Geordie Lishman
| Geordie Lishman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975 Port Perry, Ontario, Canada |
| 🏫 Education | Vancouver Film School |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Sculpture, Kinetic art, Painting |
| Notable work | The Running Man, Spirit of Pickering, True Power |
Search Geordie Lishman on Amazon.
Geordie Lishman (born 1975) is a Canadian sculptor, painter, and educator based in Ajax, Ontario. He is the son of renowned inventor and "Father Goose" Bill Lishman and fashion designer Paula Lishman. Trained from birth as his father's successor, his father, Bill Lishman, is the primary inspiration for the 1996 film Fly Away Home.[1]
Early life and apprenticeship
Lishman was raised at "Purple Hill," a famous earth-integrated home in Port Perry, Ontario. Immersed in his father's workshop from childhood, he was trained in metal fabrication, aviation, and biological engineering. In the early 1990s, he served as a key crew member for "Operation Migration," assisting his father in conducting the first aircraft-led migrations of Canada geese. During the production of the film Fly Away Home (1996), Lishman worked as a technical consultant and bird wrangler, training the geese used in the film.[1]
Lishman attended the Vancouver Film School, graduating in 2002 with a degree in Computer Animation. He subsequently established a professional metalworking studio in Ajax, Ontario, focusing on monumental public art.
Career
Lishman's artistic style is defined by the use of recycled industrial metals and "found objects." His works frequently incorporate kinetic elements, gears, and chimes, intended to encourage physical interaction from the public. Since 2007, he has been a member of the faculty at Durham College, teaching courses in sculpture and life drawing.
Notable public works
Ajax
- The Running Man (2020): A kinetic sculpture located at the Ajax Community Centre that features moving parts to symbolize health and human movement.[2]
- Communitree (2012): A stainless steel tree at the intersection of Taunton and Salem Roads featuring faces that represent the cultural diversity of the Durham Region.[2]
- The Rock People: A series of gabion-style wire mesh figures filled with river rock, located at the Audley Recreation Centre.[2]
Pickering
- Gordon’s Guitar (2025): An interactive 12-string acoustic guitar sculpture in Ernie Stroud Park commemorating musician Gordon Lightfoot.[3][4]
- Spirit of Pickering (2020): A permanent installation of four interactive sculptures in Esplanade Park titled Gather, Inspire, Live, and Work.[5]
Oshawa
- True Power (2011): A 4.1-metre (13.5 ft) high stainless steel horse sculpture installed as a permanent landmark at Ontario Tech University.
Legacy
Following the death of his father in 2017, Geordie Lishman was commissioned to design and construct the official Bill Lishman Memorial. The 23-foot tall sculpture, slated for the Port Perry waterfront, depicts Bill Lishman in flight alongside Canada geese, serving as a tribute to the family's contribution to Canadian art and aviation.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Family and Associates - William Lishman". William Lishman Artist. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Public Art Monuments and Memorials". Town of Ajax. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ↑ Mitchell, Don (2024-09-05). "Music icon Gordon Lightfoot to be honoured with Geordie Lishman sculpture". INdurham.
- ↑ "Gordon's Guitar". City of Pickering. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ↑ "Spirit of Pickering - Gather, Inspire, Live and Work". City of Pickering. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
External links
This article "Geordie Lishman" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Geordie Lishman. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
