Come discover the exhibition "Reference Point", on now at the OAG!

Have you come by the Ottawa Art Gallery | Galerie d'art d'Ottawa to check out the latest exhibitions in our #FirestoneGallery?

The exhibition "Reference Point" features several of our recent historical acquisitions in celebration of the #OttawaArtGallery's 35th anniversary as an organization and five years in the new #OAG building, drawing on works created before 1988 and acquired in the last five years.

These works from artists and collectors with connections to the region—in addition to connections to works within our existing Permanent Collection and the #FirestoneCollectionOfCanadianArt (#FCCA)—build on our rich historical holdings. They help to widen the story of our community’s evolution, as told through art.

Collectors and donors also play an important role in the region’s art historical story, supporting artists, bringing in their own perspectives, and generously donating works to increase public access. Donors of the works in this exhibition are similarly varied, and include Eva Boros-Furesz, Laura Brandon, Mimi Cabri, Roger Dent, Marianne Douglas, John Doyle, Glynnis French, A. Ian Gillespie, Joanne Lochhead, Glenn and Barbara McInnes, Rene Price, the Sauvé family, Rosemarie Tovell, Denise Trottier, Doug Williams, and Andy Wilder.

This installation of recently acquired historical work is accompanied by a small selection of works from the FCCA. This city-owned collection of work by national artists was given into the OAG’s care in part to serve as a building block for future acquisitions. As well bolstering our young institution’s national reputation, the FCCA serves as a departure point on which to build new acquisitions, including those that help us fill in gaps of representation in the historical story.

One piece on display from the FCCA is In the Nickel Belt by #FranklinCarmichael. That piece is accompanied by a special project that is a result of a collaboration between researcher Dr. Patricia Bérubé , and 6 participants from the low-vision and blind community, taking on the roles of co-translators and co-curators. Using a participatory and co-design approach the participants co-developed a multi-sensory translation of Carmichael's work.

Visitors are invited to experience this augmented reality version of the painting by exploring the tactile component with their hands as well as the audio component on an iPad. Leaving your finger on a specific zone will play a related sound, while double tapping on one part will provide a one-or-two-word description of what is being touched.