Textile Museum of Canada
55 Centre Avenue M5G 2H5 Toronto, ON, Canada

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is back with a Call for Artists and Makers! Submissions are open until March 8. A virtual information session will take place on January 28. Find out more on their website: https://torontooutdoor.art/call-for-artists-toaf60

While the Toronto Public Library's Museum + Art Pass (MAP) program is on hold, they are offering new digital MAP Reading Lists for children and adults! Curated by library staff and inspired by Toronto’s museums and cultural attractions, over a dozen titles are listed under the Textile Museum of Canada! Visit tpl.ca/mapreadinglists to see the lists! Don't have a library card? You can sign up online at tpl.ca/register for the new Digital Access Card, giving you immediate access to all of the library's digital content.

Looking to refresh your mask stash? We have new mask styles in our Shop! We are now offering three new patterns in 3-packs and individually: Plaid 3-pack Mystery Masks Sparkle 3-pack Mystery Masks Lace-front Masks (individually sold)... All of our masks are handmade by our incredible volunteers. Shop the styles at: https://shop.textilemuseum.ca/collections/masks

Our Collections Spotlight today chullos (Peruvian hats) was chosen and authored by our Education Assistant Karina Roman. "There you are again!" That is my initial thought each time I encounter a chullo (ch'ullu in the Quechua language). Whether it be at a museum or on cold day worn by a passerby, its unique design seems to salute me back. This knitted hat with earflaps has definitely found its way around the globe, bringing along some charms of the Andean world. As someo...ne born and raised in Peru, I am familiar with the power of the chullo, a hand-knitted textile, that conveys the cultural identity of a nation. Usually made from alpaca or llama wool (the hat from our collection in the image is sheep's wool), chullos are commonly worn in many Andean regions in South America. Its appeal resides in the geometrical patterns and the combination of colours used, which in the more traditional style tend to be bright. The patterns carry diverse meanings and Andean imagery. Modern versions of this hat have also appeared on haute couture runways. What resonates the most about the chullo is the strong sense of tradition it projects. I cannot think of this hat without thinking of its maker, the Andean weaver in this case knitter. Textile making was highly regarded and valuable in many Indigenous cultures inhabiting what later became The Tawantinsuyo (Inca Empire, 1438-1533), a time when many women were respected for their role as weavers. Knitting techniques were integrated after conquistadores arrived in the region. Since then, wearing Andean garments has a complex history of social and racial struggle. In many communities only men wore chullos, since women wear other traditional head pieces. Luckily the chullo and the talent its makers have made of this hat a practical fashion icon for everyone to wear. T02.12.8 Men knitting chullos in Aacha Alta, Peru Photo by Roxane Shaughnessy, 2002 Women knitting chullos in Chinchero, Peru Photo by Roxane Shaughnessy, 2002

Happening now! https://www.instagram.com/textilemuseumofcanada

Join us and meet other textile enthusiasts on Wednesday December 16, 4-5:30 pm for a FREE online Sustainable Textile Teach-In: Green Gift Wrapping! Make your holiday season a little greener by embracing reusable gift wrapping. Try no-sew wrapping techniques inspired by the Japanese art furoshiki, and learn how to sew your own fabric gift bags. All skill levels and ages are welcome. Class size is limited! Register at https://textilemuseum.ca//sustainable-textile-teach-in-gr/. You will receive an email with the Zoom meeting access link prior to the event.

Due to popular demand we have added more spots for our Online Sustainable Textile Teach In next Wednesday. Join us on January 27, 4-5:30 pm, for a free Online Sustainable Textile Teach In: Knitting through your Stash. Curator of Education Susan Fohr, an avid spinner and knitter, will lead an exploration of what to do with your precious skeins of handspun or local farm yarns. Participants will learn about the characteristics of different natural fibres and yarn construction a...s they knit up swatches in anticipation of future projects. Knitting experience is encouraged. Class size is limited, registration is required. Registration is open at https://textilemuseum.ca//sustainable-textile-teach-in-kn/. You will receive an email with the Zoom meeting access link prior to the event. Sustainable Textile Teach-Ins are generously supported by the Chawkers Foundation.

Thank you to Nooks Lindell for his heartfelt studio tour yesterday afternoon. Over the course of an hour, Nooks brought us into his physical and creative world. Participants went on a tour of his workspace and surroundings at the edge of Arviat, Nunavut, and met his dog Jake the family protector from polar bears. Nooks spoke about his craft, re-learning and teaching Inuktitut to his son, his company Hinaani Design, the life-changing power of making, and life in the hamlet. ...He emphasized the importance of resourcefulness and shared projects, which demonstrate his innovative skills in making art from reclaimed objects. Thank you Nooks for sharing a slice of your life and practice with us so openlywe celebrate you and your achievements! Visit hinaani.ca and stay tuned for more upcoming online programs! Hinaani Design #hinaanidesign #inuk #nunavut #arviat #ulu #uluit #craft #textilemuseumofcanada

Join us Monday December 14 at 2 pm on Instagram Live for ‘Many Tiny Stitches’, the Second Terrific Textile Talk with our Educator in Residence Justice Stacey! Humans have always busied themselves in the creation of marvelous things that consume massive quantities of our labour and materials despite the fact they are not necessary for our physical survival. We want to make things that carry the stories of our spirituality, cultures and lives. Many of our ancestors did this wi...th the art of embroidery, spending immeasurable hours bent over their work, making many tiny stitches. From the richly decorated gowns of the aristocracy, the nervous first stitches of a girl’s needlework sampler to the practical mending techniques of Sashiko, embroidery can teach us valuable lessons about a culture’s values and ideas of womanhood, class, religion and more. As embroidery sees a resurgence in popularity and is increasingly recognized as a significant art form it is the perfect time to discuss it in our second Terrific Textile Talk. These historical embroidery images were chosen by Justice to best represent the themes of the upcoming talk. The Trustees of the British Museum (under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Tomorrow is #AskAConservatorDay! Our conservator Hillary will be featured on our Instagram Stories tomorrow 12 pm answering questions about the care of our collection. Comment below to submit your questions!

The Museum Shop is full of unique holiday ornaments and 3-pack masks for yourself or loved ones. Shop items can be ordered online and are available for delivery or pick-up at the Museum! To guarantee your items are available in time for Christmas, we encourage you to select the pick-up option at checkout. Shop here: https://shop.textilemuseum.ca/collections/holiday-collection #shoplocal #museumshop #merry #ornaments #felt #handmade #masks #textilemuseumofcanada

Today we wish everyone a happy and prosperous Diwali! This boy’s jacket is from Kutch, a district in the state of Gujarat in western India. It’s called a jhuladi, and is a child’s version of the adult male kediyun, a long-sleeved short jacket. It would be worn for special occasions such as festivals (like Diwali!) and marriage celebrations. The small pieces of mirror (called shisha) incorporated into the embroidery are symbolic, suggesting protection. These bits of mirror are... commonly made by glassblowers, who make large silvered glass gloves and then smash them and shape the resulting fragments into circles or triangles for embroidery. Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, and so sparkling mirror embroidery like this feels especially appropriate. This jacket was made in the 20th century of plain woven cotton and synthetic silk, and embellished with silk floss embroidery. From the Opekar/Webster collection, T94.0804. #diwali #india #jhuladi #embroidery #indiantextiles #happydiwali #prosperousdiwali

We’re thrilled to be nominated for NOW Magazine Reader’s Choice for Best Museum Category again this year! Vote NOWhurry, voting is only until October 27! Visit nowtoronto.com > READERS’ CHOICE > ART & BOOKS > BEST MUSEUM to vote. https://nowtoronto.com/rc#/gallery?group=358980

Chag Sameach! Happy Hanukkah! To help us reconnect to the sense of community, resilience, and peace of the season we are looking back to our 2019 exhibition 'Tapestry of Spirit: the Torah Stitch by Stitch Project'. Over eight years, participants from around the world worked to stitch more than 2000 panels of text from the Torah, Gospels, and Qur’an as well as hundreds of illuminations. The Museum is proud to have exhibited the project, and we are thrilled to hear how the stit...ching community has come together to continue the project despite the challenges of 2020. Volunteers are still assembling the panels, now working from their homes to complete the massive project. Under the artistic leadership of Temma Gentles, this breathtaking work showcases the creativity, dedication, and skills of the stitchers as well as the beauty of the texts. We wish everyone a Hanukkah full of light and blessings. Visit the Exhibition page at textilemuseum.ca//tapestry-of-spirit-the-torah-stitch-by-/, and keep up with the ongoing project at https://torahstitchbystitch.org/ #tbt

Join us and meet other textile enthusiasts on Wednesday December 9, 4-5:30 pm for a FREE online Sustainable Textile Teach-In: DIY Holiday Ornaments! Make the holidays more meaningful by creating one-of-a-kind decorations using textiles you have at home. All skill levels and ages are welcome. Class size is limited. You will receive an email with the Zoom meeting access link prior to the event. https://textilemuseum.ca//sustainable-textile-teach-in-di/... Ornaments in photograph courtesy of the Nunavut Development Corporation. #museumsfromhome #diy #holiday #holidayornaments #textileworkshop #workshop

Due to unforeseen circumstances regarding ongoing construction in the garage of our building, the Museum will be closed for visitors today. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you'll be able to visit us at another time. The Museum will reopen on Wednesday at 11:30 am. If you have prebooked tickets for today, a staff member will be calling you shortly to reschedule your visit for a different day. Photo by Darren Rigo

It's World Kindness Day! As we enter an unpredictable winter, we all need each other’s kindness. Alexandria Holm, Curatorial Project Coordinator, is wearing a mask made by our kind, unstoppable, and talented volunteers. These masks are beautiful fashion accessories, but more importantly, when we wear them we feel care, support, and solidarity. Each mask is handmade with unique fabrics, and all proceeds help the Museum succeed through this challenging time. Masks are availabl...e for a suggested donation of $10-15 in our Museum Shop, Front Desk, and Information Desk or by calling 416-599-5321 x 2233 or emailing [email protected]. Thank you to our volunteers, and hats off to everyone making the world a better place through kindness! #masks #ppe #volunteers #volunteerappreciation #worldkindnessday

We are incredibly pleased and excited to share that the Textile Museum of Canada has received the 2020 York Wilson Endowment Award, which funded the acquisition of six pieces from Vancouver-based artist Bev Koski’s 2018 Beaded Sampler Series: Hotel Carpet, The Shining; Striped Robe in Blues c. 1979; My Red Gingham Shirt c. 1979; My Favourite Pantsuit c. 1976; Tie, Barney Miller, c. 1975; Mom’s Dress c. 1971. In her catalogue essay for our 2018-19 exhibition ‘Beads, they’re s...ewn so tight’, guest curator Lisa Myers speaks of how Koski’s practice extends Anishinaabe visual language through a context of materiality: Their titles reveal a narrative of place and time, calling attention to the abstract patterns and colours that surrounded the artist during her childhood in Northern Ontario. Koski isolates abstract and geometric designs from the clothing in family photographs and popular culture, and presents them in a minimalist reduced form. There is humour in her choices of patterns paired with the modernist display strategies of a simple white mat and framing device. Bev Koski is an Anishnabekwe artist who lives in Vancouver. Her home region is Thunder Bay and Lac Seul First Nation in Northwestern Ontario. She has shown her work at the Textile Museum of Canada, Harbourfront Centre, Kamloops Art Gallery, Carleton University Art Gallery, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Gallery 44, and Oakville Galleries. Her work is in many private collections, as well as Carleton University Art Gallery, The Canadian Museum of History, and the Indigenous Art Centre of Canada, and the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. #textilemuseumofcanada Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada

Want to learn more about 'Printed Textiles from Kinngait Studios'? The exhibition traces the evolution and impact of the Kinngait textile printing initiative on Inuit graphic arts and entrepreneurialism, to become a story about Inuit cultural survival and celebration in the 21st century. Join us (virtually) on Tuesday October 6 for a talk on the contemporary Inuit fashion designers featured in the exhibition. Curatorial Project Coordinator Alexandra Holm will be discussing t...he work of @marthakyak of InukChic, @nookslindell of Hinaani Design, and @tarralikduffy of Ugly Fish. Tickets are available on our website: https://textilemuseum.ca//online-presentation-contemporar/ Also new this week - the catalogues for 'Printed Textiles for Kinngait Studios' have arrived and are on sale in our Museum Shop! This 168-page catalogue features essays, interviews and 150 color images for $49.95 + tax. We are working on our getting our online shop up and running but in the meantime, you can contact our shop manager June for shipping options. 416-599-5321 ext. 2233 or [email protected]. . #textilemuseumofcanada #textilemuseum #indigenousfashion #textiles #fashion #kinngaitstudios

Tomorrow is the last day to visit ‘Distant water will not quench a nearby fire’, the artist project developed by Petrina Ng @petrina_ng during her three-month residency at the Museum. Today's post features t-shirt designs by three of her collaborators: Amy Lam, Morris Lum, and Amy Wong. The exhibition guide, including an essay by Amy Lam, is available through our website and within the Museum. This project was developed as part of an umbrella of programming that looks at lega...cies of colonialism both abroad from a diasporic perspective and locally, investigating the Museum's own colonial histories. These conversations will continue to inform the Museum's work, and we look forward to ongoing conversations with Petrina. This program is generously supported by a Seed Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. . Image One: T-shirt design by Amy Lam @amychingyan Image Two: T-shirt design by Morris alum @_morris_lum_ Image Three: T-shirt design by Amy Wong (@amywinghannwong) All for Petrina Ng’s ‘A distant water will not quench a nearby fire’. Photography by Darren Rigo @raidendingo #petrinang #textilemuseumofcanada

Check out our stories to see photographs from @leginknit’s yarn bombing event on October 31 at Queen Street West and Abell Street in Toronto. Legin hosted an incredibly popular @artofcrochetbylegin online workshop in collaboration with the Museum and @BAND in July. #yarnbomb #crochet #textilemuseumofcanada #blackartistsnetworksindialogue #queenstwest #westqueenwest

Interested in learning needle felting? Artist Emily Jan (@emilyjanstudio) will be leading an online needle felting workshop on October 17 at 2pm! Perfect for beginners, participants will learn how to make a small felted sphere as well as miniature figures inspired by the natural world. This is a paid workshop and materials will be mailed to participants. We have just a few spots left; get your tickets here: https://textilemuseum.ca//online-workshop-needle-felting-/ Emily is... a wanderer, naturalist, and collector of objects and experiences. She is guided in her work by the spirit of exploration, kinship, and curiosity. If you missed seeing her work in our 2019 exhibition ‘Wild’ and are in Montreal, her installation 'The World is Bound by Secret Knots' is on now at @ArtMur in Montreal until October 24. . Photo One: Courtesy of Emily Jan Photo Two: ‘The World is Bound by Secret Knots’ install view at @artmur, photo by @therealmikepatten . #EmilyJan #needlefelting #felting #onlineworkshop #textilemuseum #torontomuseum #canadianmuseum See more

Today's the Day! We'll have Sarah Quinton and Roxane Shaughnessy here to answer your questions later on this afternoon. Send us your questions about textiles, curation and museums now!

There is something really incredible about the Textile Museum of Canada being a space that is entirely dedicated to the art of fibreas an artist I consider it a rich place to be. I grew up visiting the museum, and with each visit I grew further in love with the art of textiles, helping me push my practice and keep building my skillset. The museum operates as a space where people can think about the history of textiles, especially in their work with both Indigenous and diasp...oric artists who have ancient textile practices and a history with the land. It’s a space that offers us the opportunity to think through the tough questions about the role of textiles in society today, and the importance it makes in shifting that role in a way that is more wholistic. Jagdeep Raina, in today’s profile on Toronto Life https://torontolife.com//in-conversation-with-artist-jagd/ Pictured: 'Blood Money', 2020. Images courtesy Jagdeep Raina. #jagdeepraina #textilemuseumofcanada #textileart #canadianart Toronto Life

How was your weekend? We are pleased to see a loan from our collection in the ROM’s newest exhibition, ‘The Cloth that Changed the World: India’s Painted and Printed Cottons’, which opened on Saturday September 12. For the first time in 50 years, many of the ROM’s world-renowned Indian chintz textiles and fashions step out of their collection rooms and move into the galleries. While Indian chintz sparked a global fashion craze, the extraordinarily high demand for the cloth ...led to new manufacturing methods, ushering in the Industrial Revolution. The fashions and fabrics on display tell the many fascinating stories of how Indian chintz has connected the world and its revival in the world of fashion today. Sign up for our e-newsletter, The Thread, to receive a promo code for 15% off admission in our October edition. https://textilemuseum.ca/ Ceremonial cloth depicting dancing women or female musicians; made in Western India for the Indonesian market; 15th to 16thcentury; cotton, hand-drawn, mordant dyed, resist-dyed, painted indigo; 500 x 98 cm. From the Opekar/Webster collection, T94.0825. Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada. #textilemuseumofcanada #textilemuseumofcanadachintz #indiantextiles #resistdye #mordant Royal Ontario Museum

With masks becoming a regular addition to our lives, opt for one that doubles as a beautiful accessory while also supporting the Museum! Our volunteers have been making fabric masks in a wide variety of styles and patterns, available for a suggested donation of $10-$15. They’re already washed, ironed, and packaged so you can safely wear them right away or give them as practical gift to someone else. We also have masks for kids, just in time for back-to-school. Masks are avai...lable for purchase without Museum admission any time during our new opening hours. Wednesday: 11:30 am to 7 pm Thursday to Saturday: 10 am to 5:30pm Timed tickets to visit the galleries are available online or over the phone! #fabricmasks #handmade #textiles #wearamask

Next Wednesday, September 16, we will be participating in our first #AskaCurator Day! Do you want to know more about our collection or the wonderful world of curation? Curatorial Director Sarah Quinton and Senior Curator & Manager of Collection Roxane Shaughnessy will be answering your questions in our Instagram and Facebook stories. Ask your questions in the comments below and we'll answer as many as we can on September 16!

Welcome back and thank you to all our members and visitors during our preview period! The Museum is now open to the public, and we couldn’t be more excited. Our two new exhibitions are 'Anna Torma: Permanent Danger' and Petrina Ng’s 'Distant water will not quench a nearby fire.' ' Printed Textiles from Kinngait Studios' is also on view, with extended exhibition dates! While the Museum was closed, we updated our space to make it as safe as possible for our visi...tors and staff. This week our hours are Wednesday to Friday: 11:30 am - 7 pm (last entry at 5:30) and Saturday: 10 am - 5:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm). Pay-What-You-Wish hours are Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 pm, and Saturdays 10-12 am. Starting Wednesday September 9 our hours will be Wednesday: 11:30 am 7pm (last entry at 5:30) and Thursday to Saturday: 10 am 5:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm), Pay-What-You-Wish hours will remain the same. Check out our website for visitor guidelines and to book a timed ticket. Come visit us for a calming escape, beautiful art, and our unique shop. . Image 1: Installation photo of Petrina Ng's 'Distant water will not quench a nearby fire'. T-shirts designed by (L-R): Amy Lam, Serena Lee, Florence Yee. Photo by Darren Rigo. . Image 2: Anna Torma, ‘Dionysia’ (2020); hand embroidery on several layers of transparent silk fabric, silk thread; 105 x 180cm.

This weekend marks the end of summer and a return to school for many people, and it has also traditionally been the closing weekend of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. This is the first year since 1946 that the CNE hasn’t been held on the exhibition grounds, and has instead gone digital. This year is a little different for everyone, but this pennant from our collection is reminding us of past visits and happy long weekends spent with friends and family. What new w...ays are you finding to celebrate traditions and enjoy the changing seasons? Do you have any souvenirs that bring back good memories? We wish everyone a safe and happy return to school over the next few weeks! Stay tuned for more digital programming coming soon. Come visit us in person Wednesday to Saturday; timed tickets and visitor information are available on our website. Pennant; Toronto, Ontario; wool felt, felted, fringed; 55 x 18 cm; T90.0015.

Welcome back and thank you to all our members and visitors during our preview period! The Museum is now open to the public, and we couldn’t be more excited. Our two new exhibitions are 'Anna Torma: Permanent Danger' and Petrina Ng’s 'Distant water will not quench a nearby fire.' ' Printed Textiles from Kinngait Studios' is also on view, with extended exhibition dates! While the Museum was closed, we updated our space to make it as safe as possible for our visi...tors and staff. This week our hours are Wednesday to Friday: 11:30 am - 7 pm (last entry at 5:30) and Saturday: 10 am - 5:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm). Pay-What-You-Wish hours are Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 pm, and Saturdays 10-12 am. Starting Wednesday September 9 our hours will be Wednesday: 11:30 am 7pm (last entry at 5:30) and Thursday to Saturday: 10 am 5:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm), Pay-What-You-Wish hours will remain the same. Check out our website for visitor guidelines and to book a timed ticket. Come visit us for a calming escape, beautiful art, and our unique shop. . Image 1: Installation photo of Petrina Ng's 'Distant water will not quench a nearby fire'. T-shirts designed by (L-R): Amy Lam, Serena Lee, Florence Yee. Photo by Darren Rigo. . Image 2: Anna Torma, ‘Dionysia’ (2020); hand embroidery on several layers of transparent silk fabric, silk thread; 105 x 180cm.

Welcome Karina, we're excited to have you with us!

Take a virtual field trip to the Museum with Humber Galleries!