Curatorial Talk and Tour - RAE PERLIN EXHIBITION - SOLD OUT


Date: Nov 26
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Where: Level 4 Art Gallery
Coffee & Culture

Mireille Eagan, Curator of Contemporary Art takes us on a walking tour of the exhibition, RAE PERLIN: WHATEVER I WANTED WAS OUT THERE, IN THE WORLD, SOMEWHERE

Rae Perlin viewed drawing as a verb rather than a noun. For her, drawing was a way to understand the world by existing in the flow of it. She wanted to capture the feeling of something in the moment rather than create a replica. For Perlin, process was much more important than the result.

While focused on Perlin, this exhibition also places her in conversation with various artists who worked alongside her, were influenced by her way of life and whose works echo Perlin’s own approach.

The exhibition raises questions about what we value. It is a chance to reflect upon what we believe art should be, what we think artists should do and what we consider worth keeping.

Capacity is limited to 20, get your ticket early to secure your spot. You can reserve your ticket online, at the front desk or by calling visitor services at 757-8000.

ASL/English Interpreting Services are available through NLAD by request only to ASLservices@therooms.ca or 709-757-8090. We will do our best to accommodate requests made within two weeks of the scheduled event.

 

Image: Rae Perlin. Self-portrait with Easel (1949). Oil on canvas board. 35.5 x 25 cm. Memorial University of Newfoundland Collection, The Rooms

Events & Programs

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Unleash Your Inner Artist at The Rooms!

Come draw at The Rooms and practice your skills with focused exercises.

What to Expect:
Our experienced instructor will guide you through fundamental drawing techniques. Each session focuses on a different theme, from drawing the harbour view to capturing the details of our natural history collection.

This is a creative and supportive environment; all skill levels and experience are welcome! Designed for ages 15 and up.

Quality drawing supplies are available, or feel free to bring your own sketchbook.

Cost: $20 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Drop-ins welcome!

6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Tour

Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador

Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Unleash Your Inner Artist at The Rooms!

Come draw at The Rooms and practice your skills with focused exercises.

What to Expect:
Our experienced instructor will guide you through fundamental drawing techniques. Each session focuses on a different theme, from drawing the harbour view to capturing the details of our natural history collection.

This is a creative and supportive environment; all skill levels and experience are welcome! Designed for ages 15 and up.

Quality drawing supplies are available, or feel free to bring your own sketchbook.

Cost: $20 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Drop-ins welcome!

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

For the last 20 years, Landfall Trust in Brigus has been hosting an Artist in Residence in partnership with The Rooms. Landfall Trust has more recently expanded this idea to include writers and musicians.

Come and hear some of the artists talk about the importance of residency programs to their careers, while they showcase their work through music, songs, readings, and artist talks.

Cost: $15 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Get your tickets online or by calling (709) 757-8090.

About the Artists:

Ian Foster – A storyteller from Newfoundland, Ian uses music and film to bring his stories to life. Described by CBC’s Bob Mersereau as “a fine example of what a 21st century folk performer should be doing,” Foster continues to evolve and defy genre, as seen in his latest album and film project Close to the Bone (2022). He has toured in Canada, the U.S., Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, and Italy, with music played internationally. He is a MusicNL and ECMA (East Coast Music Award) winner, a finalist for the International Songwriting Competition, and has co-written with legendary folk songwriter Ron Hynes.

Veselina Tomova – Born in 1958, Veselina studied with Prof. Rumen Skortchev at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia (1977–1979), completed her MFA at the Academy of Graphic Art and Book Design in Leipzig, Germany (1979–1983), and continued postgraduate studies with Prof. Rolf Kurt (1983–1985). Since 1990, she has lived and worked in St. John’s, Newfoundland. A founding partner and graphic designer at Vis-à-Vis Graphics, she works in printmaking, illustration, publishing, painting, pottery, and interpretive design. Her book The Wall & The Wind was listed in The Globe & Mail’s Best 100 Books (2020) and was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She has illustrated over 40 books and received awards in Bulgaria, Germany, and Canada. Represented by the Red Ochre Gallery in St. John’s.

Sharon King-Campbell – A theatre and literary artist based in Ktaqmkuk, Sharon was the 2017 recipient of the Rhonda Payne Award and a four-time winner of the Arts and Letters Awards in fiction, dramatic script, and poetry. Her plays Original and Give Me Back have reached audiences throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and mainland Canada, and the Canadian premiere of Dayboil won 6 Robert Merritt Awards. Her poetry collection This Is How It Is (2021) and Dayboil (2024) were both published with Breakwater Books. Sharon holds a BFA and an MA from Memorial University, where she is currently pursuing her PhD.

Nico Paulo – A Portuguese Canadian musician and visual artist, Nico’s critically acclaimed self-titled debut (April 2023) introduced listeners to her melodically dynamic, open-hearted songwriting, exploring relationships and the flow of time in lush, sophisticated pop arrangements. Her upcoming EP, Interval o (March 2025), celebrates transformational time with warm ambient and minimalist soundscapes. Both records feature textural intricacy with collaborator Joshua Van Tassel (Villages, Fortunate Ones).