Orland Larson

{{Short description|Canadian goldsmith and craft educator (1931–2026)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=December 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox artist | name = Orland M. F. Larson | image = Orland_Larson_-_Jul_5_2020_-_by_Annelise_Larson.jpg | caption = Larson in 2020 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|3|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, Canada | death_date = {{Death date and age|2026|2|18|1931|3|6|df=y}} | death_place = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada | field = Goldsmithing | occupation = Goldsmith, educator }}

'''Orland M. F. Larson''' (6 March 1931 – 18 February 2026) was a Canadian goldsmith, metalsmith and art educator. He played a central role in the development of professional jewellery education in Canada, serving as head of jewellery departments at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and the Alberta College of Art. In addition to his teaching career, Larson held leadership positions in national and international craft organizations, including the Canadian Crafts Council and the World Crafts Council.<ref name="PCH-AAC">{{cite web |title=Artist/Maker name "Larson, Orland" |url=https://app.pch.gc.ca/application/aac-aic/artiste_detailler_bas-artist_detail_bas.app?rID=9391&fID=2&lang=en&qlang=en&pID=1&an=Orland+Larson&ps=50&sort=AM_ASC |website=Government of Canada – Canadian Heritage |access-date=15 December 2025}}</ref>

== Early career in Northern Canada == Prior to his work in post-secondary arts education, Larson worked within the federal school system in the Canadian Arctic. During the mid-1960s, he served as a school principal in Qikiqtarjuaq (then known as Broughton Island). In this capacity, he administered the local day school, which operated within the federal framework of the era that boarded children from surrounding camps in local hostels. <ref name="TRCVol2Larson">{{cite book |author=Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada |title=Canada's Residential Schools: The Inuit and Northern Experience |volume=2 |publisher=McGill-Queen’s University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-7735-4654-7 |url=https://nctr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Volume_2_Inuit_and_Northern_English_Web.pdf |page=159 }}</ref>

== Art education and academic career == Larson played a central role in the development of professional jewellery training in Canada during the 1960s and 1970s. He founded the jewellery program at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD University) in Halifax, serving as the head of the studio until 1977.<ref name="Ganoksin2017">{{cite web |title=History of Contemporary Canadian Jewellery |url=https://www.ganoksin.com/article/history-contemporary-canadian-jewellery/ |website=Ganoksin |date=3 February 2017 |access-date=15 December 2025}}</ref>

Following his tenure in Nova Scotia, Larson moved to Calgary in the early 1980s. He became the head of the Jewellery and Metalsmithing department at the Alberta College of Art (now the Alberta University of the Arts), where he was responsible for reorganizing the department while continuing to teach. <ref name="Ganoksin2017" />

== Craft advocacy and leadership == In addition to his academic work, Larson held significant administrative positions in the craft sector. During the late 1970s, he served as the president of the Canadian Crafts Council. <ref name="Inuktitut1977">{{cite web |title=Inuktitut, Spring 1977 |url=https://www.itk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1977-Spring-InuktitutMagazine-IUCANS-EN.pdf |website=Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami |date=1977 |access-date=15 December 2025}}</ref> His presidency coincided with the launch of ''Artisan '78'', the first national travelling exhibition of contemporary Canadian craft. Larson authored the introduction to the exhibition's catalogue, which defined the project's national scope.<ref name="Artisan78Catalogue">{{cite book |author=Canadian Crafts Council |title=Artisan '78 |publisher=Canadian Crafts Council |year=1978 |isbn=978-0-88980-003-8 |pages=ix–xi }}</ref>

In conjunction with ''Artisan ’78'', the National Gallery of Canada sponsored Larson to conduct a cross-country speaking tour regarding the standards of contemporary craft. This tour was part of the "Norah McCullough Lecture Series on Craft," established to honour McCullough's contributions to the gallery.<ref name="Alfoldy2005">{{cite book |last=Alfoldy |first=Sandra |title=Crafting Identity: The Development of Professional Fine Craft in Canada |publisher=UBC Press |year=2005 |url=https://dokumen.pub/crafting-identity-the-development-of-professional-fine-craft-in-canada-9780773572645.html |isbn=9780773528604 |pages=125, 202–203 }}</ref>

Larson also engaged in international advocacy, serving as the vice-president (North America) for the World Crafts Council <ref name="DCA1984">{{cite web |title=Craft bulletin |url=https://craftarchive.ca/files/original/3620b303131f6d141ead1be4a0a0d3b544448251.pdf |website=Digital Craft Archive |date=February 1984 |access-date=15 December 2025 }}</ref> and was a founding member and vice president of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.<ref name="ContemporaryJewellery">{{cite web |title=Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) |url=https://hedendaagsesieraden.nl/2024/11/29/society-of-north-american-goldsmiths-snag/ |website=Hedenaagse Sieraden |date=29 November 2024 |access-date=5 February 2026}}</ref>

== Death == Larson died on 18 February 2026, at the age of 94.<ref>{{cite web|title=Orland Martin Francis Larson (obituary)|website=Martens Warman Funeral Home|publisher=Martens Warman Funeral Home|url=https://www.martenswarman.ca/obituaries/orland-larson|access-date=2026-02-27|date=2026-02-18}}</ref>

== Recognition == Larson was cited in historical surveys of the field, such as ''Ornament and Object: Canadian Jewellery and Metal Art, 1946–1996''<ref name="Barros1997">{{cite book |last=Barros |first=Anne |title=Ornament and Object: Canadian Jewellery and Metal Art, 1946–1996 |publisher=Boston Mills Press |year=1997 |isbn=1-55046-218-0 |location=Erin, Ontario}}</ref> and ''Head, Heart & Hands: Craftspeople in Nova Scotia'',<ref name="LotzHHH">{{cite book |last=Lotz |first=Jim |title=Head, Heart & Hands: Craftspeople in Nova Scotia |publisher=Braemar Publishing |location=Halifax |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-921565-00-0 |pages=125–127 }}</ref> as a key figure in the professionalization of Canadian studio craft and the development of its educational infrastructure. His professional status was further noted in reference texts including the 16th edition of ''Who’s Who in American Art'' <ref name="WhosWhoAmericanArt16">{{cite book |editor=Jacques Cattell Press |title=Who's Who in American Art |edition=16th |publisher=R. R. Bowker Co. |year=1984 |isbn=0-8352-1878-3 |page=537 }}</ref> and as a member in good standing of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Members in Good Standing — March 21, 2024 |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ab673acaf2096105eaa2f14/t/65fc2e6bb8e03314598476fe/1711025771435/MEMBERS+IN+GOOD+STANDING+MARCH+21+2024+_+MEMBRES+EN+RE%CC%80GLE+21+MARS+2024.pdf |website=Royal Canadian Academy of Arts |publisher=Royal Canadian Academy of Arts |date=21 March 2024 |access-date=13 January 2026 |format=PDF |language=en }}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://app.pch.gc.ca/application/aac-aic/artiste_detailler_bas-artist_detail_bas.app?rID=9391&fID=2&lang=en&qlang=en&pID=1&an=Orland+Larson&ps=50&sort=AM_ASC Government of Canada Artist/Maker database]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larson, Orland}} Category:1931 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Canadian metalsmiths Category:Canadian art educators