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Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft
1950–2026
CSCL·The Craft·M6 — Canadian Master Craftsmen, 1972–73
An Event History · 1972–1973

M6 — Canadian Master Craftsmen, 1972–73

← The Craft · assembled from the Spring 1973 newsletter's own report and its three sketch plates of the pieces shown

The Society's own report of this exhibition, and the three sketch plates that illustrated it, are transcribed here in full from the Spring 1973 newsletter.

“The Canadian Guild of Crafts received last spring an invitation from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education to prepare an exhibition of crafts to run for about seven weeks opening on October 5, 1972 at OISE, 252 Bloor Street W., Toronto.” The Guild decided to honour the prize-winning craftsmen from its six most recent exhibitions — Craft Dimensions 1969, Make 1971, and the Canadian National Exhibitions of 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972 — the six exhibitions of the name “M6.” Invited craftsmen could send their prize-winning piece, or another article of their own choice, and entries were held by the Guild until 1 July 1973 for possible tour arrangements. (Spring 1973, p. 2.)

  • The Canadian Guild of Crafts was invited by the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education to mount the exhibition, opening 5 October 1972 at OISE, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto
  • “M6” stood for Master Craftsmen, 6 Exhibitions: the Guild honoured the prize-winning craftsmen of its six most recent shows — Craft Dimensions 1969, Make 1971, and the Canadian National Exhibition of 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972
  • Invited craftsmen could send their prize-winning piece or another article of their own choosing; entries were held by the Guild until 1 July 1973 for a possible tour
  • The show ran about seven weeks in the library area on OISE's 2nd floor; the opening evening of 6 October was well attended, with refreshments on the 5th floor courtesy of the Royal Trust Company
  • Not every invited craftsman could take part, given the long absence of the work; a tour to Prince Edward Island was arranged afterward, returning the pieces the following July

The exhibition was set up in the library area on the 2nd floor, and an official opening on the evening of Friday, 6 October was well attended, with refreshments served on the 5th floor courtesy of the Royal Trust Company. Except for the large pieces — leather sculpture and hangings — the leather articles were shown in glass-topped cases, and a Guild of Crafts representative attended daily, alongside a demonstration area “constantly in use.” Not every invited craftsman was able to take part, given the long absence of the work from its owner; a tour was afterward arranged from Toronto to Prince Edward Island, returning the pieces the following July. (Spring 1973, p. 2.)

Pen-and-ink sketches of four leathercraft pieces shown at the exhibition, each captioned with a maker's name and title: a reversible handbag (Nan Astley), two small laminated boxes drawn together as one entry (Irva Ford), and two leather sculptures (Rex Lingwood).
Spring 1973, p. 3.
Pen-and-ink sketches continuing the exhibition pieces: a piggy bank (Irva Ford), a barrette and bracelet (Nan Astley), and two hangings, “Jungle” and “Family Tree” (Daphne Lingwood).
Spring 1973, p. 4.
Pen-and-ink sketches concluding the exhibition pieces: a choker (Rex Lingwood), a writing case (Nan Astley), and a coaster set with decanter stand and two purses (Anne Hook).
Spring 1973, p. 5.

None of these twelve pieces carries a placing or a prize name on the plate itself — the exhibition showed past winners’ work again rather than judging it anew.

Written for this archive from the Society's Spring 1973 newsletter, its report and three sketch plates.