New gallery opens in downtown Peterborough

You’re reading the September 6, 2024 edition of the Peterborough Currents email newsletter. To receive our email newsletters straight to your inbox, sign up here.

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Good morning and welcome to the arts and community edition of the Peterborough Currents newsletter. My name is Alex, and I send this email every Friday to catch you up on what’s happening in the community.

This week:

• Full Spectrum art show at the new Platform D Gallery
• Drag Night returns to Delta Bingo
• Let’s Bike Cavan-Monaghan
• Made by Me Market
• And more!

Let’s get started!

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Full Spectrum art show at the new Platform D Gallery

Tonight marks the first exhibition at Peterborough’s newest gallery, Platform D, which is located on the second floor of the Commerce Building on Hunter Street.

“I’ve seen that galleries have closed one by one, and there are relatively few opportunities to get your art into other people’s houses,” said David Knighton Robinson, who is launching the gallery as a pilot project along with Heather Doughty, whose photo studio is next door. Robinson said Platform D is a response to the recent closures of local galleries such as Ludmila, meta4, and Studio 12.

Platform D’s first exhibition is Full Spectrum by Kevin Gallagher. “Kevin is a talented and active member of the Peterborough arts scene, and he was an easy first choice,” Robinson said. “His unique, explosively colourful art form and style combined with a spirited braggadocio is the perfect inaugural event.”

Gallagher is known for creating black and white images used to make colouring books. For this exhibition, he coloured his images and hung them alongside accompanying poetry. 

“I often work through ruminating thoughts as I create my art, so I wanted to show that process,” Gallagher explained. “I think it’s an interesting way for people to attach meaning to mostly abstract images.”

In addition to the art display, Full Spectrum will feature DJ John Workman mixing nostalgic 90s house music, animated projections of Gallagher’s art produced by Ashley Hall, and interactive elements to help visitors engage with the art. 

“It’s an honour to be at the new studio and to be part of this new project,” Gallagher said. “The fact that somebody came to find me and offered me this feels like a big deal, and I love being able to say that I exhibited my art in the Commerce Building. To me, it’s one of the mainstays of the Peterborough arts scene.”

Full Spectrum is a part of tonight’s First Friday Art Crawl, and admission is free. Guests are welcome to visit between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. The Commerce Building is at the corner of Hunter and Water streets.

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Drag Night returns to Delta Bingo

Delta Bingo will bring the party to Peterborough this Saturday, September 7, with an evening of drag performance and gaming.

Local drag queens Madge Enthat and Divalicious will keep guests entertained with dance, comedy, and campy theatrics while they try their luck at rounds of bingo through the night.

Tickets cost $40 and include a bingo package and a dabber. All players must arrive by 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7 p.m.

“Our last Drag Bingo event was in June so we’re excited to bring it back,” said Delta Bingo Peterborough general manager Glenn Jensen. “It’s really more of a party than it is a game of bingo, with a DJ, dancing, and cash prizes to be won.”

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Family cycling event offers education, tune-ups, a bike playground, and more

Active School Travel Peterborough (AST PTBO) and GreenUP are inviting families to learn about cycling safety, practice bike repair skills, play games, and win prizes at Let’s Bike Cavan-Monaghan.

Admission is free, and the event will take place at Cavan-Monaghan Community Centre from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10. In addition to an outdoor bike playground with various obstacles and challenges set up for kids to enjoy, there will also be stations for bike tune-ups, bike decorating, and more.

“This is a casual event for the whole family to come out and learn about using a bicycle for transportation and recreation,” said GreenUP executive director Tegan Moss. “There will be stations to learn about helmet fit, skills tests, and kids can zip around the bike playground as much as they’d like.” Reserve a spot here.

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Made by Me Market this Saturday will raise funds for Lions Club

The Made by Me Market is back for an end-of-summer sale. This time artisans will showcase their wares at the Lions Club in East City, from 9:30 to 3:30 on Saturday, September 7. 

More than 20 vendors will be onsite for the day, selling a wide variety of locally crafted pieces and handmade goods from journals and notebooks to jewelry, toys, clothing, and more. 

Admission is by donation, with all proceeds going towards improving the Lions Club’s kitchen. “We really appreciate anything, as the Lions Club does so much for our community and their kitchen is in bad need of an upgrade,” said event organizer Cheryl Edwards.

Each guest will also receive a small gift at the door made by Edwards herself. 

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Looking for more to do this weekend?

• Kawartha Artistic Swimming is offering a free introductory lesson at the Trent Athletics Centre pool this evening (Friday, September 6) at 6 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Learn more here.
• Escape Maze at 157 Cedar Bank Road is hosting their second annual Quest Fest on Saturday, September 7, offering a full day of board games, tactical laser tag, escape rooms, Dungeons & Dragons, and more from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Get tickets here.
• Trent Valley Archives is presenting a historic tour of Jackson Park Sunday, September 8 at 2 p.m., led by local historian Karen Carter-Edwards. Tickets cost $20 and are available here.

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Moms call out stigma at annual overdose awareness day event

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