Jim lorriman
Craftsman's statement
Well over a decade ago I started making “stick” bowls. These have become my signature pieces. In 2009 I moved away from the bowl shape to that of a vase. Some are tall vertical pieces that show off the fascinating patterns of the branches that I use. This exploration led me to carving some of these vases to either show the inside from the outside, or create a heavy accent on the nature of the sticks. After making several of these pieces I decided that this was taking me away from the way I wanted to show off the nature of wood.
I have always felt that my job is to allow the wood to show its true beauty. If I have practiced my skill well enough, the “WOW” factor comes from the magnificence of the characteristics of the wood.
I also have a fascination with old or historical wood. I recycle and fashion new pieces from wood that has been processed one or more times in its journey. Some of this material is brought to me by customers who want me to create a reminder of memories from their past. Others are pieces of wood that connect us to our common past – trees that were seedlings when Champlain passed by, or were born in a deep dark forest that barely knew the presence of man. Others capture the essence of a single moment – a birthday or a defining event in one's life.
There are three components in making a piece: the customer, the craftsman and the wood. The customer describes to the craftsman what she wants. Sometimes she brings her own wood. The craftsman creates what the customer has described. The wood speaks of its character, or story, or sometimes both. The result is greater than the three amigos. It binds them together and awakens memories for all of them.
Jim Lorriman
October, 2014
I have always felt that my job is to allow the wood to show its true beauty. If I have practiced my skill well enough, the “WOW” factor comes from the magnificence of the characteristics of the wood.
I also have a fascination with old or historical wood. I recycle and fashion new pieces from wood that has been processed one or more times in its journey. Some of this material is brought to me by customers who want me to create a reminder of memories from their past. Others are pieces of wood that connect us to our common past – trees that were seedlings when Champlain passed by, or were born in a deep dark forest that barely knew the presence of man. Others capture the essence of a single moment – a birthday or a defining event in one's life.
There are three components in making a piece: the customer, the craftsman and the wood. The customer describes to the craftsman what she wants. Sometimes she brings her own wood. The craftsman creates what the customer has described. The wood speaks of its character, or story, or sometimes both. The result is greater than the three amigos. It binds them together and awakens memories for all of them.
Jim Lorriman
October, 2014
jim's c.v. (partial)
Recent recognition and participation
Past recognition and participation
- "When a Tree Speaks: A Wood Turner's Interpretation" solo show at the the Canadian Guild of Crafts, Montreal, November 6 to December 6, 2014
- "History in the Making" solo show at the Dufferin County Museum & Archives, September 12 to October 26, 2014
- Participation in the Ojibway Club Art Show, July 25 - 27, 2014
- Juried into the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s Fall Art Sale, October 31 – November 3, 2013
- Juried into the Holiday Treasures show at the Dufferin County Museum & Archives, November 23 - December 8, 2013
- Invited to show my work at Harvest at the Alton Mill, September 11 to October 13th, 2013
- In collaboration with potter Jane Thelwell, headlined Medium and Muse: Wood at the Guild Shop in Toronto, August 12 to September 8, 2013
Past recognition and participation
- Participation in the Annual Made of Wood Show, 2002 - 2013
- Participation in the Ojibway Club Art Show, August 8 through 10, 1999 - 2013.
- One of my pieces was selected to be shown at the Museum of Vancouver 2010 Crafts Exhibition, part of the Cultural Olympiad which took place during the 2010 Olympic Games, January 13 to April 17, 2010 and also shown during the G20 in Toronto, Ontario – June 2010
- Invited to do a Holiday show with glass blower Sam Stang at the Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO., November, 2009
- One of my pieces was selected for the international show, Out of the Box, and received Honourable Mention at the Cheongju International Craft Biennale, September 23 to November 1, 2009
- One of my pieces was selected for the Canadian exhibition, Unity and Diversity , for the Cheongju International Craft Biennale, September 23 to November 1, 2009
- NICHE Award finalist – Woodturning, 2009, 2010 & 2011
- Juried into the “Craft Convergence” show at the Tom Thomson Gallery, Owen Sound, December 7, 2007 to January 27, 2008. Received a design award for my lilac stick bowl titled “The Ayes Have It!”.
- Juried into the “Ontario Craft ‘07” show at the Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, Toronto, November 15 to December 31, 2007
- Past U.S. President Bill Clinton purchased one of my pieces at the Guild Shop in Toronto, June, 2007
- Participation in the Annual Invitational Wood Show at the Guild Shop, 2001 - 2005.
- Participation in the Headwaters Studio Tour, 1991 - 2004
- My work was accepted for the 2000 - 2004 Festival Art Show and Sale which is the marquis event of the Headwaters Arts Festival in the Hills.
- Two pieces were juried into the Disappearing Landscapes – environmental art exhibition & sale, SGI Canada’s Caledon Centre for Cultural and Education in Alton, October 4 – 7, 2002
- Participation in the Turning on Furnishings 2000 exhibition in Toronto, spring, 2000.
- Participation in the Inns and Arts Show at the Millcroft Inn, Alton, spring, 2000 - 2002
- A request to use my pieces in a show called “Anything I Can Do” on WTN shown in the fall of 2001
- My work was accepted for the Spring Rush Show at the Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery, March 3 to April 4, 2002, by the Dufferin Arts Council