Meet the Author: William Ping
Date: May 4
2:30 pm
- 3:30 pm
Where: Theatre
Coffee & Culture
A spirit whisks William Ping into the past to learn about the life of his grandfather, the first William Ping, who emigrated from China to Newfoundland in 1931 to work in a laundry.
Novelist and journalist William Ping shares his new book Hollow Bamboo, a true story, that recounts with humour and sympathy the often-brutal struggles, and occasional successes, faced by some of the first Chinese immigrants in Newfoundland. It is a journey of heartbreak, sacrifice, brotherhood and family ties. But most of all, it is about love and survival on the Rock. Drawing on elements of magical realism, auto fiction and satire, as well as deep historical research, Hollow Bamboo is a fresh and original portrayal of our past and our present.
Non-Member Ticket: $11.50 (HST Included), Free for Rooms Members
This program is free for Members but tickets are required so please ensure you reserve your ticket online or by calling (709)757-8090.
About the Author:
William Ping is a Chinese-Canadian from Newfoundland. He received the 2022 Cox & Palmer Creative Writing Award as well as the 2021 Landfall Trust. Hollow Bamboo is now available with HarperCollins Canada. His work has previously been featured on the CBC, in Riddle Fence, and in the anthologies Us, Now and Hard Ticket.
Events & Programs
Save The Date – Online Registration Opening Soon!
Registration Dates:
- Rooms Members: Tuesday, March 18 at 10:00 AM
- Non-Members: Thursday, March 20 at 10:00 AM
A “Get Tickets” button will appear on this page when registration opens. Online registration only.
Once you've completed your online registration, please download the Registration Form and submit it to RoomsOrders@therooms.ca to complete your registration.
Adventures Await!
Get ready for an unforgettable summer! The Rooms will be offering exciting 5-day camps for 8 weeks, filled with creativity, exploration, and fun.
Who Can Attend?
Camp K-3: Open to campers who have completed Kindergarten to Grade 3 by June 2025.
Camp 4-6: Open to campers who have completed Grades 4 to 6 by June 2025.
(No Exceptions)
What to Expect?
Each week, campers will dive into inspiring exhibitions and collections, with activities focused on creative expression through engaging daily themes.
Camp Details!
Cost: $265 Per Week + HST.
10% Discount for Rooms Members (Member Number Required)
Schedule:
Camp Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Drop-off: Between 8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Pick-up: Between 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Mark your calendars and get ready for an amazing summer at The Rooms!
Join us for Films On The Go, featuring a collection of short films from the most recent St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF).
About the lineup: Sweetgrass, perfect brows, the surprisingly queer life of a climbing clip, a giant imaginary bear, and one very bad day in 1986, this year’s Films on the Go lineup delivers seven short films packed with big emotion, sharp humour, and unforgettable moments. Crafted by filmmakers from Newfoundland & Labrador, Mi’kma’ki, Canada, and beyond.
Learn more about the films and artists here: https://www.womensfilmfestival.com/filmsonthego
Presented in partnership with the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival.
Films play on a loop in our theatre during open hours, unless the space is booked for a private event.
Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Fishing for Cod
For centuries, fishing for cod has played a vital role in the lives of the peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador. Generations of fishing men, women and children made use of the land and sea to sustain them and spent their lives “making fish”.
Drop by and talk to local visual artists throughout the summer as they share stories about their work and creative process!
Schedule
Thursday, August 7 – Kayla Walsh
Thursday, August 14: Di Dabinett
Thursday, August 21: Di Dabinett
Thursday, August 28: Kathleen Knowling
Artist Bios
Kayla Walsh
Kayla Walsh is a textile artist living in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland. She holds a BFA in textiles/fashion from NSCAD University and a diploma of textiles from the College of the North Atlantic.
Kayla is inspired by her coastal home of Newfoundland. She explores themes of mental wellbeing in relation to our natural surroundings, the present moment, and our attachment to place. Kayla explores these themes through weaving, embroidery and natural dyeing.
Diana Dabinett: B.A.Fine Art, CSPWC, FCA, SCA
Diana Dabinett was born in Zimbabwe in 1943, has lived in Newfoundland since 1975, but has always lived close to the natural world. She has exhibited throughout Canada, in the United States, England, Japan and New Zealand. She has had work in solo and group exhibitions world-wide, commissions in Monterey, California, Labrador and St John’s, has taught in the school system and a private group for 30 years and is represented in numerous public and private collections including tHer Majesty, the Queen of England. In 2019 she was awarded the NLAC Achievement Award.
Kathleen Knowling has an extensive exhibition history and her artworks are part of many public and private collections in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. She holds a BA in History from Barnard College at Columbia University in New York. She also studied at Mount Allison University, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) University, and MUN Extension Arts. In 1977, Kathleen initiated and organized the life-drawing program at Group of 77, which ran for over 30 years. Today, she is part of the Senior Artist Sunday Group and continues with her professional practice.