Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art

Fragments and Fictions
Toronto ON

August 12 to September 5, 2022

Z’otz* Collective was in residence at the Gardiner Museum between July 4–8, to produce ceramic works featured in the Exhibition Hall. The sculptures were presented alongside three pieces from the Ancient Americas collection. A large-scale mural was created in the space from August 12–16. During this time, the Collective collaborated with cellist Emma Schmiedecke, who mirrored the artworks with her vibrant interpretation of classical and contemporary cello.

As part of the Community Arts Space presentation, visitors were invited to participate in a hands-on activity entitled “Drawing with Scissors.” They cut out shapes and forms inspired by what surrounded them and by the Ancient Americas collection. The immediacy of using scissors to “draw” relates to the spontaneous process used by the Collective. The paper forms initiated a conversation between the Collective’s artwork, the Ancient Americas collection, and the visitors to the Museum.

We are grateful to Emma Schmiedecke for her music in this collaborative experiment. We would like to thank Nahed Mansur and Sama Kokabi, and staff at Gardiner Museum.

Thank you, Siobhan Boyd, for creating the spark.

Photos: Brittany Carmichael





Photo: Z'otz* Collective

Photos: Z'otz* Collective