Textile Museum of Canada

I visited here for the first time yesterday. They evidently have a large permanent collection, though only one piece was on display from it. The remainder of the space was devoted to two excellent special exhibits, one of photos of Frida Kahlo with Mexican clothing resembling what she wore in them (unfortunately, they did not display the originals) and another, actually more interesting, on textile design by 20^th century artists including not only Picasso but some seemingly unlikely ones like Andy Warhol (dress with purple and green watermelons) and Sol Steinberg (New York cartoon style prints). The admission is a bit pricey at $ 15 and I might not have gone if I did not happen to have a freebie, which I did (they do have free hours on Wednesday evening).
I would like to see this museum expand so they could show changing selections from their permanent collection along with two special exhibits simultaneously. While well curated, it is a bit small for the admission price.
Excellent (but not cheap) gift shop with hand made textiles and lots of books on textile crafts. Somewhat unprepossessing location in high-​rise building on a short side street.

This is a splendid small museum — attractively laid out, and a friendly staff. (the day I was there, an exhibit was due to open the next day, of patchwork quilts, but I was invited to take a look around it anyway). There’s a weaving loom to try your hand at too. May not be particularly Canadian, but it features a great range of textiles and exhibits. When you go looking for it: the building looks like an office from the outside, and the ticket area is like a small movie house box office on the ground floor. This museum was so enjoyable it’s encouraged me to look up textile museums when I travel to different cities. Applied arts rule!

Geez. I love museums, and am still really wanting to love this one. Maybe I can help you out before your visit…
1. As the Textile Museum of Canada, there are very few examples of Canadian textile work in the entire place. I saw one antique needlework piece amongst Indian and Chinese displays, as well as some modern Canadian clothing.
2. Go here in the calendar middle of exhibits or when you know all the space is open. I caught the end of the Guatemala exhibit on the 3^rd floor, while the new second floor exhibit was still being installed. This meant that about a full 40% of the small museum space was closed.
3. The textiles that are displayed are great, but there are many gaps. Don’t expect much in the way of great rugs from Anywhere or Canadian anything.
I laud the fact that such a museum exists, but it does fall a bit short.

The building is unlike one expects for a museum.
Just a simple nondescript building that resembles an office tower on a tiny scale. The entrance is minuscule and then its an option to take the bland stairway or the elevator up the floors. The display area is decent with a small shop that has interesting items for sale especially if you are into those sort of things like hats, caps from all over the world.
There were two collections on display when I visited, Shine and the legendary Marimekko. A friend of mine is a collector and ardent fan of Marimekko (read all her stuff is mainly from this designer) so we were there mainly for that exhibit. The display area isn’t very well laid out and is more like a confusing circular area with a nook here and there.
There is good display space but other than that meh I have seen private galleries that have a better setup.
Now being in textiles in another life I thought I know a thing or two about this industry but I learned a few things on this visit.
All said and done with an ardent fan in tow I would say 1 hour max. With a steep entrance fee and poor opening hours I would say if you are really inclined to visit come on a Wednesday between 5 – 8 (only day its open late) when its pay what you like.
3 star for the Marimekko exhibit with 2 stars for the actual space.

There’s a Marimekko exhibit on now, so if you’re at all interested in mid-​century-​modern Scandinavian fashion, go go go! Admission isn’t cheap, but the exhibit is well put together and the subject matter is fascinating.
It’s so hard to treat the place like a museum, though – with textiles, most of my appreciation is tactile rather than visual, so it was really hard remembering to keep my hands off the walls. Part of the permanent collection includes a hands-​on «Fibrespace», though, and I went crazy pawing everything I could in there. They even have weaving looms that you can try out – lots of interactive fun!
The permanent collection and the gift shop encompass a large selection of fibre arts, including quilting, knitting, weaving, sewing, felting, and screenprinting, so everyone can find something they’ll appreciate.

A small niche museum, suitable for children, as there is a learning based interactive section. Despite having an above average interest in textiles, I don’t think it is worth the $ 15 adult admission. Pwyc Wed evenings is a good option and I believe they participate in Museum Day and Doors Open in May (free admission.)
Some exhibits are lacking in curatorial information, while others seem rather flaky. It was not busy during both of my visits, so we were able to browse freely, at our own pace. There are tours and speaker events, but I have not attended any.
However, I do enjoy their annual More Than Just a Yardage Sale, where you can find lots of interesting sewing and craft related items at very reasonable prices. The sale is well attended and merits an extra ½ star, bringing the overall rating to 2.5 stars.

The Textile Museum of Canada is a cool little place to check out. It’s not a day trip, by any means, as it is very small and does not house a huge collection. The presentation is very basic as well. At first glance it may just look like a bunch of blankets pinned to the wall, and it could defiantly be argued that this is exactly all this place is.
The museum never lies to you though and it never comes across as trying to be something that it is not. It’s a little museum that focuses entirely on fabric art.
As for the collection itself, it covers a broad range in terms of the geographic locations and different eras of time from which these fabrics originate.
The other interesting thing about this museum is that while they have different floors, each with a different focus, the collection is kind of mixed together. What this does is present a nice synthesis between the varieties of materials. It’s one of the only museums that I have been to that conflates the work from different times and places together instead of having you walk through sections that are specifically and individually designated for American, Asian, European art, etc. Having said that, they do have pieces that range from Cashmere, India right through to old American, Midwest Patchwork Quilts.
Now I will readily admit, I don’t have an acute knowledge or specific interest in textile art and I had no exposure or knowledge of it before I went to this small museum but that’s one reason why we go to museums and I can safely say that I left this place having learned something new.
The other thing about this place is that it is just up the street and around the corner from the AGO and kind of hidden away beside a condo.
The one drawback for this place would be that the admission fee is a little steep for what they offer, but Wednesday nights are pay what you can and are well worth it.
If you are just walking the neighbourhood or going to the AGO, a quick visit to the Textile Museum of Canada would compliment the day nicely.

A very nice little museum. The permanent collection that they display is not exactly enormous, it’s more of a tiny taste from a wide variety of cultures. If you have a specific interest, they probably have one piece related to it. If you just want to see a wide variety of interesting textiles, you’ll love it.
The interactive room for the kids (and adults!) is great, but when I visited one of the adults was a bit confused where the interactive zone ended and climbed inside one of the display kimonos on the wall! Apparently «do not touch» means «unless you’re special.» I hate people who think they’re special.

It’s hard to get away from cliches like «best-​kept secret» when talking about the Textile Museum. It’s tucked away on a downtown side street (when’s the last time you walked down Centre Avenue, despite its name?) and doesn’t have a noticeable advertising budget.
Yet, it’s a gem. It’s a beautiful place, obviously well cared for by the staff and well supported by some invisible stream of funding; they ain’t doing this on the admissions prices. There’s a permanent collection of beautiful pieces from around the world with an art gallery meets anthropology gallery feel, and a large space for changing exhibitions. I usually check the latter to make sure it’s something I’m interested in before I go.
There’s also a Discovery-​Gallery-​type hands on area for kids (though I like it, too), where they can feel different fibres, play games, try to use a drop spindle, things like that. The staff is friendly and attentive.
I have to say a word for the gift shop: oooooooooh. They have a gorgeous selection of textile-​based gifts by artists, and a wonderful selection of books covering subjects as diverse as Japanese embroidery and DIY textile dying using native plants and trees.
I’d say that an interest in fibre arts (sewing, weaving, knitting, crocheting, dying, spinning, etc.) helps, but isn’t necessary for an appreciation of this fine museum.