The Gardiner Museum was recently recognized by the Ontario Museum Association (OMA), receiving the Award of Excellence in Exhibitions for Transformation by Fire: Women Overcoming Violence Through Clay.
The culmination of the last 10 years, Transformation by Fire was a ground-breaking exhibition originated by the Gardiner Museum in partnership with the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic. “This landmark exhibition used clay as the medium for storytelling and demonstrated the strength of these women who have provided real life examples grown in the face of adversity. We are very proud of all the women who stepped forward and participated in this project,” said Rachel Gotlieb, Interim Executive Director & Chief Curator.
In addition, Raphael Yu has been selected as the recipient of the 2013 OMA Museum Benefactor Award of Excellence for his instrumental work towards the achievement of the Museum’s mission and vision. Yu recently donated an extraordinary collection of over 300 contemporary Canadian works to the Gardiner Museum, which lead to the establishment of The Raphael Yu Centre of Canadian Ceramics. The Yu Centre’s core activities include the collection, research, publication and exhibition of Canadian ceramics, as well as programs that feature Canadian artists and their work.
Both the Award of Excellence in Exhibitions and Yu’s 2013 OMA Museum Benefactor Award of Excellence, will be presented on November 7, 2013 at the Markham Museum at the OMA Annual Conference.
This is a fantastic honour for the Gardiner Museum! I am humbled and proud to have been one of the women who participated in its inaugural year and was thrilled to have my works chosen to be shown in the retrospective this past February through April. Congratulations to the staff, past & present, at the Gardiner, as well as to Suzanne Thomson and Susan Low-Beer, who facilitated the groups, along with staff from Barbra Shlifer Commemorative Clinic and Sistering, and those who supported this project.