Within this post, I will talk about two exhibit experiences we had on a Saturday in January – Retail Retrospective at the Toronto Reference Library and Made by Many at the Textile Museum of Canada. In both cases, the exhibits reference and discuss past exhibits.
I love a meta exhibit!
TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference library
Background
The TD Gallery originally opened at the Toronto Reference in 1997 (TPL Press Release 2012). I struggled to find information on the gallery’s development because it is not mentioned in most content on the building’s history. For example, the Toronto Public library’s history for the Reference Library only mentions the reopening of the gallery in 2012).
Although I found limited information on the Gallery’s development, its purpose is clearly articulated. The 2003 Toronto Public Library Annual Report notes: “TD Gallery exhibits at our flagship branch,Toronto Reference Library, are our way of giving the people of Toronto a taste of some of the exciting special collections they might otherwise never know about” (17). Later reports continue to emphasize the Gallery’s role in bringing attention to special collections.
These special collections include bags collected in 1966 for an exhibit on design – “Art of the Shopping Bag.” “Retail Retrospective” featured these bags in the TD Gallery from October 11, 2025 to January 11, 2026. Notably, the exhibit received significant media attention and an increase in visitation for the library. Like over 50% of visitors (City Librarian’s Report for 2026), I went to the TD Gallery for the first time to see the Retail Retrospective. I am very happy that I did!
Reflection
The Retail Retrospective aimed to make Torontonians feel nostalgic about shopping bags and Toronto stores that no longer exist.
We had fun being nostalgic, reminiscing about Honest Eds and beautiful designs.
The exhibit did not simply evoke nostalgia. The Library included sub themes of relevance to our current context. For example, one section discussed the “Ontario Trade Crusade” in 1962 when governments encouraged people to buy goods manufactured in Canada and Ontario. The exhibit connected the trade crusade to the present in the section panel by using the language we see today to encourage the same activity – that is, shop local. The section on libraries included both vintage and contemporary totes.
These connections encourage viewers to reflect on the contemporary context and political climate. Reflection is key to exhibits aiming to invoke nostalgia. Without reflection, nostalgic exhibits risk encouraging visitors to idealize conceptions of the past that didn’t really exist. Connection to the present and / or specific issues allow the viewers to get a fun nostalgic feeling while also providing opportunities to think more critically.
After visiting the exhibition, I wanted to look at a book but quickly realized there were more things to see at the library. There are mini exhibits that are not advertised and sprinkled throughout. Retail Retrospective was incredibly successful as a draw to encourage me to come to the space and keep coming back to see what has changed.
Textile Museum of Canada
Background
After visiting the Retail Retrospective at the Toronto Reference Library, we had some time to waste. So, we got a last minute free library pass to check out the Textile Museum of Canada, which opened as the Canadian Museum of Carpets in 1975. The Museum has some historic images and a timeline available on their website here.
We visited two exhibits – Taking Shape: Recent Acquisitions (on from October 30, 2025 to August 1, 2026) and Made by Many: 50 Years of the Textile Museum of Canada (on from October 30, 2025 to September 1, 2026). There was a third exhibition, but it was not for us and we did not engage with that space. I had already seen the exhibit (as well as the two I revisited) when I attended the Made by Many exhibit opening.
If you like learning about museum history, I recommend attending the exhibit and also watching the lovely video below, which includes interviews from those involved in the Museum’s development. The video is fantastic as it provides information on the administrative aspects in their history (e.g., the influence of funding), which interests me.
Reflection
I have posted extensively on Instagram about my love of meta exhibitions generally and the ones at the Textile Museum of Canada specifically.
The Made by Many exhibition showcases institutional priorities over time with thematic panels. They showcased past exhibits and their collections as examples of the continued evolution of the museum.
Interestingly, the Taking Shape exhibit showcasing recent acquisitions was in the space in front of and beside the Made by Many exhibit. The history exhibit then started with the more recent past and ended with the origins before opening to the Museum’s amazing store, subverting my expectations.
The orientation from present to past surprised me. The path showed the ways the Museum’s approach has been consistent with different eras of development adding to their work rather than changing it per se. It seemed to show that the Museum has grown while maintaining their core objectives and orientation toward community.
I imagine members of their community find this exhibit a delightfully nostalgic experience. Personally, I loved their small display of images and documents outside the exhibit. The museum nerd in me wants to learn more about the admin and funding!
Questions
Are there other meta exhibits (or youtube videos!) that I should check out?
What is the role of nostalgia in exhibits?
Museoception 