Royal Ontario Museum Blog
Monthly Archive: December
The Japanese Art Collection of the ROM: A Look at Edo Period Tsuba
Museums and Climate Change: Two Easy Steps and One Provocative Move
Our world leaders converged on Paris yesterday for the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, or #COP21. During the opening ceremonies we heard from the top dogs, including US President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and China President Xi Jinping. None of them explicitly called out to the museums of the world, but certainly we are ALL implied in the action required to battle our rapidly changing climate.
10th Annual Eva Holtby Lecture
We were thrilled to welcome Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Art Foundation and Director of the Sharjah Biennial to the ROM for the 10th annual Eva Holtby Lecture on Contemporary Culture on November 10. More than 400 people heard Al Qasimi live at the ROM and via Synaptop worldwide streaming.
Women in Wildlife Photography
Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Krystal Seedial
Only eleven finalists and one winner of the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest are women. Why are there so few female photographers involved in WPY? Environmental Visual Communication student Krystal Seedial explores this question further.
An Important Bird Area (IBA) and an Awesome Spectacle!
Looking for a fun activity one winter weekend? Head down to Niagara Falls and be amazed by the annual gull spectacle that takes place each year along the river. As many as 100,000 gulls of up to 12 species spend December along the river between Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Drive the River Road and get a great look at thousands of Bonaparte’s Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls and a wonderful variety of waterfowl like Bufflehead. The river has recently been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Canada.
Premier Kathleen Wynne visits the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity
On Tuesday, November 24, Premier Kathleen Wynne visited the Royal Ontario Museum to announce the new Ontario Provincial Climate Change Strategy
WPY - The Proof is in the Picture
Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Kendra Marjerrison
For some wildlife photographers, a kill shot is the ultimate goal. It creates compelling photographs that highlight moments people don’t often get to see. For others, it’s a difficult scene to witness from behind the lens. Don, the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year, had no idea that the predatory behaviour captured in the photograph he took on the last day of his northern adventure would be more than just an interesting shot. It’s a powerful story about what can happen when the Earth becomes warmer and two competing predators, the red fox and the Arctic fox, are driven to cross paths...
Nature Stories through Photography: Insights from Connor Stefanison
Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Sean de Francia
Connor Stefanison is this year’s recipient of the Rising Star Portfolio Award, given to outstanding photographers 18-25 for images that will be featured at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibit. He was also awarded the Eric Hosking Portfolio Award in 2013. Here he shares his insights into producing powerful narratives through nature and wildlife photography.
Weekend at the Museum: A Community Affair
A Guest Post by Christa Sawyer, Community Events Supervisor, Autism Ontario
New to ROM: Tiger Claw Necklace
On the one hand, it is an example of delicate Victorian jewelry. On the other, it is a reminder of a past when the conservation of wildlife species was far from the minds of people. Written by Deepali Dewan.