Gardiner Museum
Encyclopedia
The Gardiner Museum is the only museum in Canada
devoted exclusively to ceramic art
. It is located on Queen’s Park just south of Bloor Street in Toronto
, opposite the Royal Ontario Museum
. The nearest subway station is Museum
.
and his wife Helen Gardiner
, designed by Keith Wagland, the museum has been described as a "jewel box of ceramic treasures". The Gardiner Museum underwent a $20 million renovation, reopening in August 2006, with KPMB Architects
(Kuwabara, Payne, McKenna and Blumberg) and was awarded the Pug Award for Best Commercial Architecture in 2006.
The purpose of the recent renovation and expansion in 2006 was to improve circulation, and increase space to showcase the permanent collections.
The structure is composed of a limestone clad façade with glazing and black granite columns and extends towards the street making it more visible to people and making its presence known among the street
, Italian Renaissance
, English Delftware
, Chinese
and Japan
ese porcelain
, Europe
an porcelain, and a Contemporary
gallery. In addition to the permanent collections, the museum mounts three temporary exhibitions per year.
, CHIN
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
devoted exclusively to ceramic art
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
. It is located on Queen’s Park just south of Bloor Street in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, opposite the Royal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
. The nearest subway station is Museum
Museum (TTC)
Museum is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 75 Queen's Park at Charles Street West...
.
History
Founded in 1984 by George R. GardinerGeorge R. Gardiner
George Ryerson Gardiner, was a Toronto businessman, philanthropist and co-founder of the Gardiner Museum, the only museum in Canada devoted exclusively to ceramic art.-Biography:...
and his wife Helen Gardiner
Helen Gardiner
Helen E. Gardiner, , née McMinn was a Canadian philanthropist.-Biography:She was born in 1938 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario to a working family. She later moved to Toronto with her family and attended York University and Christie's Fine Arts School in London. She later married businessman George R...
, designed by Keith Wagland, the museum has been described as a "jewel box of ceramic treasures". The Gardiner Museum underwent a $20 million renovation, reopening in August 2006, with KPMB Architects
Bruce Kuwabara
Bruce Bunji Kuwabara, B.Arch, OAA, FRAIC, RCA, AIA is a Canadian architect and partner in the firm Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects ....
(Kuwabara, Payne, McKenna and Blumberg) and was awarded the Pug Award for Best Commercial Architecture in 2006.
The purpose of the recent renovation and expansion in 2006 was to improve circulation, and increase space to showcase the permanent collections.
The structure is composed of a limestone clad façade with glazing and black granite columns and extends towards the street making it more visible to people and making its presence known among the street
Collection
Its permanent collection of over 2,900 pieces, includes works from the Ancient AmericasAmericas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
, English Delftware
English Delftware
English delftware is tin-glazed pottery made in the British Isles between about 1550 and the late 18th century. The main centres of production were London, Bristol and Liverpool with smaller centres at Wincanton, Glasgow and Dublin....
, Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an porcelain, and a Contemporary
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
gallery. In addition to the permanent collections, the museum mounts three temporary exhibitions per year.
Programs
The museum offers programs and lectures, and, in its clay studio, clay classes for adults and children.Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.