This summer, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Toronto’s best destination for engaging exhibitions and events for the entire family to enjoy. Highlights include CHIHULY, Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art, and A Third Gender: Beautiful Youths in Japanese Prints. Featured activities this season are ROM Summer Fridays, lectures, gallery activations and more.
Visitors to the ROM will discover:
Exhibitions:
CHIHULY, on display until Jan. 2, 2017, features groundbreaking explorations in color, light and form by Dale Chihuly — a pioneer of the studio glass movement and considered to be one of the world’s foremost artists working in glass today.
Tattoos explores the fascinating history and evolution of tattooing and offers insights into the ancient practices, histories, meanings and the revival of the global phenomenon of body art. Tattoos is specially priced and on display until Sept. 5.
A Third Gender explores issues of gender while telling a pivotal story of sexuality in Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868). The objects in the exhibition consist of woodblock prints, samurai armour, screen paintings, lacquerwork and illustrated books. A Third Gender is on display until Nov. 27.
Also on display at the ROM are Made in China: Cultural Encounters through Export Art, closing on Aug. 1, as well as Point & Punch: Historical Editorial Cartoons of J.W. Bengough (1851-1923) and Sam Hunter (1858-1939), closing on Sept. 18, and The Franklin Exploration.
Events:
Kitchen Conversations: An Industry INKED
Aug. 16, 7 p.m., $45 ROM Members, $50 General Public
Join us for an in-depth conversation on the prevalence of tattoos in the culinary industry with sociologist Deborah Davidson and photographer and creator of Industry Ink, Brilynn Ferguson. Exclusive after-hours access to Tattoos is included.
ROM Summer Fridays:
This summer at the ROM, visitors can enjoy exhibitions, music, food and film during ROM Summer Fridays, taking place Friday evenings from July 1 until Sept. 23. ROM visitors get discounted museum admission from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., while experiencing live musical performances by a range of talented local artists across jazz, classical, world and soul genres, including Kayla Diamond (July 1), Yiannis Kapoulas (July 15), Maiko Watson (July 29) and Bill King (July 8 and July 29). ROM Summer Fridays also feature film screenings and fantastic food delights with themed nights including the exciting Canada Day debut, Game Jam and Fall Equinox.
ROM Tours:
Daily tours of the ROM are offered to the public between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (many are free with ROM general admission). Visitors can join general tours, specific gallery tours or tours of special exhibitions, including CHIHULY, Tattoos and A Third Gender. Details are available here.
Visit www.rom.on.ca for event information and to purchase tickets.
