Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Gallery's hours?

What is the cost of attending the Gallery?

Gallery admission is free. Members of Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery have discounted rates for all public programs and special events. Costs for public programs including our Family Sundays and Art & Ideas programs are usually free unless otherwise stated.

Can I take photographs? What are the copyright policies?
The JNAAG allows photography for personal use unless stated otherwise. We ask that you respect the rights of artists and their representatives under Canadian copyright law.

Why can't I touch the art, frames, or sculptures?
There are acids and oils on your skin that will damage the art. When we are hanging or taking shows down, our staff wears white cotton gloves to protect the artwork. Even large sculptural works and the frames of paintings need consideration. If we didn't take such precautions, fingerprints would show up, soft materials would absorb acids and oils, and patina or faux finishes would wear off over time.

How often do you change exhibitions?
We offer a variety of historical and contemporary exhibitions that, as per our mandate, focus on visual art and visual culture by Canadian artists of national and regional calibre in a dynamic environment. Often exhibitions are planned three years in advance, and typically remain up for approximately three months. Generally speaking, each gallery space will house three different exhibitions per calendar year, but this can vary. Sometimes multiple gallery spaces will be used for a single exhibition.

What does a visit to the Gallery include?
You can visit the Gallery and explore it on your own, you can book a guided tour for your group or you can participate in regularly scheduled tour opportunities. You can also get involved in one of our many public programs.

What is the oldest work in the collection?
The oldest work in the collection is a watercolour painting on paper by Daniel Fowler (R.C.A., O.S.A.). This painting is as old as Confederation itself, being completed in 1867. This work was purchased by Gallery Lambton (as we were formally known) in 1986.

What was the first work in the collection?
Though it was before the formal existence of the gallery or a properly identified permanent collection, the Sarnia Women's Conservation Art Association purchased three paintings on March 31, 1920. These are now seen as the first three works in what became our collection of Canadian visual culture. They are H.S. Palmer's Sawing Logs (1919), J.W. Beatty's Winter Scene (Near Toronto) (1918), and A.Y. Jackson's Spring in Lower Canada (Maples, Early Spring) (1915). These paintings were acquired for a total of $700.00.

How do you care for your works?
The Gallery permanent collection houses over 1,200 works of art, so at any given time, the majority of these are secured within on-site vaults. Our exhibition spaces and vaults are carefully monitored to maintain proper temperature and humidity levels. The vaults are kept dark to limit harmful effects of light exposure. Staff wear clean, white cotton gloves, and keep the handling of the art to a minimum. When required, we send works in our collection to specially trained conservationists to have maintenance and corrective work performed.