Durham College Artist Talks 2024

Join us at 1pm on May 15th for an artist-led tour of Emerging Visions, an exhibition that presents thesis projects by the third-year graduating students of the Fine Arts Advanced program at Durham College.

We welcome staff and students from Durham College and any members of the public who want to learn more about specific projects and hear about the journey from conception to fabrication to presentation.

This event is free and open to everyone. If there are ways we can support your participation, please contact Hannah at [email protected].

RMG Friday: The Big Hat

We’re going back to the roaring 20’s! Come out to continue the celebration of Oshawa’s Centennial and travel back in time with us. Show off your hats inspired by a time when glitz, glamour, and the evolution of a new city was about to take place.

This month, we’re also celebrating a brand new exhibition at the RMG! Please join us in the RSM gallery at 7:15pm for opening remarks to recognize the opening of his solo exhibition, The Big Hat.

Order of Events

7:00pm: Doors Open

7:15pm-7:30pm: Opening Remarks

7:15pm: DRIFF screening in the Lookout

7:15pm: Art Activity with Farah in the Studio

7:30pm-8:30pm: Oshawa Music Week performances

8:15pm: DRIFF screening in the Lookout

Image in the artist’s studio, 2024. Courtesy of Tony Romano.

Tony Romano creates sculptures and videos that playfully reimagine found objects and rework raw and recycled materials. Rooted in a family tradition of carpentry and ironwork, he has long been interested in the endless recyclability of metal, the narrative possibilities it offers, and the memories it holds onto. In The Big Hat, Romano has created a new series of sculptures that tell a cautionary tale of an imagined whirligig community reckoning with the arrival of a greedy professor.

Oshawa Music Week, presented by Durham College, will be featuring music from Acoustic performers in the Isabel as part of their series of musical performances throughout the week.

Enjoy performances by Equal, Sam Bedard, J BOOM, Siddhant Shah, Donte, Simmone Mariah, and Brothers Wilde.

One of those Good Lives | 8 minutes

Directed by Joseph Carney

When the young, white and unencumbered Steve (Sean Depner – Riverdale, Deadly Class) is hit by a truck, he awakens in a cavernous and decaying opera house. There he meets The Ticket Taker, a shape shifting bureaucrat of death who explains that Steve must be sent back to perform one influential act before enjoying a life of guaranteed privilege and luxury. Steve must decide whether or not to uphold a status quo that benefits only him.

Join us in the studio to create your very own musical inspired magnet. No art experience required!

This polymer clay project is suitable for visitors 12+

Seniors Art Competition and Exhibition: Info Session & Exhibition Tour 2024

Calling all senior artists! We invite you to take part in this two-part event at the RMG, which begins with a short tour of some of our current exhibitions and concludes with an overview of the Seniors Art Competition and Exhibition, including competition categories and judging criteria. Come get your questions answered!

Please register by clicking this link: https://thermg.typeform.com/to/NGAVse3R

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.

Local residents who are 55+ and a member of the RMG, Oshawa Senior Community Centres, or the Oshawa Public Libraries, are invited to submit one artwork for the exhibition.

The exhibition runs from August 17 – September 29, 2024 and artwork drop off and registration will take place on Tuesday, August 13 from 10 am-4 pm. Read more in the program brochure.

Tony Romano: The Big Hat

On June 7, 2024, The Big Hat was featured on CBC Arts. Read the article here.

Rooted in a family tradition of carpentry and ironwork, Tony Romano’s practice reimagines found objects and reworks raw and recycled materials into playful works that explore cultural narratives. Spending time in scrap metal yards as a child, Romano has long been fascinated by the endless reincarnation of metal, and how a once used and loved object could be melted down and transformed into something new. This endless recyclability propels him to consider the narrative possibilities of his materials and the memories and stories held within them. In The Big Hat, Romano has created a new series of sculptures and video that tell a cautionary tale of an imagined whirligig community reckoning with the arrival of a greedy professor who convinces the whirligigs to trade their simple life for a life of labour. Whirligigs are kinetic garden ornaments that move or spin with the wind. Traditionally, they are made of wood or metal and depict rural activities such as farming. They can be both decorative and functional, determining the direction of the wind and warning off unwanted pests. In The Big Hat, Romano imagines whirligigs as autonomous beings with dreams and memories of their own, with scrap, raw, and recycled metal being the stage on which their entire world is built upon.

Join us in celebrating the opening of The Big Hat on Friday, April 5 from 7-10pm as part of RMG Fridays: The Big Hat. Remarks to take place in the exhibition at 7:15pm.

Tony Romano (b. 1978, Toronto) holds a BFA from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and has exhibited his work widely both nationally and internationally, including exhibitions in Canada, the United States, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Recent solo exhibitions include Night Thoughts, BEERS London, The Branch In The Salzburg Mine, Clint Roenisch Gallery, Toronto, The Last Act, Articule, Montreal, Onward Future, Oakville Galleries, Notary Moon, MacLaren Art Gallery, Barrie, and Oversea/Undersea, Kulturhust, Stockholm.

Curatorial Tour: Tony Romano: The Big Hat

Join curator Hannah Keating for a guided tour of The Big Hat, which includes work by Tony Romano.

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 this page or contact Hannah Keating at [email protected] with any specific requests.

No advance registration required.

OPG Sunday: Bunches and Bouquets

Suitable for ages 3+

Let’s celebrate the Oshawa Peony Festival! Join us at the gallery to create floral bouquet art inspired by this gorgeous local festival.

Free admission, no registration required.

This event is generously sponsored by Ontario Power Generation.

OPG Sunday: Talking Towns

Suitable for ages 3+

By taking inspiration from the vibrant outdoors, we will create pieces of art that capture the essence of our community.

Free admission, no registration required.

This event is generously sponsored by Ontario Power Generation.

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.

The Oshawa Art Association’s 56th Juried Art Exhibition

Visit the RMG between April 25th and May 12th to check out the Oshawa Art Association’s 56th Juried Art Exhibition. This exhibition showcases artworks created by artists from across Durham Region.

Join us for the opening reception on Thursday, April 25 from 6-9pm.

Presented in partnership with the Oshawa Art Association.

Summer Camp 2024

All camps are full.

Ages 5-7 and 8-12/15 spots per age group

Do you want your kids to dive into creativity this summer? We have got you covered! Our fun-filled, fine art camps are packed with inspired projects, interactive gallery activities, and active outdoor play! Here’s the best part: your children will come home with lots of creative art and stories while we take care of the mess! Come and discover the endless artistic possibilities that the RMG has to offer.

Choose from 2 different weeks! Each week includes experimentation with a variety of creative, mixed-media materials.  The projects are individually guided and personal to each participant!

$200 Members/$210 Non-Members for 5 day camps

$160 Members/$170 Non-Members for 4 day camps (*July 2-5 and Aug 6-9 only)


Blast to the Past

All aboard the time machine! This camp is all about unlocking the secrets of the past, from the wonders of art classics to the mysteries of ancient times with a modern twist. Get ready to excavate treasures of history and take a journey through time like no other!

This camp is offered the weeks of:

  • July 2-5 (4 day week)* (ages 5-7 is full)
  • July 15-19 (both age groups are full)
  • July 29- August 2 (both age groups are full)
  • August 12-16 (ages 5-7 is full)

Future Forward

Calling all time travelers! We’re taking you into the future with this camp. We’re not just daydreaming, we’re going full speed ahead with new inventions, tech, and creative innovations! We’re solving problems left and right. Buckle up, and let’s dive into the future together!

This camp is offered the weeks of:

  • July 8-12 (both age groups are full)
  • July 22-26 (both age groups are full)
  • Aug 6-9 (4 day week)* (both age groups are full)
  • Aug 19-23 (both age groups are full)

To reserve your place in summer camp, please follow the following steps:

  1. Identify the week(s) you’re interested in and select the age group from the drop down menu under that week
  2. Click on “Add to cart”
  3. Follow the same steps if you would like additional weeks
  4. When complete, click on the cart (right side of your screen)
  5. A pop-up window will come up, fill out all the details and click on “Pay now” (Family memberships should use the discount code provided via email to receive the discount.  If you’ve misplaced the code, please email [email protected] or call 905-576-3000 to receive it.  They will verify your membership is active before releasing the code.)
  6. You will receive two confirmation emails, one for your purchase and a second from the learning team ([email protected]). The second email contains a link to the registration form.
  7. Please click on the form link, fill out, and click submit.
  8. You will receive a confirmation email with a copy of the information you submitted.
  9. Your registration is now complete.  Additional camp information will be emailed shortly before the start of camp.

To be added to our waitlist, please email [email protected] with parent contact phone number/email address, name of the camp(s) and the age group(s). We will notify families if spaces become available.