Putting Fridays first at the RMG

Downtown Oshawa: get ready for a culture shock. The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is hosting a night of music and art on the first Friday of every month.
Although the gallery already exists as a hub of culture in the city, First Fridays serves to bring together various facets of the creative community. That desire to have art and culture simmer like a delectable stew is most evident in the gallery’s new role as a music venue.
The March 4 event starts at 7 p.m. and features local indie band Forest City Lovers. Entry is free but donations will be accepted with proceeds going to War Child Canada, a charity the gallery is already involved with. Mad Café, a soon-to-open business downtown, donated cupcakes to be sold in support of the same charity.
Communications director for the gallery, Jacquie Severs, said the event was created in part as a response to the influx of students downtown and lack of live music venues.
“I think sometimes art galleries seem stuffy or intimidating, people don’t know what to do. It’s pay what you can when you come all the time, but with this event not only can you come for free you can see live music for free,” said Severs.
The acts offered are certainly diverse. On April 1, the Hamilton Trading Co. and Mandi Byrd will bring a mix of choral and country and looking forward to May 6, internationally renowned sound installation artist Gordon Monahan provides a different type of audible entertainment. The gallery is located at 72 Queen Street, Civic Centre downtown and more information can be found on the gallery’s website.
Transitions, a Durham Region zine focused on profiling art and culture, will release its latest issue at First Fridays on March 4. Watch the video below to learn more about the zine and how you can be involved.