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John Jordan

John Jordan

(1950-2023) born in Cane Ridge, lived in Nashville
Pecan Spiral, 2001
pecan, 10 x 12 x 10 inches, 2003.112.5

Self-taught woodturner and teacher, Jordan was known for producing one of a kind turned and carved textured wooden vessels. He often traveled internationally giving demonstrations, lectures, and workshops for woodturning groups, universities and craft schools throughout the United States, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom. He was the author of numerous articles as has as produced three woodturning videos.

Jordan was featured in nearly every major turning exhibition the past thirty years.  His work has received numerous awards, and is in the permanent collections of many museums and corporations, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the American Craft Museum in New York City, the White House in Washington, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Mint Museum of Craft + Design in Charlotte, the Fine Arts Museum in Boston, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the Detroit Institute of the Arts and the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England.

I am inspired by many natural things – trees, rock formations, coral reefs – since all of these things exhibit pattern, texture etc. Ethnic objects such as pots, weavings and baskets are interesting to me as well, along with much contemporary craft and art.  – Jordan