of the Oshawa Senior Community Centres, Oshawa Public Libraries, and The Robert McLaughlin Gallery. Featuring paintings, drawings, sculpture, and more, this annual community exhibition is structured around a competition theme. This year, the theme is reflect.

Want to participate?

If you are 55+ and a member of the RMG, Oshawa Senior Community Centres, or the Oshawa Public Libraries, we invite you to submit one artwork for the exhibition.

Artwork drop off and registration takes place on Thursday, August 13 from 10 am-4 pm. Please print and fill out this form and bring your artwork to the RMG ready to hang to enter the competition and exhibition. Copies of the program brochure are also available at the gallery. Show us what ā€œreflectā€ means to you!

Prizes are awarded in three categories: Novice, Hobby, and Open.

Download the program brochure for more information, including eligibility and contest categories.

The Seniors Art Competition and Exhibition is co-hosted by The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa Senior Community Centres, and the Oshawa Public Libraries.

Ioana Dragomir: Exhibition Opening Reception

Help us celebrate the opening of Ioana Dragomirā€™s solo exhibition! Produced during her residency at the RMG, this installation will feature drawings and textiles inspired by the galleryā€™s archives.

Learn more about the exhibition here.

This event is free and open to everyone. If there are ways we can support your participation, please contact Hannah at hkeating@rmg.on.ca.

The RBC Emerging Artist Residency Program is generously sponsored byĀ the RBC Foundationā€™s Emerging Artist Project.

Ioana Dragomir: RBC Emerging Artist Residency Exhibition

During her residency at the RMG, Ioana Dragomir has spent time combing a set of artist files from the galleryā€™s archive. Compiled by Director Emeritus Joan Murray, who served as director and curator at the RMG from 1974 to 1999, the files contain exhibition ephemera, photos, correspondence, research, and interview transcripts. Experimenting with drawing, sculpture, and installation, the artist is creating a new body of work inspired by the contents of these archives, focusing specifically on the accidental poetics found within files belonging to artist couples and the intimacies they reveal and conceal.

Ioana Dragomir is an interdisciplinary artist currently based in Montreal, Canada. She holds an Honours BA in studio practice from the University of Waterloo, an MA in Art History and Curatorial Studies from Western University, and is currently an MFA candidate at Concordia University. Her artistic practice combines her interest in writing, literary analysis, and curation with drawing, printmaking, textiles, ceramics, and installation. In particular, poetic methodologies of juxtaposition, metaphor, and slippage are important to her practice. Her work has been exhibited at Cambridge Galleries, the plumb, Centre Clark, and Support, among others. She has organized curatorial and community-based projects for the Dundas Valley School of Art and the Landmarks Biennale in Cambridge.

Related Programming

The RBC Emerging Artist Residency Program is generously sponsored by the RBC Foundationā€™s Emerging Artist Project.

Backyard Story Time at the RMG: August

Experience the magic of outdoor story time at the art gallery! Through books, songs, games, and creative activities, storytellers from Oshawa Public Libraries will spark your imagination in The Backyard at the RMG! This event is free and no registration is required.

Offered alongside the exhibition Contemporary Kids, this yearā€™s Backyard Story Time themes have been selected by one of the exhibitionā€™s participating artists, Shaya Ishaq. Shayaā€™s cozy book-inspired installation is available to explore during opening hours at the RMG. Celebrating the unique perspectives and ingenuity of children, Contemporary Kids is an exhibition featuring a collection of collaborative artwork made by artists and kids and interactive installations that allow parents and children to explore and play together.

Backyard Story Time at the RMG is hosted by, and offered in partnership with, Oshawa Public Libraries.

Contemporary Kids 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.

Backyard Story Time at the RMG: July

Experience the magic of outdoor story time at the art gallery! Through books, songs, games, and creative activities, storytellers from Oshawa Public Libraries will spark your imagination in The Backyard at the RMG! This event is free and no registration is required.

Offered alongside the exhibition Contemporary Kids, this yearā€™s Backyard Story Time themes have been selected by one of the exhibitionā€™s participating artists, Shaya Ishaq. Shayaā€™s cozy book-inspired installation is available to explore during opening hours at the RMG. Celebrating the unique perspectives and ingenuity of children, Contemporary Kids is an exhibition featuring a collection of collaborative artwork made by artists and kids and interactive installations that allow parents and children to explore and play together.

Backyard Story Time at the RMG is hosted by, and offered in partnership with, Oshawa Public Libraries.

Contemporary Kids 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.

Mother’s Day Tea 2024

Seatings at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm

$55/adult and $28/kids under 12

Come join us for tea on Mother’s Day at The RMG. Farm + Wild will be hosting seatings for the whole weekend. Daniel and his team will be serving the best Durham has to offer, so bring all the moms for delicious prix fixe. Afterward, please tour our exhibitions and visit to the RMG Shop to make your day complete for a full experience at our gallery.

RMG Friday: Emerging Visions

This month, weā€™re celebrating a brand new exhibition at the RMG! Please join us on the lower level in Gallery A at 7:15PM for opening remarks with Durham College students and staff to recognize the opening of Emerging Visions. Emerging Visions is an annual exhibition of thesis projects by the third-year Fine Arts class at Durham College.

Order of Events

7pm ā€“ Doors Open, Art Activity begins in Studio

7:15pm – DRIFF Screening in the Lookout

7:15-7:45 ā€“ Opening Remarks and Award Ceremony

8pm – Performance by BoluSings

8:15pm – DRIFF Screening in the Lookout

8:45pm – Performance by Simmone Mariah

Bolu Adefemi or ā€œBoluSingsā€ is a 16 year old girl from Oshawa, Ontario. Bolu uses songwriting to explore the issues that touch her world. Boluā€™s mum likes to tell people “She’s been singing ever since she was in the wombā€; and Bolu agrees she has always loved to sing. Bolu Adefemi has written, produced, and released three songs on important issues: including the ā€œCorona-virus”, The importance of self care, and the ā€œBlack Lives Matter Movementā€. Bolu has been featured in the following media: CityTV, CP24 News, AM960, 680 News, Clarington This Week, Orono Times, Durham.com, The RoundTable Talk show in Long Beach, California Toronto Caribbean Virtual Festival and Ticker TV, Australia etc. Bolu loves to follow her passion, while sharing messages that she finds crucial. 

Simmone Mariah is a Toronto-born and-raised singer/songwriter who has been captivating audiences with her powerful voice and emotive lyrics. Raised in church Simmone discovered her love for music at a young age and has been honing her craft ever since. Simmone’s music is both fresh and timeless exploring love, heartbreak and self-discovery. In 2018 Simmone released her debut single; Miles Between which showcased her signature sound and has set the tone for her future success. Since then she has continued to write and record music that speaks to the heart of her listeners. As she continues to pursue her passion for music, Simmone Mariah is poised to make a lasting impact on the North American music scene and beyond.

DRIFF Screening

Frida in the Sky | Directed by Dani Sadun | 6:14 minutes

Frida, an 8-year-old engineering prodigy, builds an airplane behind her motherā€™s back to follow in her Abuelaā€™s legacy.

In the studio, create your very own D.I.Y. planter pot stake using polymer clay! No art experience required.

Ages 12+

Doors Open 2024

In 1987, architect Arthur Erikson was commissioned to design an addition to the RMGā€™s existing 1969 building. Eriksonā€™s interest in the play of light and shadow is evident in the RMGā€™s large skylight and upper level curved windows. Join us at 2PM for a tour of the RMG building.

Letā€™s celebrate Arthur Eriksonā€™s love of light and shadow! From 10:30AM to 12:30PM, join us for a hands-on art making activity encourage participants to use their imagination to create beautiful lighted sculptures.

Doors Open Oshawa is a free, annual event that provides an opportunity to explore Oshawa’s diverse heritage and cultural sites. Spend a day discovering local history first-hand and celebrating our communityā€™s heritage.

Pegi Nicol MacLeod: Unforgettably Hers

Pegi Nicol MacLeod (born Margaret Kathleen Nichol, 1904-1949) was inspired by everyday scenes around her. Growing up in Ottawa, MacLeod studied art at the Ottawa Art School, and later at the Ɖcole des beaux-arts in Montreal.Ā  While her subjects were variedā€” children, bustling crowds, views from her windowā€”her style was undeniably hers. Art historian Laura Brandon described MacLeodā€™s unique vision: ā€œMacLeodā€™s paintings are like jazz. Whatever the subject, her colours and lines weave a complex and energetic or discordant harmony that is unforgettably hers.ā€Ā  This exhibition pulls together works in the RMGā€™s permanent collection that capture MacLeodā€™s exuberant and spontaneous energy that she applied to her life and art.Ā