In Conversation w/ Jerry Evans & Guest Curator Jenelle Duval
Date: Oct 15
2:30 pm
- 3:30 pm
Where: Theatre
In Conversation with Artist Jerry Evans and Guest Curator Jenelle Duval
Join guest curator, Jenelle Duval in conversation with visual artist, Jerry Evans to learn more about his work in the current exhibition, Weljesi. This program will be moderated by Mi’kmaw and settler artist, Emily Critch.
Weljesi marks the first major survey of Jerry Evans’ iconic prints, paintings, projections and video portraiture. Questioning the very format of the traditional retrospective, this exhibition is rooted in Indigenous concepts of cyclical time, storytelling and beauty. It reveals how Evans’ works are in constant movement, as they align with his expanding Indigenous worldviews and act as a focal point for life and community.
Tickets are $12 (+HST). Free for Rooms Members.. Get your ticket online or by calling (709) 757-8090
About the Curator:
Jenelle Duval is a Mi'kmaw woman from Seal Rocks, NL, who currently lives and is working in St. John's as an advisor in media and content. She has been creating artistic spaces and opportunities for community members and art professionals since 2012. For almost a decade, she was the Artistic Director of the Spirit Song Festival, an annual celebration of Indigenous Arts and Culture in St. John's. A founding member of the ECMA-winning group Eastern Owl and a tireless advocate for the preservation and revitalization of cultural arts and music, Duval was honoured with the YWCA's Women of Distinction Award in 2019 for her work in Arts and Heritage. The same year, she was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Indigenous Songwriter of the Year. In 2020, she was awarded the annual Achievement Award from the Atlantic Presenters Association for her contribution to Indigenous arts presentations in Newfoundland and Labrador. A gifted songwriter, she is composing a series of works that embody a lands-based narrative through her interactions with territorial attachments and interpersonal relations. She is rooted in her home territory of Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland), where she shares her life with her amazing daughter Kassidy.
About the Artist:
Jerry Evans is an artist of Mi’kmaw and settler heritage, born and raised in central Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland). He is one of this province’s most beloved and respected artists, working professionally for over 30 years. Known primarily as a painter and printmaker, he also works with film, design and traditional hand-poke tattooing to reach beyond Western ideologies. His practice is deeply rooted in his Mi’kmaw heritage, and his artistry comes alive in the creation of his own regalia for powwow dancing. He is committed to sharing and learning with communities all over Mi’kma’ki.
To learn more about Jerry Evans: https://www.jerryevans.ca/
About the Moderator:
Emily Critch (they/she) is a Mi’kmaw and settler curator, artist, and writer from Elmastukwek, Ktaqmkuk Territory (Bay of Islands, NL) currently based in St. John’s. Their recent curatorial projects include falling through our fingers (2023) and these are our monuments (2021) with the Owens Art Gallery, mitsujuk | kussikuashu | kpitni’sewet | they sew with the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador (2019) and the Tina Dolter Gallery (2020), and Visiting: Logan MacDonald at Grenfell Art Gallery (2018). Critch has published exhibition texts, reviews, and essays with several venues including Eastern Edge, The Rooms, Eyelevel, and Visual Arts News. Her artistic and curatorial practices have received support from ArtsNL and Canada Council for the Arts, and they’ve recently finished their appointment as the A.C. Hunter Public Library’s inaugural Indigenous Storyteller in Residence.
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 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)
Registrations are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
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!
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.
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.
Join us for a delightful morning at The Rooms! Bring your little ones to our enchanting Harbour View Room for unguided playtime surrounded by an array of toys and books tailored for infants and toddlers aged 0 to 4.
No prior registration is necessary; simply pay your admission at The Rooms front desk and drop in anytime between 10:30 am and 12:00 pm!
Please note that caregivers must accompany their children throughout the session. While our program room can accommodate up to 20 adults with their little ones, if it reaches capacity, we kindly ask caregivers to momentarily step back to make room for others to join in the fun.
The Playdate is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms Members.
With support from Thomas and Susan (Kent) Foran Family Foundation.
Join us for a delightful afternoon at The Rooms! Bring your little ones to our enchanting Harbour View Room for unguided playtime surrounded by an array of toys and books tailored for infants and toddlers aged 0 to 4.
No prior registration is necessary; simply pay your admission at The Rooms front desk and drop in anytime between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm!
Please note that caregivers must accompany their children throughout the session. While our program room can accommodate up to 20 adults with their little ones, if it reaches capacity, we kindly ask caregivers to momentarily step back to make room for others to join in the fun.
The Playdate is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms Members.
With support from Thomas and Susan (Kent) Foran Family Foundation.
Enjoy performances by local outstanding musicians as they fill The Rooms with music and songs from our province’s rich musical history. Be prepared to sing along, tap your toes or just sit back and delight in the moment.
July 15- Colleen Power
Colleen Power is an award-winning singer/songwriter and performer living in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She is a prolific and creative force in the Newfoundland and Labrador music scene. Always engaging, Colleen comfortably embraces multiple musical styles in both French and English, with lyrics ranging from heartfelt to comedic, political to personal. She is often a Newfoundland and Labrador ambassador at Francophone festivals and events in Canada and has released two full-length French albums. Colleen is releasing a new French album, Une Tournée Merveilleuse, and her self-titled English album in Fall 2025.
July 22– Jim Payne
From Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland, Jim Payne is a leading performer and collector of Newfoundland traditional music. The multi-instrumentalist and singer, who has performed on six continents, is also one of the province's most prolific songwriters, known for creating musical mosaics that portray the lives of coastal people living on the edge of the Northwest Atlantic.
July 29 – Jing Xia
Jing Xia is an award-winning guzheng (Chinese zither) artist based in Newfoundland, Canada, renowned for her dynamic performances and genre-blending approach to music. Born and raised in Hunan, China, she began her musical journey at the age of six, mastering the guzheng and eventually earning degrees in Music Performance (B.A.), Arts Management (M.A.), and Ethnomusicology (Ph.D.).
With a deep foundation in traditional Chinese music, she pushes artistic boundaries by incorporating elements of world music, jazz, and experimental sounds, creating a unique sonic experience that transcends cultural and musical barriers. Jing’s performances are more than just concerts—they are immersive journeys that bridge the past and the present, the East and the West. Whether on stage as a soloist or collaborating with orchestras and ensembles, she brings an unparalleled depth of emotion and technical mastery to her music. Xia's recent accolades include winning the 2023 East Coast Music Award "Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year" and the 2023 MusicNL Award "Album of the Year" for her solo album, The Numinous Journey. She was named the 2023 MusicNL “Solo Artist of the Year” and 2022 MusicNL "Rising Star of the Year”.
Rainbow Family Tour
Embark on a vibrant journey together to view the captivating hues of the rainbow at The Rooms. On this guided tour, we will see a spectrum of colors: from fiery reds to sunny yellows, lush greens to serene blues, and even the elusive indigos and violets.
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.
.