Laurie Swim
biography |
portfolio | artists listing
b. 1949, Lockeport, Nova Scotia, Canada
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
City of Toronto Art Collection, Toronto, ON
Ontario Workers Art and Heritage Museum, Hamilton, ON
American Craft Museum, New York, NY
City of Toronto Art Collection, Toronto, ON.
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2007 At The End Of The Day, Solo Show, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Museum of Industry, Community Art Works by Laurie Swim,
Stellarton, NS
Teachers’ Perspective, Group Show, CQA Conference, Ottawa, ON
Breaking Ground The Hogg’s Hollow Disaster 1960, Pier 21, Halifax, NS
2005 Featured Artist, Fiber Art Group Show, Osprey Theatre, Shelburne, NS
30 Quilts by 12 Canadian Artists, Yokohomo and Sendai, Japan
Solo Show, Women’s Art Association Gallery, Toronto, ON
2004 Solo Show, Post Office Center, Lunenburg, NS
Small Works for Small Spaces, Juried Exhibition, Ayer Lofts Gallery
Lowell, MA
The Ontario Juried Show, Waterloo Quilt Festival, ON
2003-04 Solo Show, Women’s Art Association Gallery, Toronto, ON
2002 Six Continents of Quilts, UBS Paine Webber Gallery, New York, NY
Celebration of Quilts V11, Viewers Choice Award, York Heritage
Quilters Guild
Solo Show, Granite Club Kitchener, Waterloo County Quilt Festival, ON
2001 John B. Aird Gallery, Annual Group Show, Ontario Artists Association,
Toronto
2000 Course of Action: Images of Community Art in Progress, The Market
Gallery, City of Toronto Gallery, Toronto, ON
1999 City-wide Canvas - Selections from the City of Toronto Art Collection,
The Market Gallery, St. Lawrence Market, Toronto, ON
1998–2000 Nova Scotia Homestead, Traveling Juried Exhibition, Canadian
Contemporary Quilts, Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2005 "The Making of an Art Quilt Gallery Studio," Art Quilt Associates
Newsletter, autumn
"Inspired by the Sea," The Canadian Quilter, Canadian Quilt
Association, summer
2000 "Breaking Ground," The Canadian Quilter, Canadian Quilt
Association, autumn
1996 "Pointillist Quilting," Threads Magazine, Taunton Press, fall
1991 Swim, Laurie, Quilting, Friedman Publishers, New York
1984 Swim, Laurie, The Joy of Quilting, Viking Canada Publishing
SELECTED PUBLIC & CORPORATE COMMISSIONS
2005 Icons of the Nova Scotia South Shore, South Shore Tourist Assoc., Banner
2002 I Too Shall Wear Purple…., 48” x 36”, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Guelph, ON
1993-94 Earth, Water, Fire and Air, four works each 3' x 10', for showroom of
Kingston Nissan, Gardiners Road, Kingston, ON
1990 Perelandra, 3' x 8', site specific Work for Chapel of Kingston General
Hospital, Kingston, ON
1988 IMAX Camera, 6’ x 8’, site specific Work for Board Room, Imax-
Omnimax Corporation
Manitoba Afternoon, 4' x 14', Frieson Printers, Altona, MB
1987 Heritage, Organisation, Community and Personal, 4' x 9' each,
collaboration with employees; Co-operators Data Services Ltd.
Mississauga, ON
1984 Clairol Canada, Toronto, Fabric depiction of Clairol Logo
1983 Circuity, 5' x 10', Hudson's Bay Company, reception area, Toronto, ON
1982 Sunburst, 10' x 6', Toronto Sun, boardroom. Toronto, ON
1981 St. Michael and the Dragon, 5' x 27", St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto
1980 Cognisance, 6' x 14, Ryder Machinery, reception area, Etobicoke, ON
Prairie Dawn, 8' x 6', Scotiabank, banking hall, Lethbridge, AB
1979 Sheep Look Up, 7' x 5', Scotiabank, banking hall, Sudbury, ON
1978 Equinox, 4' x 64', Scotiabank, Yonge and St.Clair Branch, Toronto
ABOUT THE ARTIST
“I have been alive for a long time and I do not have exaggerated expectations. I was
astonished and deeply affected when I saw her Eve’s Apple,” said Alex Colville, in his
Introduction to Laurie’s first book, The Joy of Quilting. Laurie Swim is a visual artist and
author whose works grace many public and private collections, including The American
Craft Museum in New York and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax. In 2003, the
Ontario Arts Council awarded her a Chalmers Arts Fellowship.
Laurie moved to Toronto in 1978 from Nova Scotia and established herself as a
commissioned artist, specializing in large-scale site-specific works. Her clients included
the Bank of Nova Scotia, IMAX Corp. and the Hudson Bay Company, as well as
individual collectors.
The Joy of Quilting with an Introduction by Alex Colville, was published by Viking
Canada in 1984. The book, in subsequent hardcover and paperback editions, was also
published in the U.S. and Britain and the Commonwealth. Quilting, Friedman
Publishers, New York, 1991, was also published in many countries.
Having moved to Kingston, Ontario in 1989, Laurie started working with volunteers to
create community built quilted murals such as Pulling Together, Builders of the Rideau
Canal 1826-32 (9' x 15') in 1995. Its image was used as a symbol for the 1997 United
Way Campaign in Kingston. This Work is now part the Workers Heritage Museum
Permanent Collection in Hamilton, Ont.
Having moved back to Toronto in 1998, Laurie created York is History, 5’ x 5’, a quilt
commemorating York’s amalgamation with Toronto. It was done in collaboration with
the George Syme Senior Centre and the local Historical Societies, now is part of the City
of Toronto Permanent Art Collection.
In 2000, in partnership with COSTI Immigrant Services, Laurie initiated Breaking
Ground, The Hogg's Hollow Memorial, 1960, 7’ by 20’, in remembrance of five young
Italian immigrants killed in a tunnel explosion that led to changes in safety regulations in
Ontario, and ultimately in Canadian society. Breaking Ground was installed March 17,
2006 in the York Mills and Yonge subway station, very near the site of the accident.
Laurie returned to her home town of Lockeport, N.S. during the summer of 2000, to
create a memorial art quilt, Lost at Sea, 10’ x 10’, to commemorate 17 fishermen who
perished in 1961. This Millennium art project is on permanent display at the Crescent
Beach Centre in Lockeport.
The Canadian Young Workers Memorial Quilt, 9’ x 18’, honoring 100 young workers
killed on the job, completed in 2003, was made over three years with the help of dozens
of volunteers from communities across Canada.
In summer, 2003, she created, again with volunteers from the community, The Lunenburg
Heritage Quilt, 8’ x 9’ to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of
Lunenburg, NS.
In 2003 and 2004 Laurie mounted a Solo Show in Toronto at the Women’s Art
Association Gallery.
Laurie Swim and her husband now live in Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia. Recently, she was
appointed to the Nova Scotia Arts & Culture Partnership Council. In spring 2005, she
founded the Art Quilt gallery of the Atlantic in Lunenburg, N.S.
In February 2006, her Breaking Ground was exhibited at Pier 21 in Halifax. In May,
2006 her workshops and two of her major Works were featured of the Canadian Quilters
Conference in Ottawa.
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
City of Toronto Art Collection, Toronto, ON
Ontario Workers Art and Heritage Museum, Hamilton, ON
American Craft Museum, New York, NY
City of Toronto Art Collection, Toronto, ON.
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2007 At The End Of The Day, Solo Show, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Museum of Industry, Community Art Works by Laurie Swim,
Stellarton, NS
Teachers’ Perspective, Group Show, CQA Conference, Ottawa, ON
Breaking Ground The Hogg’s Hollow Disaster 1960, Pier 21, Halifax, NS
2005 Featured Artist, Fiber Art Group Show, Osprey Theatre, Shelburne, NS
30 Quilts by 12 Canadian Artists, Yokohomo and Sendai, Japan
Solo Show, Women’s Art Association Gallery, Toronto, ON
2004 Solo Show, Post Office Center, Lunenburg, NS
Small Works for Small Spaces, Juried Exhibition, Ayer Lofts Gallery
Lowell, MA
The Ontario Juried Show, Waterloo Quilt Festival, ON
2003-04 Solo Show, Women’s Art Association Gallery, Toronto, ON
2002 Six Continents of Quilts, UBS Paine Webber Gallery, New York, NY
Celebration of Quilts V11, Viewers Choice Award, York Heritage
Quilters Guild
Solo Show, Granite Club Kitchener, Waterloo County Quilt Festival, ON
2001 John B. Aird Gallery, Annual Group Show, Ontario Artists Association,
Toronto
2000 Course of Action: Images of Community Art in Progress, The Market
Gallery, City of Toronto Gallery, Toronto, ON
1999 City-wide Canvas - Selections from the City of Toronto Art Collection,
The Market Gallery, St. Lawrence Market, Toronto, ON
1998–2000 Nova Scotia Homestead, Traveling Juried Exhibition, Canadian
Contemporary Quilts, Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2005 "The Making of an Art Quilt Gallery Studio," Art Quilt Associates
Newsletter, autumn
"Inspired by the Sea," The Canadian Quilter, Canadian Quilt
Association, summer
2000 "Breaking Ground," The Canadian Quilter, Canadian Quilt
Association, autumn
1996 "Pointillist Quilting," Threads Magazine, Taunton Press, fall
1991 Swim, Laurie, Quilting, Friedman Publishers, New York
1984 Swim, Laurie, The Joy of Quilting, Viking Canada Publishing
SELECTED PUBLIC & CORPORATE COMMISSIONS
2005 Icons of the Nova Scotia South Shore, South Shore Tourist Assoc., Banner
2002 I Too Shall Wear Purple…., 48” x 36”, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Guelph, ON
1993-94 Earth, Water, Fire and Air, four works each 3' x 10', for showroom of
Kingston Nissan, Gardiners Road, Kingston, ON
1990 Perelandra, 3' x 8', site specific Work for Chapel of Kingston General
Hospital, Kingston, ON
1988 IMAX Camera, 6’ x 8’, site specific Work for Board Room, Imax-
Omnimax Corporation
Manitoba Afternoon, 4' x 14', Frieson Printers, Altona, MB
1987 Heritage, Organisation, Community and Personal, 4' x 9' each,
collaboration with employees; Co-operators Data Services Ltd.
Mississauga, ON
1984 Clairol Canada, Toronto, Fabric depiction of Clairol Logo
1983 Circuity, 5' x 10', Hudson's Bay Company, reception area, Toronto, ON
1982 Sunburst, 10' x 6', Toronto Sun, boardroom. Toronto, ON
1981 St. Michael and the Dragon, 5' x 27", St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto
1980 Cognisance, 6' x 14, Ryder Machinery, reception area, Etobicoke, ON
Prairie Dawn, 8' x 6', Scotiabank, banking hall, Lethbridge, AB
1979 Sheep Look Up, 7' x 5', Scotiabank, banking hall, Sudbury, ON
1978 Equinox, 4' x 64', Scotiabank, Yonge and St.Clair Branch, Toronto
ABOUT THE ARTIST
“I have been alive for a long time and I do not have exaggerated expectations. I was
astonished and deeply affected when I saw her Eve’s Apple,” said Alex Colville, in his
Introduction to Laurie’s first book, The Joy of Quilting. Laurie Swim is a visual artist and
author whose works grace many public and private collections, including The American
Craft Museum in New York and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax. In 2003, the
Ontario Arts Council awarded her a Chalmers Arts Fellowship.
Laurie moved to Toronto in 1978 from Nova Scotia and established herself as a
commissioned artist, specializing in large-scale site-specific works. Her clients included
the Bank of Nova Scotia, IMAX Corp. and the Hudson Bay Company, as well as
individual collectors.
The Joy of Quilting with an Introduction by Alex Colville, was published by Viking
Canada in 1984. The book, in subsequent hardcover and paperback editions, was also
published in the U.S. and Britain and the Commonwealth. Quilting, Friedman
Publishers, New York, 1991, was also published in many countries.
Having moved to Kingston, Ontario in 1989, Laurie started working with volunteers to
create community built quilted murals such as Pulling Together, Builders of the Rideau
Canal 1826-32 (9' x 15') in 1995. Its image was used as a symbol for the 1997 United
Way Campaign in Kingston. This Work is now part the Workers Heritage Museum
Permanent Collection in Hamilton, Ont.
Having moved back to Toronto in 1998, Laurie created York is History, 5’ x 5’, a quilt
commemorating York’s amalgamation with Toronto. It was done in collaboration with
the George Syme Senior Centre and the local Historical Societies, now is part of the City
of Toronto Permanent Art Collection.
In 2000, in partnership with COSTI Immigrant Services, Laurie initiated Breaking
Ground, The Hogg's Hollow Memorial, 1960, 7’ by 20’, in remembrance of five young
Italian immigrants killed in a tunnel explosion that led to changes in safety regulations in
Ontario, and ultimately in Canadian society. Breaking Ground was installed March 17,
2006 in the York Mills and Yonge subway station, very near the site of the accident.
Laurie returned to her home town of Lockeport, N.S. during the summer of 2000, to
create a memorial art quilt, Lost at Sea, 10’ x 10’, to commemorate 17 fishermen who
perished in 1961. This Millennium art project is on permanent display at the Crescent
Beach Centre in Lockeport.
The Canadian Young Workers Memorial Quilt, 9’ x 18’, honoring 100 young workers
killed on the job, completed in 2003, was made over three years with the help of dozens
of volunteers from communities across Canada.
In summer, 2003, she created, again with volunteers from the community, The Lunenburg
Heritage Quilt, 8’ x 9’ to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of
Lunenburg, NS.
In 2003 and 2004 Laurie mounted a Solo Show in Toronto at the Women’s Art
Association Gallery.
Laurie Swim and her husband now live in Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia. Recently, she was
appointed to the Nova Scotia Arts & Culture Partnership Council. In spring 2005, she
founded the Art Quilt gallery of the Atlantic in Lunenburg, N.S.
In February 2006, her Breaking Ground was exhibited at Pier 21 in Halifax. In May,
2006 her workshops and two of her major Works were featured of the Canadian Quilters
Conference in Ottawa.