Join us on May 19 for an artist talk and June 10 for a reception!
We are pleased to present the annual Durham College Thesis Exhibition! Like all visionary explorers, the students in Durham College’s Fine Arts Advanced program are involved in a continual process of identifying and studying meaningful subjects that pertain to their own evolving bodies of work. They first research then develop strategies unique to their practice through experimentation, all the while learning to define and focus their personal interests. The show includes the work of 13 exciting new artists whose work represents a wide range of subjects, interests, and mediums.
Join us at 11 am or 1 pm! No registration required.
It’s a special day! Come celebrate with us as we are inspired by current exhibitions to create an artistic fabric masterpiece and cool pop up card. We’ll also explore the Oshawa Art Association exhibition with a scavenger hunt!
This event is generously sponsored by Ontario Power Generation.
Visit the RMG between May 6th and May 22nd to check out the Oshawa Art Association’s 54th Juried Art Exhibition. This exhibition showcases artworks created by artists from across Durham Region.
Treat them to brunch! The RMG is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch in Arthur’s on the 4th. Catered by local company, Farm and Wild, come out and spend the day celebrating the motherly figure in your life.
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s monthly free concert series RMG FRIDAYS finally returns home for the May 2022 edition! In addition to short films courtesy of Durham Region International Film Festival, an appearance by series mainstays WOOLY, and a tour of the new Tim Whiten exhibition ELEMENTAL: OCEANIC, this month’s event features a headline performance by Canadian indie darlings DIZZY.
Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the outdoor entertainment!
Drawing from over fifty years of production, this exhibition features sculptures and works on paper from the early 1970s to the present, representing material explorations of ritual, embodiment, ancestral knowledge, and transcendence.
8:45 – Performance by Dizzy
In Arthurs on the 4th:
Films from DRIFF will be playing throughout the evening at 7:15pm, 8pm, and 9pm.
Wooly
Wooly represents a collaboration of unique musical talents brought together through a common vision. Their music and lyrics are innovative, energetic, and insightful presenting a fresh view of the human experience and evoking a range of visceral responses. Emerging from diverse musical experiences and influences, Wooly strives to present a fusion of folk, jazz, rock, and alternative that is truly original.
Dizzy
With a Polaris Prize-nominated album and a Juno Award already under their belt, the Oshawa-based dream-pop outfit Dizzy has gained acclaim from outlets across the continent including NPR, Pitchfork, NME, and CBC Music. Tender, honest, and reflective, Dizzy’s music reveals a rare willingness to expose messy feelings and a preternatural gift for turning those musings into songs primed for singing along.
Special thanks to DRIFF in a Jiff and Canada Council and the Arts Reopening Fund for their support with this event.
This summer, we have two rotating camps throughout for children ages 5-7 and ages 8-12 years old. Both camps encourage campers to explore the exhibitions with interactive content, use a variety of art materials, play indoor and outdoor games, and more!
Dream big and try something new! Young artists will explore a variety of art media including painting and printmaking, relief and 3D sculptures, as well as drawing materials. This themed camp encourages campers to invent, explore and discover art in creative new ways. This camp is inspired by special exhibitions.
July 4 to July 8
July 18 to July 22
Aug 2 to Aug 5 (* 4 days) (Ages 8 to 12 and 5 to 7 is full)
Aug 15 to August 19 (Ages 8 to 12 and 5 to 7 is full)
Travelling Explorers
Whether we are exploring the world through art or travelling to our imagination, this camp is surely to inspire young minds. This themed camp is for creative kids who don’t mind getting a bit messy while making their own paintings, prints, sculptures and more! This camp is inspired by artworks in the Permanent Collection.
July 11 to July 15 (Ages 5 to 7 is full)
July 25 to July 29 (Ages 8 to 12 is full)
Aug 8 to Aug 12 (Ages 8 to 12 is full)
Aug 22 to Aug 26 (Ages 5 to 7 is full)
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 summer experience.
Should we be unable to offer onsite camps, we will do our best to offer alternative options to keep your child engaged with art making experiences this summer. If we must cancel summer camps due to public health restrictions, we will issue full refunds. Cancellations by participants will be subject to our cancellation policy.
Here’s how Summer 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
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 Summer 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 what’s what, and who to contact. 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 as soon as possible to secure the spot.
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?
This year, we are offering two different camps, each camp uses similar materials but in different ways; campers spend equal time in the Lookout and the Studio. Both camps will have in-gallery interactive visits include looking activities, games, and sketching. We also have a new fully fenced space! We plan to eat snacks and lunch outside, and play games, if the weather is agreeable. We will also take advantage of beautiful days with outdoor art making projects whenever possible.
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?
We recommend sunscreen and a hat for outdoors, if you believe your child may need a change of clothes please provide that. The RMG is air conditioned and some campers may feel more comfortable having a hoodie/sweater on hand should they feel cold throughout the day. 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 in the lobby at the end of each day at 4pm. Only authorized adults will be allowed to sign out campers.
“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart… live in the question.”
– Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
Tune in to a conversation between Tim Whiten and Erika DeFreitas, filmed at Whiten’s Toronto studio. During this recorded talk, both discuss their creative process, reflect on influences, and share recent work related to their shared interests in metaphysics, art, and ritual practices.
Tim Whiten’s broad and prolific creative practice reflects a life devoted to pursuing the nature of consciousness and the human condition. Drawing from over fifty years of production, this exhibition features sculptures and works on paper from the early 1970s to the present, representing material explorations of ritual, embodiment, ancestral knowledge, and transcendence. His work acts as a living question, attempting to reveal what cannot be seen and uniting the physical with the divine.
Elemental is part of an expanded, multi-venue retrospective and collaborative publication celebrating Tim Whiten’s career, developed in partnership between the Art Gallery of Peterborough, Art Gallery of York University, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, and McMaster Museum of Art from 2022 to 2023. This series of exhibitions are thematically united by the classical elements of air, water, earth, and fire – referencing Whiten’s interest in alchemical practices. Elemental: Oceanic focuses on the element water and its associations with emotions, intuition, imagination, and the infinite. The oceanic has also been a concept used by mystics and theologians to describe the feeling of the eternal, and the ineffable experiences of unity and oneness between all beings. In this exhibition, Whiten’s drawings and sculptural works reflect this energy through a refined pallet of natural materials—leather, bone, glass, iron, graphite and cloth—which become charged with connotative potential. Referencing the cyclical nature of life, the work is a reminder that to live with the remembrance of death is to live fully and expansively.
Tim Whiten was born in Inkster, Michigan in 1941. In 1964, he received a B.S. from Central Michigan University, College of Applied Arts and Science, and in 1966 completed his M.F.A. at the University of Oregon, School of Architecture and Allied Arts. After immigrating to Canada in 1968, he taught in the Department of Visual Arts at York University for 39 years. An award-winning educator, he was also Chair of the University’s Department of Visual Arts where he is currently Professor Emeritus. Since 1962, he has had work presented in exhibitions throughout North America and internationally and it is included in numerous private, public, and corporate collections, such as the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (both the de Young and the Legion of Honor/ Achenbach Foundation for the Graphic Arts). Based in Toronto, Tim Whiten is represented by Olga Korper Gallery.
Images: Tim Whiten – Elemental: Oceanic at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, 2022. Documentation by Toni Hafkenscheid.
This workshop is a celebration of spring facilitated by printmaker and RBC Emerging Artist in Residence Laura Grier. Laura will provide step-by-step instructions for designing, carving, and printing your own botanical relief prints inspired by the flowers that bloom at this hopeful time of year. We look forward to creating hand-printed cards and artworks together.
In this workshop, you will use a linoleum (lino) block to create a relief print. Much like the woodblock prints in Laura’s exhibition, you will use sharp tools to carve a pattern or image into a lino block; what’s left on the block will be inked and printed.
Materials:
We will provide all of the printing materials, including three blank cards for each participant.
Optional:
If you want to bring additional objects to print on, you can. For example, you could print on a plain tote bag to make your own custom design.
You can also bring your own flower samples to work from. For example, if you have fresh blooms in your garden, you can take a picture or pick a sample to use as your relief print inspiration.
Please keep in mind: If you are new to lino printing, we will be using sharp cutting tools. They are easy to use, but require a lot of care. Please be safe and follow Laura’s guidance.
This event is free and open to everyone, but there is a limit of 10 participants. Sign up to save your spot! If you sign up, but cannot attend, please email Hannah at [email protected] so we can open your spot for someone else.
Is there anything we can do to support your participation? Please reach out to Hannah at [email protected].
About the Workshop Facilitator:
Laura Grier is a Délı̨nę First Nations artist and printmaker, born in Somba ké (Yellowknife), and raised in Alberta. Through the use of traditional print mediums, they instrumentalize the power of the handmade to reflect political sociology, culture, ecology, and Indigeneity. Responding to lived experiences of urban displacement as a Dene woman through print, Laura’s work is also inspired by the dynamism of Indigenous art practices and uses printmaking as a tool for resistance, refusal, and inherent Bets’ı̨nę́. They hold a BFA from NSCADU (K’jipuktuk) and an MFA from OCAD University (Tkaronto). They have exhibited at Xpace Cultural Centre, Harcourt House, DC3 Art Projects, SNAP Gallery, and ArtsPlace. Laura has received grants and awards for their work, including the Indigenous project grants from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and was the 2018 RISE Emerging Artist recipient. They currently reside in Tkaronto.
The bi-annual For Art’s Sake exhibition celebrates the artistic talent of students in the Durham District School Board. Showcasing works from nearly every high school in the district, this event recognizes local budding young artists.
Please note that there will not be an opening event for this exhibition. The exhibition opens to the public on Friday, March 10th.
An exhibition by the Womxn of Colour Durham Collective
HUE x RMG: Honouring Unapologetic Expression is an exhibition of photography by the Womxn of Colour Durham Collective (WOCDC), a youth-led organization in Durham Region that is run by, for, and with Black, Indigenous, and other self-identified Womxn of Colour (BIWoC).
WOCDC aims to create equitable and inclusive spaces to connect and collaborate with BIWoC who may feel marginalized, unsupported, or unheard. Through projects like HUE x RMG, they hope to make lasting change in the community by cultivating spaces where their interests and experiences are given the awareness, recognition and attention they deserve.
Connect. Create. Cultivate.
This exhibition is built around the organization’s three core pillars: connect, create, and cultivate. WOCDC recruited eight racialized womxn and non-binary folks from Durham Region to participate in a photoshoot at the RMG. In small groups, Kezia Amoako, Anna Balagtas, Stephanie Hu, Ashleigh Hutchinson, Reisha Lyon, Melanie McFarlane, Melissa Murray, and Kay Williams were invited to connect with one another and the WOCDC team through storytelling. They had conversations about racism, identity, love, and resistance forged through both positive and negative experiences. Audio from those sessions plays on a loop in the exhibition and excerpts appear on extended labels that accompany the photo installations. Each story is illustrated with a portrait and a snapshot of the urban environment that provides contextual information about the location, theme, or content of participant’s story.
The portraits are visually unified by colourful lights that illuminate the sitters’ face and surroundings. In addition to visualizing the reciprocal relationship between people and place, the treatment of the portraits as a series also reinforces the themes that unfold across the exhibition, including questions of belonging, experiences of prejudice, and celebrations of identity and community. At the same time, the distinct colour gradients bring attention to the essential fact that each participant is unique and not representative of others.
In this exhibition, WOCDC created the conditions for all of the participants to show up without apology. The work brings attention to the joy and beauty of intersectional identities, while expressing the ways racism has affected the participants’ interactions in public spaces. This exhibition is presented as evidence for the infinite potential of spaces made safe for creation and connection in community; you are invited to imagine what could be possible if more spaces were cultivated for BIPOC collaboration in Durham Region and beyond.
The WOCDC and the RMG would like to thank Kezia Amoako, Anna Balagtas, Stephanie Hu, Ashleigh Hutchinson, Reisha Lyon, Melanie McFarlane, Melissa Murray, and Kay Williams for sharing their stories and participating in this project.
We would also like to thank Smokestack for their generous sponsorship of this exhibition.
