Downtown Art Crawl

pictured by Marina Osmond

Tonight Imaginarium D will take over three locations in Downtown Oshawa. This is an one night Art Crawl featuring several of Oshawa's Alt-Artists. Outsider art inside was the theme of last Wednesday's Parlour of Rejects show at Lost Anchor Tattoo shop. The recent Oshawa Art Association Juried Show had rejected several submissions as is the norm. Ryan Henderson decided to host an exhibition of that work and it was a great night. Great buzz, lots of folks out, overall a runaway success. Brenda Virtue won Best In Show that night (pictured above).

DETAILS ON IMAGIMARUIM D –> 

Bola Arts craft class

Bola on Simcoe Street is offering a wire ring making class this afternoon. It will run from 2pm to 5pm.

FACEBOOK INVITE –>

Creative Space?

What do you see here? This is Wall 'n' Floor Decor And More on Athol St. Some folks including Economic Development for the Downtown officer David Tuley and award winning artist Dani Crosby see a centre for social and cultural innovation, a series of art studios, a gallery, an event space, a community space and more, lots more. On the evening of June 21 Tuley and Crosby gave powerpoint presentations on their visions to a full house at Fazio's Restaurant. Investors, artists, city official, NFP organisation reps and downtown business owners convened, chatted, enjoyed the food and beverages and discussed their own visions. Afterwards folk toured the building. It is big, lots of potential but maybe too big for independent artists even collectively to afford. A serious longterm client, perhaps via UOIT, would need to be found to anchor the space first.

Fiesta! Fiesta!

Fiesta occurs this week in Oshawa. The annual celebration of all things multicultural continues at a variety of venues throughout the City. The Oshawa Portuguese Pavilion is set up in the Masonic Hall on Centre Street bringing a piece of that wonderful country's spirit to the Downtown core.

The Oshawa Association Juried Art Show is in exhibit at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery until July 4th. Marissa Sweet has been judged 3rd in the Acrylic category for her painting - Fiesta, by jurors Gabby Peacock and Greg Murphy. Sweet is from the Philipines and her work is influenced by her background in Feng Shui. 

"My painting "Fiesta", says Sweet, shows a community in celebration, one that is vibrant and alive. The predominant colour is Orange, which for me symbolizes warmth and energy. These feelings are exactly what I feel about Fiestas The stars in the painting represent lanterns that people usually turn on at night to indicate that their home is open to friends".
MARISSA SWEET WEBSITE –>  

Richard Gagat exhibit at Rossco's

Oshawa photographer Richard Gagat is showing a selection of his work at Rossco's. Inspired by the work of Thomas Bouckley (whose collection is housed at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery) the 50 year old came to photography late in life. For ten years he has been portraying the street life and architecture of Oshawa. His stark perceptive work is of a wistful nature. He balances the seeming permanence of the structures with Time's fickle palate. 
Oshawa, as a city, is changing. On June 12 Durham Region's first-ever Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered Pride parade curved its multi-coloured way through the downtown. Hundreds of people lined the route and participated in the procession that included groups such as the Durham Regional Police and Club 717.
On June 11 and 12 Oshawa held its annual Peony Festival. Organised by the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens Task Force the celebration is now in its sixth year and partnered with Parkwood for its festival package which includes a tour of the historical home and gardens and lunch in the teahouse restaurant. While the celebration has passed the peonies will continue to flower and perfume the air. The gardens are there to wander through at anytime of course.
Each step forward leaves something behind. The LGBT community has put down roots here. The OVBG are now in full bloom. All along Gagat has been competently documenting the steps taken by this City in transition. Rossco's is located at 27 Simcoe Street S.


SEE RICHARD GAGAT'S FLIKR STREAM –>  

Julie Doiron Day June 7

Fusion at Bola June 4

•FUSION•

An exhibition of multi-media prints by Jeff Morrison

Opening reception 7-9pm

refreshments and entertainment by Morrison Hawkes
Bola, 20 Simcoe St. N.