Exhibiting the Architecture of the 20th Century

The Toronto Chapter of the OAA hosted six architectural exhibitions between 1901 and 1912; the first four exhibitions (1901, 1902, 1903, and 1905) organized in partnership with the Toronto Architecture Eighteen Club.(3) The exhibitions were held at various locations in Toronto; the gallery of the Ontario Society of Artists and the Art Museum of Toronto were the most frequently used venues.(4) The first exhibition was held January 26th to February 9th, 1901, at the Ontario Society of Artists’ Gallery on King Street West, Toronto. The exhibition featured 398 items on display, including 255 architectural works by Club members, and the remainder from members of the Architectural League of America.(5) The second exhibition was held from May 19th to May 31st, 1902, at the Ontario Society of Artists’ Gallery on King Street West, Toronto. The exhibition featured 464 items on display including furniture, mural decorations, and monumental sculpture.(6)

The works exhibited at the 1901 and 1902 exhibitions were by both Canadian and American architects. Subsequent discussions within the membership debated whether works by architects from south of the border should be featured so prominently, or whether the exhibitions should be limited to the work of Canadian architects, therefore promoting exclusively local talent. By 1912 the decision was made to move away from exhibiting the work of American architects and the last exhibition being composed of the work of Canadian architects exclusively.(7) Catalogues from these exhibitions contain architects’ drawings, photographs, sketches, and various company advertisements for products and services relevant to the architectural profession at the time. The catalogues from 1901, 1902 and other early year exhibitions are an incredibly valuable record of architectural excellence during this time period.(8) The typical structure of the catalogue included advertisements on the left hand side of a spread and architectural works on the right. The catalogues each have between 150 and 160 pages of black and white photographs and illustrations of architectural works as well as details of interior decoration, sculpture, and stained glass, and the 1909 catalogue of the fifth exhibition included a separate Arts and Crafts section listing potters, plasterers, stain glass artisans, furniture-makers, and decorators. These catalogues were on sale at the exhibition gallery for 25 cents each and available in limited quantities.(9)