Trace Elements: Selections from The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery will open this evening, Friday, April 4, at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada.

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, will be on hand to officially open the exhibit with Her Excellency, Governor General Micha�lle Jean.

"Trace Elements includes works by prominent and emerging artists, including works by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and other Canadian artists," Minister Jackman said. "The exhibit at Rideau Hall is a unique opportunity for the artists to showcase their work at a national level, and to highlight the extraordinary level of talent which exists in this province."

Trace Elements includes works that cover the period from post-Confederation to the present. All draw inspiration from the land and sea, reflecting the reactions and interactions with the natural environment experienced by the artists. The exhibition demonstrates a fundamental sense of time and history, and calibrates the artists� reactions to the diverse human and natural geography of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Through collaborations such as this, we better understand our own identity, and our cultural connections with other parts of the country," Minister Jackman said. "Trace Elements includes work which speaks to the powerful sense of home shared among Newfoundland and Labradorians. For most of us, �home� is not just a place on the map. The works displayed here have been inspired by the breathtaking landscape of Newfoundland and Labrador, and provide a glimpse into the artists� understanding of this diverse, and changing world."

Megan Williams, director of The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, said provincial artists have long been influenced by geological formations, the natural environment, culture and history.

"These works are notable examples of the artistic endeavours of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Canada," Ms. Williams said. "They uniquely demonstrate the artists� ability to signify connections to their natural surroundings, as well as the connective nature of the province�s culture and history."

Trace Elements is presented by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General in association with The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and all works come from The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery�s permanent collection.

In addition to Trace Elements, Rideau Hall displays an extensive collection of Canadian art, furniture, a unique portrait gallery, as well as some of Canada�s finest stained glass. Rideau Hall welcomes groups to explore these exhibitions.

Trace Elements: Selections from The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery will be on display at Rideau Hall until October 2008. Reservations can be made a minimum of 48 hours in advance by contacting 1-866-842-4422. For more information, visit the Governor General�s website at www.gg.ca or www.therooms.ca.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Selection of works from the exhibition: Trace Elements: Selections from The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery on display at Rideau Hall until October 2008. Images of three of the works are available of the Governor General�s website at www.gg.ca/visitus/ca_e.asp.