Lauren McPherson

Written by Lauren McPherson for the Society’s sixtieth-anniversary exhibition in 2010, with the artist statements for her two entries. Set out here as typed.

Printed on the page as "LAUREN M'PHERSON", a decorative letterhead styling of the name; given as McPherson throughout, matching the family's spelling elsewhere in the archive.

Biography

In the 1970's Lauren loved playing center field on Port Colborne's city softball team, taking music lessons and participating in arts and crafts. Leather was a fascinating material and intricate gifts she received such as the personalized handmade leather wallet, the suede braided choker, and the handcrafted miniature turtle pin rivaled her own artwork, sewing, quilting and embroidery. Currently employed at a London, ON, home renovation company, she has also worked for her brother's family-owned and operated home health care business manufacturing custom seat cushions made from neoprene, stretch nylon, upholstery fabric, vinyl or leather. From 2004-2007 she donated seven furniture pieces to the Community Living London fundraiser, 'A Chair Affair'. Several woodworkers assisted in the construction of these pieces where Lauren customized an antique wooden chair into an artist easel, furnished two plank benches with custom leather cushions and leather machéd all surfaces of a wooden spindle-leg chair. Her 12" Scarecrow and Vintage Apron received two ribbons in the Western Fair Home Arts Competition (2006). Rivalry and competition aside, Lauren enjoys discovering leather on her own or spontaneously receiving miscellaneous tools and leather from guild members. After making a Lasted Leather Box at the Woodstock Leather Guild Workshop (2007), she became a member of the Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft. On display at the CSCL 60th Anniversary, May 2010, is her six inch quilt square with a palestrina embroidery stitch using a multicoloured waxed thread, another version of her attempts to use multiple applications. In addition to holding the office of Secretary/Treasurer, Woodstock Leather Guild (2007-2010), Lauren has made leather rocks and formed leather animals. As a hobbyist and novice leathercrafter she attended leather workshops covering subjects that include belts, the tendril pin, jewelry and gilding leather. Her entry, Hinged Leather Teardrop-Shape Box contributed to the Woodstock Branch winning the Weston Trophy at the CSCL 59th Annual (2008-2009), Lindsay, ON.

Artist Statement Entry #1

Originally, I set out to make a coil that would hold a Beaver Flats Publishing copy of Highways So Wide, my mother's 23-page booklet of her 50th Wedding Anniversary party. However, covering a wire armature by leather maché turned things around. With WATER COLOUR SKETCH PAD the wire grew thicker and rustic so I turned to the hinged box technique. With a wooden dowel I was able to hinge toward one side. Without a true top or bottom, I spun the coil to find the largest parallel openings to glue a base. A clear button anchors the custom diamond shape pages; perhaps a celebration of the CSCL 60th Anniversary (1950-2010). One can turn the page and sketch a passing scenery, write a memo, or create a diamante poem, all bound by this leather coil hinge.

Artist Statement Entry #2

I first made a traditional hinged box at a CSCL workshop held in Mississauga, ON. Five years later, HINGED LEATHER TEARDROP-SHAPE BOX, was started as an experiment. A rouge dyed, vegetable tanned strap (1.25"x7") looked too small for these same instructions; I reworked the entire method. While solving the function of how a hinge works and the limitations of using such a small piece of 4oz leather, I looked for other materials. The perimeter of the lid became the enlarged outline of an amethyst (a Sudbury, ON, souvenir) allowing overhang for easy lifting. Lastly, the thinnest leather is glued as the bottom lining. When used to hold a tiny treasure this purple gemstone is a gift box.

Condensed Artist Statement

Rivalry and competition aside, Lauren enjoys discovering leather on her own or spontaneously receiving miscellaneous tools and leather from guild members. After making a Lasted Leather Box at the Woodstock Leather Guild Workshop (2007), she became a member of the Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft. On display at the CSCL 60th Anniversary, May 2010, is her six inch quilt square with a palestrina embroidery stitch using a multicoloured waxed thread, another version of her attempts to use multiple applications.

At Leather 2013 — Creative Versatility

For the Society’s 2013 exhibition at the Woodstock Art Gallery, Lauren McPherson supplied the biography below — the same account as above, lightly shortened — and a note on the collar she showed. From the exhibition brochure for Leather 2013 — Creative Versatility.

In the 1970s Lauren loved playing center field on Port Colborne's city softball team, taking music lessons and participating in arts and crafts. Leather was a fascinating material and intricate leather gifts she received, such as the personalized handmade leather wallet, the suede braided choker, and the handcrafted miniature turtle pin, rivaled her own artwork, sewing, quilting and embroidery. Currently employed at a London, ON, home renovation company, she has also worked for her brother's family owned and operated home health care business manufacturing custom seat cushions made from neoprene, stretch nylon, upholstery fabric, vinyl or leather. From 2004-2007 she donated seven furniture pieces to the Community Living London fundraiser, "A Chair Affair". Several woodworkers assisted in the construction of these pieces, where Lauren customized an antique wooden chair into an artist easel, furnished two plank benches with custom leather cushions and leather mache'd all surfaces of a wooden spindle-leg chair. Her 12" Scarecrow and Vintage Apron received two ribbons in the Western Fair Home Arts Competition (2006). Rivalry and competition aside, Lauren enjoys discovering leather on her own or spontaneously receiving miscellaneous tools and leather from guild members. After making a Lasted Leather Box at the Woodstock Leather Guild Workshop (2007), she became a member of the Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft. On display at the CSCL 60th Anniversary, May 2010, was her six inch quilt square with a palestrina embroidery stitch in a multicoloured waxed thread, another version of her attempts to use multiple applications. In addition to holding the office of Secretary/Treasurer, Woodstock Leather Guild (2007-2010), and more recently Director, Executive Council (2010-2012), Lauren has made leather rocks and formed leather animals. As a hobbyist and novice leathercrafter she attended leather workshops covering subjects that include belts, the tendril pin, jewelry, masks, and gilding leather. Her entry, Hinged Leather Teardrop-Shape Box, contributed to the Woodstock Branch winning the Weston Trophy at CSCL's 59th Annual (2008-2009), Lindsay, ON.

The pieces shown.

Dark Blue Sheepskin Collar. As a first-time visitor to a CSCL workshop (masks) in 2008, I was delighted to purchase my first fur, a 4 sq. ft. dark blue dyed sheepskin. My Aunt living in Calgary, AB, once remodeled her fur coat into teddy bears; now the elegance of my fur is fashioned into a wearable garment. Cutting fur, joining pelts, finishing edges, interfacing, lining -- this project has been constructed with changes to Burda Patterns #4203 and reference to "The Vogue Sewing Book" (1975). A simple 15mm snap fastener is the closure and the cotton plaid lining is removable for laundering. The middle layers of interfacing provide a stable collar but it is the furry hide that keeps the wearer very warm. Not for sale.

From the biography and artist statements Lauren McPherson supplied for Leather 2010, preserved as a two-page typescript in the Society’s archive.