The Gardiner Museum

Update:
Now there’s this new ticket selling system, it is some what improved but still waste of time.
So people can come here to get a number starting from 11:45, and come back later at 12:30 to buy a ticket. After getting the ticket there’s more waiting, since the class doesn’t begin until 1pm. So to go to this 2 hour pottery class, I will have to waste 1 hour and 15 mins in total loitering. That’s quite a lot of time. The half an hour before and after ticket selling time is too short to do anything. The $ 15 class is only 1 hour and 20 min long, because of the demo and clean up, also sometimes takes a bit longer for the instructors to prepare everything before the class begins. Half a day is gone by the time the class is finished. I get more and more disappointed every time I come here. One of the instructor looked very annoyed every time when I ask her any question. I am a noob so of course I don’t know any of the proper terms, I am just here to learn.

I visited the Gardiner Museum yesterday and it was a really good experience. My friend and I got there with only an hour to check out the museum. We went to the second floor and started browsing around. Then one of the women who work there came over and began giving us a tour on the new exhibit. She told us all about the history of the era including details on their plates, the dessert tables, and what it was like living in that century. It was really interesting and I can definitely see myself going back when I have time to view the entire museum.
This is a great museum that I would like to go back to so I can view it all. I highly recommend it!

I had some high expectations coming to this museum, especially with the many advertisements. Even though some of the china is nice, the museum is not very big. For kids there may not be enough to capture their attention, and for grown ups, there are not enough descriptions of the pieces. Moreover, the entry price is quite high.
I’m sorry to say this, but this place is not exactly my cup of tea… no pun intended.

The Gardiner Museum Stoneware class with Lynn Fisher is the best kept secret in Toronto. Lynn can help you to improve your skills in wheel throwing, clay sculpture, coil, and slab building. If you can dream it, she can help you build it.
I started taking the Stoneware course by Lynn Fisher about 3 years ago because I always wanted to try my hands on the wheel. I did not expect to be hooked on clay. It is just an incredible feeling to make something out of a clump of clay. The studio is bright and spacious. But what I appreciate the most is the instruction and help from Lynn. I am able to throw a large bowl since I first started and I’m still learning. Lynn is very patient and she is open to sharing her knowledge and experience with her students.
I can’t wait to sign up for her next class in the winter.

Visited the museum during Doors Open and the restaurant upstairs during Summerlicious and I had a good experience both times!
During doors open, a lady gave an about half hour tour of the museum and she told some pretty interesting stories. It was pretty interesting even though I’m not really into pottery. The pottery classes downstairs also look really cool if you’re living in the area.
The museum’s upstairs restaurant was $ 15 for Summerlicious, and it was one of the emptiest summerlicious places that I’ve been to, but it was really good. The décor is very classy and the sunlight from the shutters look very nice. View isn’t that great, since you’re on the 3^rd floor and all you see if the ROM, but the waiters give a high class service, and the crème brûlée was really really good.

If you’re looking for something to do in the city other than hit up a mall, walk the streets, club or lounge around in a bar or café, why not visit the walk in pottery classes? Gardiner offers 2hr walk in classes on Wednesdays, Friday and Sundays. You get to play with all the clay you can handle, and there are lots of staff on hand to help you out along the way. You’re completely free to make anything you want without feeling like you’re in ‘pottery making 101′.
Just beware — the costs add up! Consider general admission ($ 12 – 15) + $ 5 (per item) to fire up your creation + $ 5 (per item) to glaze your creation so it’s pretty. If you make one to many… like a cup and a spoon (which I made my first time, and am very proud of might I say), it could run you upwards of $ 25 minimum! But at least you can scream and shout «look what I made!»
I haven’t spent too much time in the gift shop or the rest of the museum, for fear I might break and and therefor have to buy, but from what I’ve starred at from a distance, there are some very nice pieces and great inspiration for your own work. The staff are pretty friendly too!

Did I miss the memo? Apparently Unilocal!distributes large cash prizes and vacation giveaways based on number of reviews. Didn’t actually go to the museum, but did visit the gift shop? Write a review! Didn’t eat at the restaurant, but did have tea at the bar? Write a review! Didn’t go to the park, but heard about it from a friend? Write a review!
Oh well. To each his/​her own. As for the Gardiner Museum it is an awesome museum devoted to one subject-​ceramics.
It is not a large museum, nor does it cover a range of subjects. Here are a few key points…
1. It is a superb introduction to the history of ceramics. Whether you are an expert or beginner, the museum offers approachability and diversity.
2. The staff is friendly and helpful.
3. The collection features ceramics from all over the world, in a variety of subjects.
4. You can spend a short amount of time here and see a lot. This little gem doesn’t demand more than an hour for the casual guest, while offering a treasure trove for the more serious ceramics student or collector.
The Gardiner is definitely worth a visit.

My review is of the shop only as I did not visit the museum collection. I am an avid pottery collector so I was psyched to visit the Gardiner Shop. Wow… what a disappointment. The staff was nice and friendly, but unfortunately, not educated about the artists’ work sold there. Not able to talk about pottery or explain techniques or even pronounce some of the artists names. Selection is small and EXTREMELY overpriced. Don’t get me wrong, i know art is expensive. But the same artists’ pottery is a third less (or in some instances half the price!) at the Burlington Art Centre or the big clay and glass gallery in Waterloo. If you’re a collector, and want local artists’ work in a big selection and a reasonable price – go elsewhere.

I adore ceramics and lived in Toronto for over 10 years without visiting the Gardiner, I rather shamefully admit. But I finally decided to check it out on a recent trip to Toronto with my hubby and was absolutely thrilled with it – what a jewel it truly is! So sad that I waited so long, but so happy I finally went!
It’s a comparatively small museum, housed in a quintessentially Modern three story building, with a delightful café on the third floor – Perfect for a date or a little pre-​shopping or sight-​seeing inspiration as it’s located in the heart of one of Toronto’s most prestigious shopping districts, with easy subway and other transportation access. Someone could take a quick browse in 40 minutes or so and feel fulfilled, but I would suggest an hour for each floor of objects – 2 hours.
As any good museum should, the Gardiner collection covers the full gamut – the whimsical, the strange, the awe-​inspiring and the humorous. It’s offerings range from the very ancient to the very modern (including a wonderful piece by Canadian artist Shary Boyle), and of course also covers the history of ceramics.
The Gardiner also offers daily guided tours and CLASSES! I’m hoping to get back to Toronto sometime in the near future so that I can take a class!
I’d definitely recommend the Gardiner to anyone with a particular interest in ceramics, but also anyone with an interest in history and/​or museums in general. It’s also a lovely place for art or design students to get some inspiration! Truthfully, I’m not so sure that the average child would enjoy it so much however…
Very looking forward to visiting again!

I recently went to a wedding at the Gardiner Museum and was very impressed. The lighting from all the windows was so nice and relaxing. The décor was stunning but not sure it that was outsourced. the service was top notch. Food was WOW. All 5 stars. The only negative was lack of parking but I did find a lot 2 blocks away near Windsor Arms. Considering it’s right in the heart of Toronto that’s not bad.

Due to a particular set of circumstances, I found myself at the Gardiner Museum on a Saturday morning. It’s a 2 story museum (the 3^rd floor has a restaurant, lecture room and a particular exhibit was closed on my visit).
I was pleasantly surprised to see that a Mesoamerican display is on the 1^st floor gallery. It was a nice to see artifacts that speak of my ancestors. Well, ok, there were no Pipiles — seriously, did those people ever create anything of relevance that has been discovered? They had samples of Olmecas, Toltecas, Mayans, Aztecs, and artifacts from the Andean region.
They also have a nice collection of tin-​glazed eartheware of the Majolica.
The Museum has a sizeable collection of English delftware, on both the 1^st and 2^nd floor. I have to admit, it was enjoyable to see that. The 2^nd floor has a modest Japanese Porcelain collection. What struck me the most was the influence of Japanese Kakiemon and Chinese ceramic. The more colourful and ornate the «Asian» ceramics were, they were in fact made in Germany, France, Austria, England. What I thought was a unique Vancouver fever, is a reflection of the Western world’s Asian fetishism dating back to hundreds of years.
There is also a complete chocolate cup and tea cup set kept in its original encasing that Mr. Gardiner bought in London, UK. Very impressive. Although the yellow colour ruins it for me.
The gift shop may be small but it has very beautiful pieces.

This museum is conveniently located just a short walk from the subway and just across from the ROM. A very serene looking space with minimalistic approach.
I was greeted by the staff immediately and was even offered an option to leave my bad with em if I didn’t want to lug it around.
The display area compromises of 3 floors with a basement dedicated to workshops etc. There is even a nice looking café on the 3^rd floor and it looked tempting.
The collection itself is mainly permanent fixtures and a rotating selection. Various time periods and nations are represented in the fix selection. One can easily compare and contrast how various civilizations treated their ceramics and their approach to these works of art.
I was mesmerized by a piece from the Ming Dynasty Alas I can’t afford to have it! Lotto 649 might change that some day :) The lady provided some interesting nuggets of info about that time period.
I would say an hour or so worth to go through this place, more if you are into history or this genre of art.
Word of advice I think this Museum is more for adults than kids.

The Gardiner Museum is one of Toronto’s best kept secrets. What a pleasant surprise when we discovered it.

While I appreciate a large museum, it’s nice sometimes to visit a smaller one, where it’s possible to see everything on view in an hour or so, and without becoming too overwhelmed. The Gardiner has a really beautiful collection of ceramic art, with both a permanent collection and temporary exhibits. There’s reduced admission on Friday evenings, too. Recommended.

Another great place for wedding gifts. The boutique in the front offers a lot of the same artists work as Clay on Harbourd.
The service is great and with a variety of pieces in different colors and styles, everyone would appreciate a nice bowl or serving plate from The Gardiner Museum.

This is a good museum which with a little more gallery space and an expanded display collection (I assume they have loads not on display) could be a great one.
What they do cover is very good, but patchy. Nonetheless if you love ceramics and porcelain you’ll have a ball here. The current permanent displays cover Meso-​American antiquities (mostly Mayan and some amazingly sophisticated); Italian Renaissance Majolica, much of it with exquisite paintings; contemporary ceramic sculpture, varying in quality; Japanese porcelain; European porcelain with an exquisite collection of Meissen and Viennese objects; and early English porcelain. There is an entire floor devoted to special exhibits. The one being presented during my visit dealt with contextualism in Japanese Edo period ceramics by juxtaposing them with other crafts and arts — well done and presented but too few objects given the large space that was available for the exhibit.
If you are looking for classical antiquities (e. g,. Greek vases) or Chinese porcelain, go to the ROM, which has a great collection of both and which I assume is why neither is covered much here. What I would not mind seeing more of, if they had the space and possessed the objects, would be the following:
Islamic ceramics (perhaps the Aga Khan’s collection in the new Islamic museum will fill the slack)
Korean ceramics (I love Korean celadon)
Early Canadian and American porcelain and ceramics
Lomonosov and other Russian porcelain
Indigenous American ceramics from the 19^th century through contemporary
Nonetheless, this is a most enjoyable specialty museum and possesses some objects that are so exquisite they will make you gasp. I had to say my favourite was the adorable little «singerie», an entire porcelain orchestra of monkeys dressed in eighteenth century clothing — perhaps the height of rococco silliness but lots of fun.
Information and signage is quite well presented.
I would probably not bring little boys here (unless they exhibit the signs of growing up into gay men!) but little girls would be delighted with much of this, especially the figurines.

This would be the awesomest museum… if I liked ceramic art. ;) I was drawn in by the large for their ‘Private Pleasures” exhibit, which advertised a peek into the lives of geisha and samurai. The title of this exhibit is definitely much more provocative than the items in the exhibit itself. On the tour, I learned a lot about Edo period ceramics, but not much about the lives of geisha and/​or samurai.
The museum itself is bright and modern, with three floors of exhibits. If you’re into ceramics and porcelain, then you’ll certainly like it. As for me… I’m too much of an uncultured swine to really get into it.

Small museum but nice. Pre-​columbian ceramics are displayed in a useful way — geographically.
The museum guards immediately showed me what to look at when I entered their area. It was startling but useful. I get a feeling everyone who works here is very enthusiastic. I especially enjoyed the special exhibit of Israeli ceramics.

I was so excited to go to the Gardiner Museum for the first time after living in Toronto forever and not really knowing about it. I went with a friend and got the student discount. I thought the museum was wonderfully curated without being overwhelming or too monotonous, however, the collection and space is small and there were NO other visitors other than at the museum shop. Their top floor seemed to have a small temporary exhibit, which was refreshing. I have a feeling that if i came back in a year, most if not all of the stuff would be the same. There is little chance one would spend more than an hour here and I really think this museum is not spectacular to be a stand alone museum. I’d much rather go to the Art Gallery of Ontario or the ROM.

This is a great museum experience. Before walking into this place, I had no knowledge surrounding ceramic art. I may as well have been walking into a building called the Gardiner Museum of Fancy Dishes. Oh how wrong I was. Well, not entirely. I mean they do have the fancy dishes, and lots of them, but they have so much more.
First of all, the exterior of the place catches your eye. It’s a magnificent modern building nestled in between some of the old Toronto architecture from the late 19^th and early 20^th century. The amazing thing is that the museum stands out on its own and yet blends right in with the old architecture. This is very unlike the disaster that we call the Michael Lee Chin Crystal across the street.
The museum itself is bright and inviting. There is a big lobby that lets you find your own way around and each room is filled with different and unexpected treasures. The stuff that impressed me the most was the huge collection of ancient clay effigies of people and animals, some of which dated back to almost 2000 B.C. Other gems are vases painted by Pablo Picasso and a huge collection of modern sculptures, some of which you can’t believe are made entirely form clay.
The second flood takes you up to the fine china and porcelain figures from Europe in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The great thing about the second floor is that there are a couple of big wooden balconies that you can slip out onto and catch a breath of fresh air before continuing up to the third floor. There is also a great restaurant with a cool balcony that looks out onto the side of the ROM. Right now, Jamie Kennedy is working at the Gardiner Museum Resto, so it’s worth the price of admission. The fare is good and not too pricy. It’s a great place to grab a bite before you make your way up to the third floor that holds the work of a modern artist. It’s a great placed to pop into and it’s a hidden gem right in front of our eyes in the heart of the city.