Gardiner Museum

Medieval Gargoyles

Available for education groups of all levels

CARVED IN STONE: MEDIEVAL GARGOYLES

Explore the life and architecture of the Middle Ages through a video presentation and class discussion. Carved in Stone, a video created for the Gardiner Museum, introduces students to medieval themes used in European cathedrals and in local Toronto architecture built in revival styles.

A student discussion of the video will be followed by a hands-on clay workshop led by a professional ceramic artist. Here students will create gargoyles out of clay. The gargoyles can be fired in kilns for later pickup or can be transported back to school by the students on the visit day.

A full day program is an exciting option for this theme. A full day will include a talk and medieval music demonstration by Mike Franklin, a talented musicologist, who will also conduct a walking tour of the nearby architecture of the University of Toronto (weather permitting). During the walking tour students will have the opportunity to sketch some of the gargoyles they see, as inpiration for their afternoon clay workshop.

This program is recommended for those studying medieval history in grades 4 through 6, but can be adapted for higher grades including university level.