Toronto Star
“A patriotic ranking of the most iconic items in the ROM’s new Canadian Modern exhibition” Featuring the homegrown design innovations that put us on the map, By Josh Greenblatt.
Canada is widely known for its breathtaking landscapes, ice hockey and maple syrup (and extreme politeness, of course). But a lesser-known forte is our impact on the history of design. Innovative and prominent Canadian design is all around us, from the clothes we wear to the furniture we use. Canadian Modern, a new exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum, celebrates the country’s indelible contribution by showcasing a collection of 100 limited-edition and mass-produced objects—all made in Canada.
The exhibition casts a wide historical net, looking back on the past six decades of Canadian design. Rather than following a chronological structure, it groups the objects by theme: Modernism and Professionalization; Pop and the Swinging Sixties and Seventies; Of Land, Sea, and Sky; and Post-Modernism and Beyond. The museum also partnered with OCAD University to include six student works and highlight the next generation shaping Canada’s design and craft culture.
Here’s a ranking of some of the most influential and iconic Canadian-crafted pieces, on display until July 30. (…)
The Inn Chair
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Elaine Fortin’s 2011 Punt Chair is an homage to the history and rich culture of Canada’s east coast. The design nods to the punt, a boat used for fishing or transportation between ports in Newfoundland. She also paid tribute to Fogo Island boat builder Don Wells by using the natural curved grain of the juniper harvested on Fogo Island along with a traditional woodworking method to achieve the chair’s dowel joinery. Fortin was one of the international designers commissioned by Fogo Island Inn to create an object that reflected the island’s community. The Punt Chair now features in every room of the inn. (…) »
