Art Gallery Opening Reception
Date: Feb 9
7:00 pm
- 9:00 pm
Where: Level 3 Atrium
Opening Reception
You are invited to join us for a free public art gallery opening reception!
Daze Jefferies: stay here stay how stay explores transfeminine belonging in Newfoundland, using the ocean as an archival body to counter historical narratives. Through textile, wax, and multimedia, the artist honours intergenerational knowledge, embraces rural trans pleasure, and addresses discourse on trans and sex worker bodies with a narrative of care, intimacy, and resistance.
Sheilagh O’Leary's: A Sea Change is a tribute that spans three generations, exploring cultural erasure and resurgence through analogue portraits and cyanotypes. Inspired by her mother's experiences as a French-Mi'kmaw woman, the exhibit delves into complex interactions of embodiment, power dynamics, identity, and environmental stewardship, symbolizing life, renewal, and change
Jenny Yujia Shi: The End of a Line draws from her childhood in Beijing and immigration to Halifax at eighteen. Exploring displacement's impact, the autobiographical display spans a decade, offering a poignant glimpse into Shi's migration experience and reflections on Canadian citizenship, positioning herself within Canada's complex history.
There will be live entertainment by harpist Venessa Goodyear and refreshments available (cash bar 19+). Admission to the Art Gallery exhibitions will be free during the event.
See more about the artists here:
Daze Jefferies: Stay Here Stay How Stay | The Rooms
Sheilagh O’Leary: A Sea Change | The Rooms
Jenny Yujia Shi: The End of a Line | The Rooms
Image: Daze Jefferies. with/holding (2023). Mixed media, digital illustration, maternal grandmother’s handwriting. Courtesy of the artist.
Events & Programs
Being Present: The Architecture of The Rooms
The Rooms is a space where architecture and history meet, inspired by traditional fishing rooms that once brought communities together. Its design reflects the province’s stories—anchored in place, open to change—with each wing symbolically facing land, people, and sea.
Natural materials and bold colors evoke Newfoundland and Labrador’s landscape and spirit. Light, reflection, and shifting perspectives make the building feel alive, adapting with time and weather. This is more than a building—it’s a gathering place for memory, creativity, and connection.
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.
Shirley Moorhouse – EYES
Join us for a guided tour of Shirley Moorhouse's exhibition - EYES, which features her innovative artworks spanning 30 years. Moorhouse is a respected member of the Canadian art community and renowned for her textiles-based wall hangings. Using embroidery, beading, caribou hide, and other objects on black wool stroud, Moorhouse tells stories and delves deeply into complex themes, inviting viewers "to reflect, to dream, and to celebrate the beauties and mysteries of life".
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.
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