Jump to content

Gardiner Museum

Coordinates: 43°40′05″N 79°23′35″W / 43.668163°N 79.393151°W / 43.668163; -79.393151
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2001:569:7c07:2600:21ee:d696:c37c:1550 (talk) at 05:32, 3 August 2019. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Gardiner Museum
Map
Established1984
Location111 Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2C7
Coordinates43°40′05″N 79°23′35″W / 43.668163°N 79.393151°W / 43.668163; -79.393151
TypeMuseum of ceramic art
DirectorKelvin Browne
CuratorSequoia Miller
Public transit access
WebsiteGardiner Museum

The Gardiner Museum is a museum dedicated to ceramic art in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by George and Helen Gardiner in 1984 to house their collection of ceramic art. It is located on Queen's Park just south of Bloor Street, opposite the Royal Ontario Museum.

History

The Gardiner Museum was founded in 1984 by George and Helen Gardiner. It originally opened as the George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art to house the couple's collection. From 1976 when they started collecting ceramics to 1981 when they decided to share their collection with the public, George and Helen assembled several specialized collections in the fields of pottery from the Ancient Americas and European ceramics that would become the core of the museum when it opened. In their depth and breadth, the Gardiner's collections of Meissen porcelain, rare Du Paquier porcelain from Vienna (the second factory to successfully produce hard-paste porcelain in Europe), and Hausmaler decorated porcelain is of world importance. The Gardiners also established one of the best collections of Italian Renaissance maiolica in Canada and the most comprehensive collection of figures from the commedia dell'arte in a public institution.

Exterior view of the Gardiner Museum in 2012. The museum reopened in 2006, after two years of renovations.

Between 1987 and 1996, the Gardiner Museum was managed by the Royal Ontario Museum, located across the street on Queen's Park Crescent. In 1996, an endowment from George Gardiner supported the museum becoming an independent institution again.

In January 2004, the Gardiner Museum closed temporarily to implement a major expansion, with funding provided primarily by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and Helen Gardiner. During this period, the museum temporarily relocated to a warehouse at 60 McCaul Street.

Building on the qualities of the original structure, designed by architect Keith Wagland, the architectural firm of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg added exhibition galleries, larger educational, administration and studio spaces, a new retail shop, as well as a new dining and special events area. Wagland was a professor to Kuwabara during his time at the University of Toronto.[1]

When the Gardiner Museum re-opened in 2006, the renovation received widespread critical acclaim and is often cited as one of the most beautiful buildings in Toronto.[citation needed] The addition of over 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2) has allowed the museum to include an expanded collections purview, more special exhibitions, and opportunities for greater public participation.

Museum

Exhibits of the museum's permanent collection are displayed throughout the museum.

The museum has an expanding permanent collection, a full schedule of exhibitions and programs (including popular clay classes for adults and children), and a growing audience. The museum is committed to building the finest collection of Canadian ceramics in the country, as well as ensuring that vital curatorial work about these ceramics is undertaken. Its permanent collection of over 4,000 pieces, includes works from the Ancient Americas, Italian Renaissance, English Delftware, Chinese and Japanese porcelain, European porcelain, and a contemporary gallery. In addition to the permanent collections, the museum mounts temporary special exhibitions throughout the year.

The Radlett Collection of 18th-century English porcelain is an important component of the museum, and the 1760 Beer Jug with a portrait of General James Wolfe is one of the best-known pieces in this collection. The Robert Murray Bell and Ann Walker Bell Collection of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain is another highlight, including a Qing dynasty Bianhu (flask). The Macdonald Collection of Japanese and Japanese-inspired porcelain, including the Kakiemon cup and saucer with the "Lady in a Pavilion", forms a very special aspect of the museum, illuminating the connection between the cultures of Japan and Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

The Hans Syz Collection, donated in 1996, is a remarkable assemblage of European porcelain. The Norman and Cecily Bell Collection, donated in 1998, consists predominantly of English transfer-printed wares of unique quality. The Thomas Henry Clark Collection, donated in 1999, comprises important pieces of English and Continental tin-glazed earthenware. In 1991, Helen Armstrong bequeathed the Vernon W. Armstrong Collection of eighteenth-century porcelain. Some of the Gardiner's finest Minton pieces have been donated by Robert and Marian Cumming since 1991. In 2008, Jean and Kenneth Laundy donated a significant collection of 18th- and 19th-century creamware, and in 2012 and 2013 the Gardiner received outstanding examples of 17th- and 18th-century French faience from Pierre and Mariel O'Neill-Karch. Numerous other donors have given exceptional ceramic art to the museum including Aaron Milrad and Diana Reitberger. A recent transformative donation was The Raphael Yu Collection of Canadian Ceramics, made in 2011, which added 318 objects.

The museum offers programs, lectures, and other special events. It has several studio spaces in which clay classes for adults and children are offered. The museum is affiliated with the Canadian Museums Association, Canadian Heritage Information Network and the Virtual Museum of Canada. The nearest subway station is Museum.

See also

References