Gardiner Museum and Canada’s National Ballet School present TENSIONS
An art party featuring unexpected pairings, exciting new works & experiences

Friday, June 19, 2015

Toronto, ON June 5, 2015—The Gardiner Museum Young Patrons Circle (YPC) and Canada’s National Ballet School’s (NBS) First Position Patrons (FPP) present dance and the visual arts in one unmissable party, celebrating the launch of the Gardiner’s new YPC and NBS’ Creative Challenge.

Taking TENSIONS as its theme, this new art party embraces juxtapositions, and celebrates synergy between opposing elements—the athleticism of dance amid the fragility of ceramics, local flavours in unique pairings, and emerging artists working afresh within established traditions. Party-goers will discover multi-sensory experiences that will surprise and inspire, all within the intimate setting of the Museum.

TENSIONS also celebrates the opening of the RBC Emerging Artist People’s Choice Award, the Gardiner’s featured summer exhibition showcasing the work of five rising stars of the ceramics world vying for the $10,000 top prize.

“TENSIONS plays upon the timelessness of the Gardiner collection and the originality of emerging talent.” says Michael Liebrock, Co-Chair of the Gardiner Museum Young Patrons Circle. “With performances and installations animating the Museum inside and out, the YPC’s inaugural party will be full of the audacious and unexpected.”

Canada’s National Ballet School’s 2015 Creative Challenge will present two captivating new works choreographed by innovative dancers in the School’s Professional Ballet Program. NBS’ Creative Challenge inspires the next generation of dance artists to be inventive, collaborate across disciplines, and perform new works in non-traditional settings. This year’s Creative Challenge, titled Museum Suite, encourages students to creatively use museum spaces, such as the Gardiner, to tell a story.

“Just as the Creative Challenge encourages dancers to collaborate with other art forms, TENSIONS is the perfect opportunity for two budding arts collectives to come together to celebrate and support great artists,” says Jen McCain, NBS’ First Position Patrons Chair.

TENSIONS – MORE DETAILS:

FOOD & DRINK The juxtaposition of visual art and dance will be mirrored by unique flavour pairings offered up by culinary innovators Food Dudes (founded by top chefs Matt Blondin and Adrian Niman), with brews courtesy of maverick microbrewery Double Trouble Brewing Co., wines from the award-winning biodynamic Niagara vineyard, Southbrook, and original cocktails.

MUSIC & ART The Museum will continue to come alive late into the evening with a video installation by Michael Vickers, Oliver Pauk, and Stephanie Flowers of AKIN Collective, and music by Bellosound.

FYI TENSIONS kicks off a series of Friday night events at the Gardiner (June 19-July 26) in partnership with some of the city’s most vibrant cultural fixtures, including TIFF, Wavelength, TO Jazz Fest, The Afiara Quartet, The Writer’s Trust of Canada, Summerworks Theatre Festival, and MYOpera.

TENSIONS
LAUNCH PARTY
Friday, June 19
Starting at 6 pm
Tickets: $75 general; $100 VIP (includes designated access to the YPC-hosted VIP lounge, with special cuisine and beverage offerings)For more information and to purchase tickets, visit livetest.gardinermuseum.on.ca/event/tensions

ABOUT THE GARDINER MUSEUM
Located in the heart of Toronto at 111 Queen’s Park Crescent, the Gardiner Museum is Canada’s only ceramics museum, and one of the world’s great specialty museums. The Gardiner is committed to making a contribution to the medium of ceramics, as well as the community it serves, and is an inviting destination that inspires and connects people, art and ideas through clay. The Gardiner’s permanent collection comprises several extraordinary collections from sophisticated, dedicated collectors, making it one of the most significant centres of ceramics in North America. The breadth of the Museum’s holdings include pottery from the Ancient Americas, rare examples of Meissen, Du Paquier and Chelsea porcelain, Chinese blue and white porcelain, Japanese and Japanese-inspired porcelain, to contemporary ceramics—including an exceptional donation from contemporary ceramics collector, Raphael Yu. For more information, details on exhibitions, events, workshops, clay classes, and more, please visit: livetest.gardinermuseum.com.

ABOUT CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL
Established in 1959, Canada’s National Ballet School is a world leader in the training of professional dancers and teachers. Dedicated to moving the world by teaching and celebrating dance, NBS is committed to promoting the art of dance through community initiatives, as well as offering recreational and professional programs. NBS alumni can be found as dancers, teachers, choreographers and artistic directors in over 80 dance companies and schools around the globe. For more information, please visit: www.nbs-enb.ca.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Rachel Weiner
Communications and Volunteer Assistant
Gardiner Museum
416.408.5062
[email protected]

Danielle Paroyan
Senior Communications Officer
Canada’s National Ballet School
416 964 3780 x 2117
[email protected]