Union Gallery

Free summer programs: artist-led workshops @ Union Gallery! Background image: colourful drawings by Bree Rappaport projected on a wall using an overhead projector. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Summer Programs Artist-Led Workshops @ Union Gallery Projection Jam Facilitators: Bree Rappaport + Nathan Zhe Wednesday, June 25 @ 6pm Mending with Maevis Facilitator: Maevis Chamberlain Saturday, July 5 @ 1pm Good Luck Charms Facilitator: Caryn Wei Ya Xie Wednesday, July 16 @ 6pm Sculpt a Pet with Lynette (for kids!) Facilitator: Lynette Zhang Saturday, August 9 @ 1pm Visit uniongallery.ca to register for free!

We're excited to announce four upcoming artist-led workshops at Union Gallery! Registration is now open for Projection Jam, Mending with Maevis, Good Luck Charms, and Sculpt a Pet with Lynette (for kids!) 🌟

Learn more and register for free: www.uniongallery.ca/posts/summer...

#ygk

Image: A Union Gallery visitor drawing a picture of a black cat on the side of UG's Little Free Zine Library. Text: CALL FOR SUMMER VOLUNTEERS uniongallery.ca/opportunities

Union Gallery is seeking volunteers to join our front desk reception team over the summer. Open to: all community members in Katarokwi-Kingston (students included!) Time commitment: shifts are ~2.5 to 3 hours once a week from June to August Perks include: air conditioning, friendly staff, and a (usually) quiet space to write, read, sketch, or daydream ~ uniongallery.ca/opportunities

Volunteering at Union Gallery is a great way to get involved in the local arts community!

We are currently accepting applications for new volunteers to join our front desk team over the summer (shifts are 2.5 to 3 hours a week) 🌱

Apply at uniongallery.ca 🌟

#ygk

Newsletter: mailchi.mp/3973eae4648e...

Sophia and Morgan work together to print a silkscreen image on a tote bag at Union Gallery's launch party. Photo courtesy of Ali Zonaed.

We had a wonderful time kicking off our 2024-25 curatorial year with silkscreen printing (thank you, Sophia Herrington!), theme-related brainstorming, and a makeover for our Little Free Zine Library at 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺? 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘺?! ✨ Read our June newsletter to find out what's up next at UG!

A lifelike sculpture of a white and grey cat with round, blue eyes. Lynette Zhang, 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬, 2025, clay, plaster, and oil on canvas, mixed media installation. Photo: Jackie Li / Courtesy of the artist.

A painting of a person reclined on a mattress in a surreal, dreamlike outdoor/indoor scene. Maevis Chamberlain, 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳, 2025, Oil on Canvas. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Our summer student exhibitions are here! ✨ In the Project Room, we have Lynette Zhang's 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬, and on the Feature Wall, Maevis Chamberlain's 𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘔𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘥. Regular hours are Tues-Sat, 11am-4:30pm, late hours til 8pm on Wednesdays (our launch party tonight is fully registered now!).

Students in Two Rabbits One Hat's production of "Macbeth" act out a swordfight in the Main Space at Union Gallery. Photo by Heiden Jacobi.

...and in case you missed it, our April newsletter is out! 🌻

Read the newsletter: tinyurl.com/ugapril25
Subscribe: mailchi.mp/dee21be5978a...

"Are you a student artist? Call for exhibition proposals" text on a cloud-shaped graphic floats above an image of UG's project room with artwork by Kelby James.

CALL FOR SUMMER EXHIBITION PROPOSALS Open to: all Queen’s students Location: Project Room| Due: Monday, April 14, 11:59pm Union Gallery invites student artists in all disciplines to submit exhibition proposals relating to our upcoming curatorial theme – in this economy?! – responding to manufactured scarcity, late-stage capitalism, economic precarity, and the improvisation of everyday life in the face of these challenges. Learn more at uniongallery.ca/calls

We're also seeking student art submissions for the Project Room this summer! Proposals due Monday, April 14 at 11:59pm. All Queen's University students (including those graduating this semester) are welcome to apply!

www.uniongallery.ca/posts/studen...

Text: "Union Gallery — Call for applications: members' residency. April 14." An orange background with illustrations of service berries, a soup can, a library card, a bingo card, and the word "in this economy".

Stronger Together Collaborative Residency About the Residency Launching an exciting year ahead, Union Gallery is turning over the Main Space to its membership with a unique residency opportunity for hard times. The residency will assemble an ad hoc collective of 3-5 artists open to co-creating experimental art that boldly responds to our new curatorial theme: in this economy?! We invite open-ended proposals that consider and respond to manufactured scarcity, late-stage capitalism, economic precarity, and the improvisation of everyday life in the face of these challenges. Learn more: uniongallery.ca/calls

Stronger Together Collaborative Residency What's Included Access to Union Gallery’s Main Space from May 20 to August 9 for use as a studio and public engagement platform; Use of the Wandering Art Station, Union Gallery’s mobile art cart A materials stipend for the group*; Residency programming, including guidance sessions with the Gallery Director and public program development with the Program Director; A paid group exhibition in the Project Room during UG’s 2025-26 curatorial year (dates to be determined in consultation with the collective); *Funds raised through Union Gallery’s membership program by April 30, 2025 will cycle back into this opportunity. Learn more: uniongallery.ca/calls

Two days left to apply! The Stronger Together Collaborative Residency is open to all UG members, and General membership can be purchased for $10-$25 on our website.

Learn more about the call for applications here:
www.uniongallery.ca/posts/member...

Become a member:
uniongallery.ca/membership

In front of Union Gallery's Resource Library bookcase, a hand is holding two publications: a catalogue for Unruly Matters: Negotiating Spaces of Feminist Resistance (Queen's Art History exhibition currently on at Ontario Hall), and Kingston: A Guidebook from Memory (featuring illustrations by last September's UG Feature Wall artist Grace Dixon).

New additions to the resource library! 📚

All are welcome to come in and read the books and catalogues on our shelves — if you're a UG member, you can also borrow books (just ask our staff for the sign out sheet at the front desk).

April hours: Wednesdays, 2pm-7:30pm; Thurs-Sat, 11am-4:30pm

The words "Do you like to write about art? Writing in the Gallery: home/land" appear in a speech bubble over a collage of artworks by Grace Dixon, Julia Rose Sutherland, Kellyann Marie, and Nyssa Komorowski -- all exhibiting artists at Union Gallery.

On a background similar to the previous slide, there is text about the call: "CALL FOR STUDENT WRITING Deadline: May 12, 2025 Open to: all Queen’s students Union Gallery invites Queen’s students in all disciplines/levels of study to submit writing (pitches or drafts) to be included in our upcoming zine, Writing in the Gallery, volume two: home/land. We’re looking for short pieces of writing—including, but not limited to, essays, reflections, exhibition reviews, and artist interviews—that respond to the gallery’s programming between May 2024 and April 2025 (including current exhibitions, we carry each other and On The Back of a Swan). Your writing does not have to be formal or academic in style. The ideal submission is thoughtful, easy to read, and clearly engaged with UG’s exhibitions/ programs. We encourage you to write in your own voice with a broad public audience in mind. Learn more at uniongallery.ca/calls"

𝘾𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙎𝙏𝙐𝘿𝙀𝙉𝙏 𝙒𝙍𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙂 🌻✨
Open to: all Queen's University students
Deadline: Monday, May 12, 11:59pm

Learn more + make a submission: www.uniongallery.ca/posts/call-f...

Making Art Work: Finding Motivation and Connection for Artists with Melanie Grey. A photo of Melanie, outdoors, smiling at the camera. Presented by Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, Union Gallery, and Agnes Etherington Art Centre.

Join us in person at Modern Fuel (Tett Centre) on Tuesday at 6pm! We’ll explore the motivations behind our art, share experiences and challenges, and offer encouragement and resources to help one another thrive creatively and in life.

RSVP: www.modernfuel.org/making-art-w...

Union Gallery April 2025 We are operating with limited public hours to reflect the absence of our striking colleagues in PSAC 901. To learn more, visit uniongallery.ca. Wednesday: 2pm-7:30pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 11am-4:30pm Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: closed

Hello, union lovers! We're closed tomorrow, but starting next week, we'll be shifting to a new schedule that will include Wednesday evenings and Saturdays.

In April, Union Gallery will be open Wednesdays (2pm–7:30pm) and Thursdays–Saturdays (11am–4:30pm).

Union Gallery will reopen with limited hours Starting March 18, Union Gallery (UG) will reopen with limited public hours from Tuesday to Friday, 11am to 4:30pm, reflecting the absence of our striking colleagues in the Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 901 (PSAC 901).

All are welcome to visit the gallery and learn about this ongoing historic strike at Queen’s—we will have resources available on the Wandering Art Station, and our core staff will be on site and happy to speak with you. PSAC 901 members are welcome to stop by for tea and snacks between shifts on the picket line. We remain strong in our support of graduate student workers. While our doors are reopening to fulfill UG’s mandate as an independent public art gallery serving the wider community of Katarokwi/Kingston, we refuse to pretend that this is business as usual. Our core staff will not perform tasks normally carried out by our unionized student staff, and we are committed to using UG’s resources to educate the public about labour rights for the remainder of the strike. While we are still hopeful that a fair agreement between Queen’s University and PSAC 901 will be reached soon, this cannot happen without the

cooperation of Queen's administration. To that end, we encourage students, faculty, staff, and community members to show solidarity with graduate student workers by urging Queen’s to return to the bargaining table. Signed, Haley Sarfeld, Program Director Morgan Wedderspoon, Gallery Director Further Reading Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 901, “PSAC 901 Unit 1 Notice of Strike.” March 10, 2025. https://psac901.org/psac-901-unit-1-notice-of-strike/ Union Gallery, “Regular hours suspended in solidarity with PSAC 901.” March 10, 2025. https://www.uniongallery.ca/posts/statement-march-2025

Effective March 18, Union Gallery will reopen with limited public hours from Tuesday to Friday, 11am to 4:30pm, reflecting the absence of our striking colleagues in PSAC 901.

Read more here:
www.uniongallery.ca/posts/statem...

Regular hours suspended in solidarity with PSAC 901 Effective immediately, Union Gallery (UG) will be closed to the public during regular gallery hours in solidarity with our striking colleagues in the Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 901 (PSAC 901).

UG is an independent, not-for-profit, contemporary public art gallery located on Queen’s campus. Our operational structure includes two core professional staff members—the Gallery Director and Program Director—as well as contracts with part-time student staff, including graduate-level Research Assistants (RAs) who are unionized under PSAC 901. As precarious arts sector workers with no union of our own, our core staff stand in solidarity with our unionized colleagues as they fight for fair contracts with Queen’s. To that end, UG’s undergraduate and professional staff will not take on work normally carried out by graduate student workers (such as covering shifts or answering emails on behalf of RAs), and the gallery will be limiting its role as an academic resource for the duration of the strike.

While we recognize that an academic shutdown will take a toll on students, faculty, and staff, we believe that this strike highlights the crucial role that PSAC 901 workers play in academic life at Queen’s. As we stated last September, Union Gallery would not be the thriving arts space it is today without the vision, creativity, and dedicated work of Queen’s graduate students. Although we plan to remain closed during regular hours this week should the strike continue, UG will honour our agreement with Two Rabbits One Hat, who have rented the Main Space for use as a private theatre venue in the evenings of March 11, 12, 13, and 14. This rental agreement, made between our professional staff and Two Rabbits One Hat, does not involve the labour of any PSAC 901 members.

We hope that a fair agreement can be reached quickly between Queen’s and PSAC 901 and that we will soon be able to resume all of our activities, supporting students and the broader public of Katarokwi/Kingston. In the meantime, the UG team expresses deep respect for the courage and tenacity of graduate student workers at Queen’s University. Signed, Haley Sarfeld, Program Director Morgan Wedderspoon, Gallery Director Further Reading Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 901, “PSAC 901 Unit 1 Notice of Strike.” March 10, 2025. https://psac901.org/psac-901-unit-1-notice-of-strike/

Effective immediately, Union Gallery will be closed to the public during regular gallery hours in solidarity with our striking colleagues in the Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 901 (PSAC 901). Read our full statement here: www.uniongallery.ca/posts/statem...

Holding home in the hands, the body, and the land - The Queen's Journal As Kellyann Marie traversed Europe on their bike for nine months in 2023, they gathered fabrics along the way—sheets from thrift stores, scraps from clothes, remnants of places passed through. These t...

Read about 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 in the Queen's Journal: www.queensjournal.ca/holding-home...

Photo of guests laughing, talking, and pondering at Union Gallery's 'side by side' live event, February 2025. Photo courtesy of Yash Patel.

UG's March newsletter is out today! Check your inboxes 📬

Read the newsletter:
mailchi.mp/5d6247451df4...

Subscribe for monthly updates:
mailchi.mp/dee21be5978a...

Poster for Beyond Words BIPOC Art Series. Workshop title: What Does Home Mean To You? Collage workshop with Queer Collage Collective Date: Saturday, March 8, 1pm to 3pm Location: Union Gallery The image includes a photo of facilitator Alyssa Vernon and the Queer Collage Collective logo. Background is a purple-tinted collection of photos from previous collage-making workshops.

Coming up on Saturday! Free collage workshop open to BIPOC students + Katarokwi/Kingston community members.

Register now: form.jotform.com/242744904422...

#ygk

A green line drawing with a slightly fuzzy quality depicting a butterfly milkweed plant with glinting gold flowers on a light warm paper.

Available now via @uniongallery.bsky.social’s small + mighty silent auction. We’re celebrating 30 years as the little gallery that could with some of our most cherished artists who make the space what it is today. Check it out at uniongallery.ca! 🦋

RSVP: Opening Reception @ Union Gallery, March 2025 Please click the link to complete this form.

Free + open to all — RSVP so we can optimize our snack plans! form.jotform.com/250434535460...

Image detail from Kellyann Marie, 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘨; 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘢 𝘢𝘪𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵, 2024, quilted second-hand and found textiles, applique, ink, ballpoint pen. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.

We're closed this week and next while we install Nyssa Komorowski's 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘯 (Project Room) and Queen's graduate student group exhibition 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 (Main Space) 🌻

Opening reception: Saturday, March 1, 3pm (RSVP link below)

Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, March 4!

In the moody purple light of Union Gallery's Project Room, a visitor peruses Shamara Peart's Growing Pains (zine/chapbook, 2024). A little blue sign with black text in permanent marker says "Thanks for stopping by! If you'd like, you can sign your name on a random page." Photo courtesy of The Candid Creative Co, Shanique Peart.

After today, we're saying a heartfelt farewell to Union Gallery's installment of 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 💜

It's not all goodbyes, though — visit @modernfuelarc.bsky.social in the Tett Centre to see more wonderful work by the Twofold Residency artists in their counterpart exhibition through March 22.

#ygk

A purple and black graphic advertising the AMS Social Issues Commission's pop-up BHFM (Black Histories and Futures Month) exhibition, Echoes of Empowerment, February 12–14 at Union Gallery.

Pop-up at UG! ✨️ Echoes of Empowerment celebrates the strength, resilience, leadership, and contributions of Black-identifying students and figures at Queen’s University. This exhibition honours past and present leaders while inspiring future generations to continue fostering empowerment and equity.

artist's jackpot, my life is an indie movie, DIY dream, treasure hunter, cozy night in, treat yourself... all sponsored by local partners! If you want to throw some $ to our 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 fundraiser for a chance to win prizes, this is a budget-friendly way to support UG! ✨️

A basket full of goodies from UG's online raffle! See next image alt text for list of items.

A funky green-and-purple graphic lists the first two side by side online raffle prize packs: #1: artist's jackpot - $150 gift certificate to Art Noise - $60 1-year joint membership to Modern Fuel + Union Gallery - $50 Modern Fuel t-shirt designed by Grace Dixon - $50 off tattoo or piercing services at Ink Well Tattoos & Piercings - $17 half-dozen cupcake pack from Card's Bakery #2: my life is an indie movie - $70 pair of tickets to Kingston Candian Film Festival's opening night gala + film screening - $60 limited-edition merch bundle from Union Gallery, including a tote bag designed by Abby Nowakowski, EXIST lapel pin designed by Adrien Crossman, and a pack of five postcards by UG artist friends! - $50 off tattoo or piercing services at Ink Well Tattoos & Piercings Get tickets by Feb 11 @ 11am

A funky green-and-purple graphic lists more side by side online raffle prize packs: #3: DIY dream - $65 gift certificate for a handbuilding workshop at Amaranth Stoneware - $50 gift certificate to Berry & Peterson Booksellers - $50 off tattoo or piercing services at Ink Well Tattoos & Piercings #4: treasure hunter - $50 gift certificate to YGK Thrift - $50 gift certificate to Berry & Peterson Booksellers - $50 off tattoo or piercing services at Ink Well Tattoos & Piercings

a funky green-and-purple lists the final two side by side raffle prize packs: #5: cozy night in - $70 set of 2 handmade mugs from Amaranth Stoneware - $30 gift certificate to Novel Idea - $50 off tattoo or piercing services at Ink Well Tattoos & Piercings #6: treat yourself - $65 gift certificate for a handbuilding workshop at Amaranth Stoneware - $17 half-dozen cupcake pack from Card's Bakery - $50 off tattoo or piercing services at Ink Well Tattoos & Piercings Ticket url: tinyurl.com/sbsraffle25

We have six prize packs waiting to be raffled off tomorrow morning!

Last chance to grab tickets (starting at $5):
tinyurl.com/sbsraffle25

Excited to welcome our 3rd Airwave YGK Musician-in-Residence, Abbie Louise to our studios! Stay tuned for her lovely live performance Feb. 9th on our airwaves made possible through the generous support of the @cityofkingston & @Artsking #ygk Details at cfrc.ca

Saturday! Buy a ticket & take home an original artwork right off the walls of our gallery. Proceeds support our mission & pay our beloved community of artists. #ygk

side by side — Union Gallery Fundraiser Exhibition Jan 14–Feb 8, 2025

In other news, our 30th annual fundraiser party is coming up very soon! Join us on February 8 for 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 and support UG's not-for-profit work—local artists’ paid exhibitions, artist residencies, workshops, performances, educational opportunities, and more.

www.uniongallery.ca/posts/side-b...

A view from just outside Union Gallery's doors in the Stauffer Library loggia. A large red sign above the door reads 'UNION GALLERY', and a sandwich board can be seen with colourful flyers advertising the 'side by side' fundraiser. The Wandering Art Station, a funky-looking apparatus on wheels, is sitting just outside the door, with a disco ball and a donation box. Inside the gallery, there is artwork on the walls.

The perfect spot for a study break on a snowy day! Union Gallery is located on the first floor of Stauffer Library on Queen's campus and open to the public Tuesday–Saturday 11am–4:30pm and til 8pm on Wednesdays. Free admission since 1994 ✨

uniongallery.ca

Two visitors look at artwork at Union Gallery's 'side by side' exhibition.

Are you subscribed to UG's newsletter? Our February issue just went out, with info about 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴, and more!

Read the latest newsletter: mailchi.mp/da8e2dfc8d5d...

Subscribe for future newsletters:
mailchi.mp/dee21be5978a...

(Photo courtesy of The Candid Creative Co)

📣📣📣 Calling all SGPS members at Queen’s!
Please vote YES to continue CFRC’s optional student fee on January 29th and 30th!!!