Every Friday we feature an inspirational travel photo of a Canadian destination taken by one of our readers.
Why we chose it: The use of reflection here is simply amazing. The layers—a reflection of the adjacent neoclassical Lillian Massey building over the Gardiner’s modern interior architecture over the skyline view of downtown Toronto through the slats—are dizzying, but somehow work. Just plain cool! (more…)
Greg Payce's The Customs and the Spirit of the Nations: Occident (courtesy of the Gardiner Museum)
FEBRUARY 2 TO MAY 6 Remember those books of optical illusions you’d stare at as a kid? You know, the ones with the “impossible” Penrose staircase and Necker cube, or the Rubin vase, where faces could be seen in the negative space surrounding an object? Alberta-based artist Greg Payce has been exploring the latter illusion for years in his colourful ceramic works, many of which are currently on display at the Gardiner Museum. When the vessels are properly aligned, the viewer’s eyes are drawn not only to Payce’s intricate craftsmanship, but also to illusory human forms. Adding a further dimension to his concept, Payce also presents large-scale lenticular photos of some of his works.
Friday: Demar DeRozan looks to lead the Raptors to a third straight victory
Friday, January 6
The NBA lockout finally concluded on Christmas day, the shortened basketball season is starting to pick up and our hometown Raptors are on a two-game winning streak. Cheer them on tonight as they take on the New Jersey Nets (including former “Mr. Kardishian” Kris Humphries) at the Air Canada Centre.
The Next Stage Theatre Festival is back for another year at Factory Theatre. The festival’s first weekend features top independent stage shows including The Tiki Bikini Beach Paradise Party A-Go-Go! and Living with Henry.
Drama meets punk rock as Broadway smash American Idiot continues its short-term run at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Featuring tunes such as “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” from Green Day’s Grammy-winning album, this contemporary musical is not to be missed.
The Gardiner Shop (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)
Gift-giving season is here. Instead of settling for socks, why not pick out some Canadian-crafted jewellery, ceramics or paintings from these fine gallery boutiques:
1. Art Interiors has been exposing Torontonians to emerging artists for nearly 20 years. Its annual Festival of Smalls, from November 12 to December 24, offers a unique gifting opportunity, with hundreds of small works for less than $250.
2. The shop at the Gardiner Museum features curated retail exhibitions by Canadian ceramicists, as well as functional and decorative woodworking, glassware, jewellery and more.
3. Yorkville’s The Guild Shop showcases works by Ontario Crafts Council members. The abundance and diversity—everything from silk scarves to Inuit carvings—can be overwhelming, but attentive staff are more than willing to help narrow your options.
Friday: The National Ballet of Canada interprets Romeo and Juliet (photo by Bruce Zinger)
Friday, November 18
See one of the greatest dance dramas in a brand new light when the National Ballet of Canada presents Romeo and Juliet. Choreographer Alexi Ratmansky gives the classic tale with a modern edge for a fresh show at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
One of Canada’s best-known musical voices, Steven Page, interprets the tunes of Elvis Costello, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman and others in Songbook 6. The always innovative Art of Time Ensemble accompanies the singer at Harbourfront Centre’s Enwave Theatre.
Find unique Aboriginal arts, crafts and fashions at the Thunderbird Centre’s presentation, Very Beautiful Things. The exhibition and sale at the Gladstone Hotel will be a trove for discerning gift buyers and Aboriginal art collectors.
Specialty museums often operate on a smaller scale than their more comprehensive counterparts, but make up for their size with history and dedication to their subjects. Both informative and entertaining, these Toronto museums welcome visitors for a unique cultural experience.
The Gardiner Museum specializes in historical and contemporary ceramic art (photo by Tom Arban)
Bata Shoe Museum
This one-of-a-kind institution showcases over 4,500 years of footwear history. It features a celebrity collection and changing exhibitions that explore the function and style of shoes, and what they tell us about historical and contemporary culture. 327 Bloor St. W., 416-979-7799.
Casa Loma and Spadina Museum: Historic House and Gardens
Overlooking the city from midtown is financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt’s famed turn-of-the-century residence, which boasts dozens of finely decorated rooms and a general air of European splendour. Next door sits Spadina Museum—formerly home to three generations of the prominent Austin family, it’s been restored to demonstrate Toronto life in the 1920s. 1 Austin Terrace, 416-923-1171; 285 Spadina Rd., 416-392-6910.
CBC Museum
The history of the Canadian Broadcasting Company unfolds with the help of over 4,000 artifacts. This well-respected radio and television network has been integral in presenting Canadian news, entertainment and sports coverage for 75 years. 250 Front St. W., 416-205-5574.
Design Exchange
Internationally recognized for its dedication to promoting the value of design. The museum hosts curated exhibitions throughout the year, and offers frequent lectures and workshops as a part of its community outreach efforts. 234 Bay St., 416-363-6121.
Gardiner Museum
In its KPMB-designed building on the edge of Yorkville, this museum is dedicated to displaying and conserving one of the world’s oldest artistic media—ceramics, in all its varied functional and artistic forms. Grab a quick lunch at the airy Gardiner Café, featuring a menu created by chef Jamie Kennedy, or sign up for one of the museum’s many events and workshops. 111 Queen’s Park, 416-586-8080.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Home of the Stanley Cup and located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Hockey Hall of Fame celebrates Canada’s sport year-round. The museum is suitable for all ages and features interactive exhibits and the world’s largest collection of hockey memorabilia. 30 Yonge St., 416-360-7765.
Mackenzie House
The historic home of William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto’s first mayor, is a city-run museum and fine example of Georgian architecture. Historical exhibitions are offered, and there’s also a re-created 1850s print shop and a modern gallery. 82 Bond St., 416-392-6915.
Museum of Inuit Art
Located in the Queen’s Quay Terminal, this lakeside museum is devoted to presenting the history of the Inuit people through their distinctive art forms. Its collection spans hundreds of artifacts and artworks, and includes a number of showcase sculptures by major Inuit artists of the modern era. An adjoining gallery shop offers authentic stone carvings, prints and more for purchase. 207 Queens Quay W., 416-640-1571.
Redpath Sugar Museum
Canada’s oldest sugar refining company opened its museum to the public in 1979.
A self-guided tour is also included, and reservations are recommended for your visit. 95 Queens Quay E., 416-366-3561.
Textile Museum of Canada
This museum boasts a permanent collection of more than 12,000 historical and contemporary objects from around the world. The garments and fabrics displayed in themed exhibitions tell the stories of different cultures, while contemporary showcases place textile art in a modern context. A hands-on gallery teaches visitors about the ways in which textiles influence our lives. 55 Centre Ave., 416-599-5321.
Detail of Ceramic Pictures of Korean Paintings by Betty Woodman (image courtesy of the Gardiner Museum)
MARCH 3 TO JUNE 5 The commingling of painting, sculpture and ceramic art finds expressive purchase in Places, Spaces and Things, the latest exhibition at the Gardiner Museum. A survey of recent works by prolific American artist Betty Woodman, the display highlights its subject’s extravagant use of colour and eccentric shapes in 50 porcelain vessels that hearken to Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. A number of her grandiose canvas and ceramic installations make clear Woodman’s painterly panache even more explicitly.
Winter’s on its way out; it’s time to get a head start on exploring. Guide yourself with our specialized itineraries, or contact one of Toronto’s many tour operators to delve deeper into this multifaceted metropolis. And don’t forget to check out previous Yours to Discover posts, here: Day One, Day Two, Day Three.
MUSEUM SHOWPIECES
Must-see art and artifacts at the city’s preeminent institutions.
Enhance your experience at the Art Gallery of Ontario and Gardiner Museum by joining docent-led collection tours, free with admission. The AGO’s hour-long highlights tour runs daily at 1 p.m., while the Gardiner offers a tour at 2 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The Bata Shoe Museum and the ROM provide guides for groups of 10 and 20 or more visitors, respectively; call in advance to arrange.
Brendan Tang's Manga Ormolu 4.0-b
OCTOBER 7 TO JANUARY 31 The Gardiner Museum continues to pursue its mission of demonstrating that plates and teacups are no longer the ceramic arts’ sole concern. Its current exhibition, Breaking Boundaries, does just that by presenting a variety of sculptural pieces that adapt an age-old art form to contemporary circumstances and perceptions. Featuring works by four young Canadian ceramicists—Shary Boyle, Marc Courtemanche, Carmela Laganse, and Brendan Tang, whose hybrid vessels combine conventional porcelain with Japanese comic-book imagery—the display pushes the limits of the medium itself, as well as the viewer’s imagination.
The Gardiner Museum displays numerous Japanese ceramics, such as this Ko-Imari flask
ON NOW One of the best things about the Gardiner Museum, apart from the sheer breadth and beauty of its collection of functional and decorative ceramics, is the way it so effectively connects these works with the artistic and cultural conventions of a given time and place. Private Pleasures: Japanese Porcelain of the Edo Period is yet another example of this mandate’s fulfillment. The display of over 100 objects from 17th- to 19th- century Japan provides a glimpse into the lives of feudal elites, artists and even geishas through pieces like a Ko-Imari flask, plus related paintings and textiles from the era. Another nifty bit of synergy: the show was realized thanks to the donation of the Macdonald Collection of porcelains, itself the product of a private, pleasurable pastime.
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