Alayne McGregor
Ever had an extra hour downtown and were looking for something to see?
If you’re near Elgin and Laurier, there is a wide range of galleries with free admission only minutes away.
On the main floor of 150 Elgin is the Âjagemô art space at the Canada Council for the Arts. Until May 20, it’s showing Coming into Sight: 50th Anniversary Art Bank Acquisitions. The 24 artworks, ranging from photographs to paintings to sculptures, were made by artists across Canada and “reflect on our shared histories and futures.”
They were among 72 acquired for the Art Bank’s 50th anniversary and this may be your only chance to see them before they go to decorate offices. I felt that some of them had quite an emotional effect. The gallery is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. (The front-page photo is from this exhibit.)
At Ottawa City Hall (110 Laurier West), you can see three painters’ works in “A Glimmering Feel Towards the Now” at the City Hall Art Gallery. It continues until May 12, and there will be an artists’ tour on Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m.
The second art gallery on the main floor of City Hall is the Karsh-Masson Gallery. From May 9 until July 21, it will honour the 2023 Karsh Award winner, Christine Fitzgerald, by showing her photographs of scientific specimens. The formal opening is on May 9 at 5:30 p.m.
And for music lovers, the Barbara Ann Scott Gallery at City Hall is presenting Ottawa Rocks! – Reunion Tour until September 3, showing memorabilia from the city archives of the many rock musicians who have played in this city from 1950 to 2012.
City Hall galleries are normally only open weekdays from 9 to 5.
And finally, the Ottawa Public Library main branch at 120 Metcalfe often has free exhibits by local artists on its second floor near the stairs. The art pieces are hung by the interior glass walls.
