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| - 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 cafe 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!
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