Can you believe it’s already been a year since the Ottawa Art Gallery’s (OAG) stunning new home was unveiled? After undergoing almost three years of intensive construction and expansion, the new OAG was unveiled on April 28, 2018, as part of the redevelopment of Arts Court. Even though the new OAG is only a year old, the John Ruddy Cube has already become a staple landmark in Downtown Ottawa and the gallery’s various exhibits and events throughout the year have successfully brought the city’s creative community together. A year on, quarter million visitors later, over 30,000 participants in education and public programs, and 50 community partners, OAG has many successes and premieres to celebrate.
Along with its permanent collections – such as the iconic Firestone Collection of Canadian Art which contains over 1600 works that are displayed on a rotating basis – in the past year alone, OAG has also hosted various special exhibits. A notable one was “Karim Rashid: Cultural Shaping,” an exhibit that ran from September 2018 to February 2019 that showcased the work of design visionary Karim Rashid, who spent some time in Ottawa in the 1980’s as a student at Carleton University.
“Since opening just a year ago, the new Ottawa Art Gallery has exceeded expectations and achieved incredible success while having a significant impact on residents, visitors and the arts and culture community at large," says Mayor Jim Watson. "It has redefined itself as a premier hub for our rich, vibrant and diverse Arts Community and it has truly become a beacon in Ottawa's Arts, Fashion & Theatre District. I’d like to congratulate Ms. Alexandra Badzak, OAG’s Director and CEO, and her staff on reaching this important milestone and creating an exciting space to share Ottawa’s treasures with residents and visitors from around the world.’’
Currently, there are five special exhibits running including the innovative “Carbon + Light” showcasing works by and inspired by multimedia artist Juan Geuer, and the intriguing “Retainers of Anarchy” featuring the work of Vancouver-based artist Howie Tsui.
Along with various exhibits, artist talks and creative workshops, the OAG has also become home to some of Ottawa’s hottest festivals and conferences over the past year. This includes Creative Mornings Ottawa–a series of free, creative talks with a different topic each month, and various film festivals such as the Ottawa Latin American Film Festival which is on now.
Join the OAG and Ottawa community in celebrating the gallery’s amazing year during their Anniversary Celebration event this weekend! Drop by the gallery between 10 AM and 2 PM on Saturday or Sunday for free activities such as face painting, live performances, workshops and more. Additionally, the OAG Shop will be offering a special 10% discount on all items!
Two anniversary brunch events will be hosted at the gallery’s restaurant Jackson if you want to do even more celebrating! Saturday will be “Drag Brunch” hosted by Ottawa drag queen Kiki Coe and Sunday will be “Beats and Brunch” ft. DJ Jas Nasty.
For more information about the gallery, visit oaggao.ca. To make reservations for the brunch events visit jacksonottawa.com.
