Artist Shary Boyle in Conversation at Oakville Museum: An Evening with The Sleeper

Headshot by Jeff Bierk

Artist Talk with Shary Boyle: The Sleeper

Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Oakville Museum
Admission: $10 per person + HST
Purchase Tickets

This spring, as the gardens of Erchless Estate come into bloom, the Oakville Museum invites visitors to gather for a special evening with celebrated Canadian artist Shary Boyle.

On Wednesday, April 29 from 7:00 to 9:00pm, Boyle will speak about her evocative sculpture The Sleeper, currently buried beneath the museum’s historic lakeside gardens. Boyle’s project was first installed in the Erchless Museum and various Oakville community libraries in Fall 2025. The Sleeper was commissioned by Ontario Culture Days 2025 Creatives in residence program, which invited artists to respond to place, history, and community.

Visitors will hear directly from the artist about the creative ideas and poetic symbolism behind the work, and how the artist’s Moon Garden, and natural landscape of the Erchless Estate grounds became an integral part of the installation.

Shary Boyle, The Sleeper, 2025. Project commissioned for Ontario Culture Days, in partnership with The Oakville Museum. Photography by John Jones.

Biodegrading beneath the spring blossoms and quiet garden pathways, The Sleeper encourages pause and reflection. The evening talk, held in anticipation of the full moon, offers a fitting time to experience the artwork in dialogue with the changing light, new growth, and the surrounding landscape.

Guests are invited to wander the grounds beforehand, spend time with the Moon Garden, and then gather to hear Boyle reflect on the themes of community, renewal, and the power of art to create ritual and culture.

Light refreshments will be served following the presentation.

This special event also marks the beginning of ‘May is Museum Month,’ a celebration of the role museums play in fostering creativity, conversation, and connection within the community.

Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate
8 Navy Street
Oakville, ON L6J 2Y5
905-338-4400
oakvillemuseum@oakville.ca

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