Our brand new ROM membership gave us free access to the Textile Museum of Canada this weekend, so we dropped by to learn about this unique museum and ended up joining in on a quick tour!
Home Economics: 150 years of Canadian hooked rugs
The Textile Museum is located right downtown next to Toronto City Hall. It is a fairly small museum featuring two temporary exhibits that show off a few items from their huge collection. When we visited, they had one exhibit on Canadian hooked rugs and another featuring the textile work of artist Lyn Carter.
Just as we arrived, a tour was about to begin so we tagged along to learn a bit more about the exhibits. Our guide began by leading us through the hooked rug exhibit, providing a bit of background information on the history of the tradition in Canada and the craft of hooked rugs, and telling some of the stories that went with some of the rugs.
Just as we arrived, a tour was about to begin so we tagged along to learn a bit more about the exhibits. Our guide began by leading us through the hooked rug exhibit, providing a bit of background information on the history of the tradition in Canada and the craft of hooked rugs, and telling some of the stories that went with some of the rugs.
On tour.
It was a compelling exhibit, because none of the items on display were ever meant for a museum; these ordinary objects made out of necessity were very well-made and were a creative outlet for the women who crafted them. Hooked rugs began as a poor-man’s carpet, made out of scraps of material hooked into old burlap sacks. Over time they grew in sophistication, and became a popular pastime.
One section of the exhibit was even devoted to hooked rugs from Newfoundland, where we learned how British doctor Wilfred Grenfell set up a cottage industry of hooked rugs as a way to generate revenue for the local women. Some (read: many) of the designs he provided for the women featured him and his dog sled setting out on medical adventures around the province and wildlife in general.
One section of the exhibit was even devoted to hooked rugs from Newfoundland, where we learned how British doctor Wilfred Grenfell set up a cottage industry of hooked rugs as a way to generate revenue for the local women. Some (read: many) of the designs he provided for the women featured him and his dog sled setting out on medical adventures around the province and wildlife in general.
Hooked rugs from Newfoundland.
We particularly enjoyed one wall in the exhibit which was decorated with animal-themed rugs. Lots of pet dogs, and crazy looking horses from Québec.
Wall of pet rugs. Including Hypno-Horse.
Once we were all rugged out we headed upstairs to the Lyn Carter exhibit, which featured a number of commissioned works by the artist. While some of the textile-sculptures on display seemed quite basic to our untrained eyes, our guide pointed out the high level of skill required to produce some of the strange 3D shapes before us. The sculptures were all inspired by various textiles from the museum collection, from Peruvian ponchos to Syrian silks, which were also pretty amazing to behold.
Lyn Carter: 11th Line exhibit.
After admiring some pretty cute sock puppets in the gift shop, we decided to take a stroll down to Toronto City Hall - we’ll definitely be back down there at some point to make use of the free skating rink!
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Want to know what we were up to during this festive time last year? We were making Luke's first ever Gingerbread house. And way back in 2013 we were putting our newly made Ugly Sticks to good use in the St. John's Mummer's Parade.
