Gardiner Ceramic Art Museum and Exhibition Review

Last week I visited the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, downtown Toronto, to take in the Museum and their latest exhibit Camp Fires: The Queer Baroque, a World Pride themed ceramic art exhibition. I have never been to the Gardiner Museum, as ceramic art brings to mind Royal Doulton figurines, but I was mildly surprised at its collection of very interesting ceramic art and of course the bold Camp Fires exhibit.

Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto and Untitled sculpture by Jun Kaneko, Toronto, Artmatters, Culture, Ontario, Canada, MelaniePs, The Purple Scarf, Camp Fires, Exhibit, Exhibition

The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art opened in 1984 by George and Helen Gardiner to house their ceramic art collection. It was managed by The Royal Ontario Museum but after 1996, it gained its independence. Today it boasts three levels of ceramic art galleries, both permanent collections and special exhibitions, a cafe and bistro, and offers a variety of clay classes for all ages and experience levels.

Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto, Artmatters, Culture, Ontario, Canada, MelaniePs, The Purple Scarf, Camp Fires, Exhibit, Exhibition, Italian Renaissance

Pieces from the Italian Renaissance Gallery

Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto, Artmatters, Culture, Ontario, Canada, MelaniePs, The Purple Scarf, Camp Fires, Exhibit, Exhibition, Mexico, Deity Effigy, funerary Urn

Deity Effigy Funerary Urn, 500-700AD, from Mexico

Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto, Artmatters, Culture, Ontario, Canada, MelaniePs, The Purple Scarf, Camp Fires, Exhibit, Exhibition, Ancient America Gallery

Ancient Americas Gallery

The ground level galleries display the Ancient Americas, Italian Renaissance, and English Delftware collections. The Modern and Contemporary Ceramics are also on display on the ground level. I enjoyed wandering through these galleries, which held some amazing pieces of ceramic art.

Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto, Artmatters, Culture, Ontario, Canada, MelaniePs, The Purple Scarf, Camp Fires, Exhibit, Exhibition, Modern, Contemporary Gallery, Akio Takamori, Youth

Youth, 1990-1 by Akio Takamori

Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto, Artmatters, Culture, Ontario, Canada, MelaniePs, The Purple Scarf, Camp Fires, Exhibit, Exhibition, torso of a young man, Getraud Mohwald, Mith, Doug Jeck

Torso of a Young Man, 1993 by Gertraud Mohwald and Mith, 1994 by Doug Jeck

The second level is home to the Japanese, Chinese, European, and English Porcelain Galleries. These collections were not my favourites, but did have a few pieces that were interesting. The Joy of Collecting exhibit, running until January 11, 2015 is also on this level.

Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto, Artmatters, Culture, Ontario, Canada, MelaniePs, The Purple Scarf, Camp Fires, Exhibit, Exhibition, White Fright, Shary Boyle

White Fright, 2008 by Shary Boyle

Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto, Artmatters, Culture, Ontario, Canada, MelaniePs, The Purple Scarf, Camp Fires, Exhibit, Exhibition, Joy of collection, marc chagall, lovers

Lovers, 1957 by Marc Chagall

The Third Level is where the Camp Fires exhibition and the Gardiner Bistro is located. Camp Fires: The Queer Baroque was a very interesting exhibition and includes 75 ceramic art pieces by three Canadian artists: Leopold L. Foulem, Paul Mathieu, and Richard Millette. Pieces include playfully depicting famous characters in sensual ways, everyday objects taking on a more phallic look, and pieces displaying a strong political or historical message from queer culture. This was a very unique exhibit, and one that I will not soon forget. Camp Fires: The Queer Baroque is running until September 1, 2014.