Immerse yourself in art and history this fall during your visit to Orillia! In the heart of Orillia’s Arts District, the Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH) stands tall with its iconic clocktower of the Sir Sam Steele Memorial Building. Inside, explore exhibits and events highlighting both local history and emerging artists in this duo-purpose museum and gallery. See what’s new and on display at OMAH this fall, plus a new way to experience the museum with a private tour, and plan your trip to discover a new side of Orillia & Lake Country.
ON NOW
Pawtraits: A Brief History of Pets
History Exhibit | On until September 21st
Is your phone riddled with pictures of your pet? Don’t worry, people have been photographing their fur babies since they were able to be captured on film. Documented through photographs and objects from OMAH’s permanent collection, discover the bond between Orillians and their pets in the 19th and early 20th century. Learn about the early days of pet keeping, from antiquity to the modern era, and how our furry friends have shaped our lives over the centuries.
Reflections of our Roots: Orillia from 3,000 BCE to 2024
History Exhibit | On until September 21st
What makes Orillia “The Sunshine City” or “The Gathering Place”? On the shores of Lake Couchiching, Orillia and its waterways entice thousands of tourists each summer. Orillia’s story yearns for tourists to understand its history and how it became the city many travel to today. Discover Orillia from 3,000 BCE to 2024 and the notable Orillians that made the town what it is.
The Process Informs Me: Contemporary Abstract Frescoes
Art Exhibit | On until October 19th
Jeanette Luchese is an Italian – Canadian settler, visual artist, educator, director and curator, rooted in design arts, creating artwork in the disciplines of drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and sound. She is a Graduate of the School of Design and Visual Art at Georgian College in Barrie, and the Sheridan College School of Design in Oakville. Luchese describes this exhibition as “always seeking, forever learning, these works explore inner landscapes, exposing hidden narratives through the frescoes I create.”
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM TOUR
Looking for an exclusive and unique experience to share with your friends? Visit OMAH after hours for an exclusive tour! Book your private tour for up to 6 guests and experience either a private art or history tour with a behind the scenes look at the museum’s collection. “A Night at the Museum” will include two drinks, charcuterie board, and a gift. Do not miss your opportunity to experience what OMAH has to offer!
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COMING SOON
Tradition Transformed
Art Exhibit | Opens October 26th
Our vast and varied landscape is as unique and diverse as the Canadians who inhabit it. The beauty of our landscape can be a source of national pride, but our land is also going through many challenges such as climate change, land claims, and loss of natural habitats. Tradition Transformed asks the question, what does the Canadian landscape mean to you. This annual juried exhibition was created in recognition of landscape artist and Group of Seven member, Franklin Carmichael, who was born in Orillia. Now in its 23rd year, this juried exhibition calls on artists from across the country to submit work that reimagines the Canadian landscape through the artist’s chosen medium, including but not limited to drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and media arts.
Teachers & Their Enduring Impact: The Legacy of Jose Salas
Art & History Exhibit | Opens September 21st
Jose Salas, an art teacher at Park Street Collegiate Institute from 1969 to 1994, left a lasting impression on many of his students. This exhibition will feature several pieces of his work along with artwork and stories from artists across Canada which he inspired.
Owl Pen Revisited
Art Exhibit | Opens September 28th
Owl Pen Revisited is inspired by the work of Lucille Oille’s relief prints from the book “The Owl Pen”. Oille was a Canadian artist and printmaker (1912-1997) who lived in Oro Medonte in the 1940’s, creating images for the book “The Owl Pen” by Kenneth Wells. This exhibition will also feature current rural landscapes and places of personal significance. Gillian Lowry is a multidisciplinary artist working in printmaking (relief printing and screen printing), digital illustration, painting and sculpture. She draws on the natural world to inform her work, creating landscapes and incorporating animals and birds which appear to her as spiritual messengers.
Then & Now
OMAH has published Orillia Then & Now, a compilation of 25 photographs from OMAH’s collection paired with photographs of the same locations taken by local photographer, Samantha Vessios. This publication will be available by the end of September. Support OMAH, local photographer, and the history of Orillia!
Make the Orillia Museum of Art & History part of your fall getaway to Orillia & Lake Country! Learn more at orilliamuseum.org
Extend Your Stay in Orillia & Lake Country
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