This feature is a partnership with The National Gallery of Canada

Hey it’s Robbin Reay!

It’s been a long 16 months in this pandemic, and we were certainly feeling the effects of the lockdown like most people. We knew we needed to get away, but travel still isn’t a feasible option, so my partner Woody and I made our own adventure with a staycation RIGHT in the heart of downtown Ottawa!

We spent an evening at the famous Fairmont Chateau Laurier, and a full day at The National Gallery of Canada for a date taking in spectacular works of art.

Here’s the cherry on top: Right now until Labour Day, the National Gallery of Canada is featuring one of the most exciting exhibitions to ever come to the Capital City – “Rembrandt in Amsterdam – Creativity and Competition”!

As the daughter of an artist – I knew this was a special opportunity I could not miss, and I was excited to experience it with my partner in crime.

On the Saturday, we checked in to a luxurious hotel room at The Fairmont Chateau Laurier featuring some of the best views this city has to offer. Our evening was capped off with the iconic Chateau pool all to ourselves, and dinner in our suite thanks to the talented chefs at ‘La Terrasse’. As you can imagine, we slept like babies (what is it about hotel beds? It’s like sleeping on a cloud!) – and we spent the morning on the patio drinking coffee and taking in the views of the Ottawa River. I highly suggest the Avocado Toast on the La Terrasse breakfast menu – even our server claims it’s incredibly “instagrammable”! (He was right.)

We were eager to get to the gallery to have a view of Rembrandt’s iconic pieces before the bigger crowds got there, so we headed down Mackenzie Avenue on a short 4 minute walk from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, passed Major’s Hill Park and arrived at the National Gallery of Canada in style! Located at 380 Sussex Drive, the National Gallery of Canada is one of the largest galleries in all of North America, and every time I visit I find something new and astonishing inside. We were greeted by Rashid Johnson’s “Capsule” as soon as you enter the building; the largest pyramidal steel sculpture Johnson has produced to date. And that’s only just in the entrance way!

Here until Labour Day – “Rembrandt in Amsterdam – Creativity and Competition” is an exhibit I always thought I would have to fly overseas to see, so we truly felt honoured to see such famous pieces of art right here in the Capital city. As previously mentioned, my Mother is an artist and I grew up watching her create sketches, paintings, and sculptures; every piece beautiful and unique in it’s own way. I’ve come to appreciate the hard work and careful detail put in to each piece of art, and the Rembrandt exhibition does a phenomenal job of taking you on a journey through his transformative artistic career in the Amsterdam art market with informative details printed right there on the wall beside each piece.

“Ambitious, versatile and entrepreneurial, Rembrandt created a personal style – a brand – that would make him one of the most famous artists of the day, influential and much emulated.” – a quote seen on the walls of the exhibit.

Many of the pieces in the Rembrandt collection are being featured at the National Gallery of Canada for the first time; self-portraits, but also portraits of those who Rembrandt was very fond of. His business partners, royalty, and even his wife are immortalised in these paintings with such careful detail. I suggest finding the paintings of his wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh, and carefully examining how life-like he was able to make her, even though she tragically died in her 20s. The history of his career, as well as the struggle of his personal life is almost as interesting as the art he created.

“Rembrandt is so deeply mysterious that he says things for which there are no words in any language” -Vincent Van Gogh, 1885

Our date roaming the grand halls of The National Gallery of Canada (with incredible views of Parliament Hill) and discussing our love of art was one for the books! If you’re looking for the perfect place to spend a day with loved one, a friend, your family or even a large group, The National Gallery of Canada has memberships of ALL levels! Our favourite is the Duo Membership, which allows you to bring a new guest with you to the gallery every time you visit. We also loved seeing all the families at the Fred & Elizabeth Fountain Garden Court enjoying ‘Family Art Adventures’ which is free with gallery admission and includes a drawing lesson! From what we saw, we may have some future “Rembrandts” on our hands! 

Visit gallery.ca to find the membership that fits you best, and plan your visit before Labour Day to see “Rembrandt in Amsterdam – Creativity and Competition” before it’s over! Book your tickets for this weekend; that’s how we like to do it and we highly recommend the spontaneity!

It’s only here for a limited time and it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see such famous art in the Capital.