Knowing Histories, Building Futures

About the Program

Presented in partnership with the Gardiner Museum, Knowing Histories, Building Futures is a beginner-friendly clay making workshop series for community members ages 19 and up. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a series of free online clay workshops offered in person at the Gardiner Museum, 111 Queens Park, Toronto, ON.

Workshops will be facilitated by artist and ceramicist Adam Williams of Clay Space Studio, and will focus on creating works influenced by our shared histories, and inspired by our collective futures. During each workshop, instructor Adam Williams will lead participants through basic clay techniques. Works will then be photographed and showcased online in recognition and celebration of participants’ accomplishments during the program. This program is open to all participants 19 and up, however, space will be prioritized for Black/Afro-diasporic community members.

This program will also feature two live artist talks hosted on Zoom, featuring clay-based artists Christine Nnawuchi and Sharon Norwood, where each artist will discuss their artistic practice with participants, followed by a Q&A period.

Workshop Dates

Health & Safety Practices

Note, workshops will be taking place in-person at the Gardiner Museum. All Public Health guidelines and regulations will be upheld, including:

• Our class sizes have been reduced and the distance between participants at tables and wheels has been increased to allow for physical distancing
• Participants must wear a mask that covers both their noses and mouths at all times during class
• A COVID screening questionnaire must be filled out before each class
• Studios are sanitized between classes
• Hand sanitizer is available for your use

Questions can be directed to Nia Centre at info@niacentre.org

Interested? Register Today

About Adam Williams

Adam Williams is a ceramic artist now living and working in Toronto, Canada, but is originally from Trinidad and Tobago. His functional wares are fairly humble forms with elaborate and dramatic images. Adam’s sculptural work however is all over the place. Most of his time is spent experimenting with miniature forms and occasionally, he carries some of those ideas into larger, finished pieces. Adam has tried to give you a view into these experiments in his Playtime blog.  For Adam, the most meaningful part of his process is where he mix and match ideas with the hope of coming up with new ones. Website

About Christine Nnawuchi

Christine is a self-taught Caledon-based contemporary ceramics artist whose work celebrates the beauty in imperfection, reminiscent of an ancient time. She is inspired by ancient African ideas, cultures and principles. She creates objet d’art with their own tales and history, and endeavours to recreate mythology in a magnificent way.

Christine’s work unearths the work space of an ancient healer and the matriarch of an ancient village. These are the items left behind when your village is ravaged by tribal wars, drought, fire or famine, these are the items left behind when you’re fleeing your community and home. Some pieces are utilitarian, some are adornments, others tools. These white porcelain sculptures are the remnants of the past, ghostlike and bright. They are the contemporary evolution of the instruments of life found within the walls of abandoned ancient homes. Website | Instagram

About the Gardiner Museum

The Gardiner Museum brings together people of all ages and backgrounds through the shared values of creativity, wonder, and community that clay and ceramic traditions inspire. The Museum engages audiences with exhibitions, programs, and hands-on classes, while stewarding a significant permanent collection. The Gardiner Museum interprets historical ceramics to emphasize their relevance today, and champion emerging and established Canadian artists and their role in the broader world. They innovate through clay education, as it brings together the experience of making with a deeper understanding of the art of ceramics. The Gardiner Museum believe in making, looking, and thinking through clay. Website