Toronto

Gardiner Museum welcomes first curator of Indigenous ceramics

The Gardiner Museum is about to undergo a massive transformation, and the new space will have a greater focus on Indigenous art. To help oversee the process, the museum has welcomed its first curator of Indigenous ceramics.

Toronto museum will be closed for 4 months, set to undergo massive transformation

Gardiner Museum welcomes first curator of Indigenous ceramics

4 months ago
Duration 2:50
The Gardiner Museum is about to undergo a massive transformation, and the new space will have a greater focus on Indigenous art. Franchesca Hebert-Spence will oversee the narrative and content development of the museum’s new Indigenous gallery space. CBC's Talia Ricci got a tour.

The Gardiner Museum is about to undergo a massive transformation, and the new space will have a greater focus on Indigenous art.

The downtown Toronto museum says its new, ground floor Indigenous gallery will be guided by the principles of access, connectivity and Indigeneity. 

Franchesca Hebert-Spence, the museum's first curator of Indigenous ceramics, will oversee the development of the new space and lead the stewardship of Indigenous collections at the museum.

"I majored in ceramics and it's something that I've been really passionate about," Hebert-Spence said. She says it was the community aspect that really drew her to the art.

The gallery will feature work from local regions, including historical and contemporary pieces. 

"There's been an uptick in beadwork and craft based customary production within Indigenous art," she said. "I am excited to engage critically with artists using clay and to present a snippet of that within the permanent galleries."

The Indigenous gallery space is being designed by architect Chris Cornelius of studio:indigenous, in consultation with the Gardiner's Indigenous Advisory Circle: Mary Anne Barkhouse, Kent Monkman, Andre Morrisseau, Duke Redbird, and Tekaronhiáhkhwa / Santee Smith.

"For a really long time we've had narratives superimposed on Indigenous cultural production by folks who aren't Indigenous," Hebert-Spence said.

"Presenting Indigenous works within galleries through an Indigenous lens is incredibly important, in terms of visual and cultural sovereignty."

Construction will start in July, and the museum will be closed for four months. It will partly re-open in October, with the full renovation set to be complete in fall 2025.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Talia Ricci is a TV, radio and web reporter at CBC Toronto. She enjoys covering offbeat human interest stories and exposing social justice issues. Talia is also an avid traveller and photographer. Her photography has appeared in various publications and exhibits. She lives in Toronto's east end where she enjoys reading and going on long walks to discover the beauty in the city.