Craft Awards

Dani Ortman
2015 Award: Helen Frances Gregor Scholarship

Seven years ago, Dani Ortman sat down to a loom for the first time.  It was love at first pass of the shuttle.  With youthful spirit she travels down the woven road, exploring its expansive potential and unearthing the secrets of centuries passed by. Inspired by master weavers who precede her, Dani aspires to follow their footsteps and carry forth the time-honoured craft of handwoven cloth.

Enchanted by geometry and the study of how colour and pattern behave to both please and mystify the eye, Dani uses the poetic language of hand weaving to express visions of ineffable theories. With an evolving consciousness as the light that inspires her process and concept, she combines harmonious patterns with sustainable materials to craft textiles that can be valued for a lifetime. By giving acute attention to each individual thread, Dani seeks to produce a product unparalleled to anything made by machine. In doing so, she brings preciousness back to the commodity of cloth.

www.daniortman.com

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Neon Diamonds Collection
Handwoven on a 4-shaft floor loom in a twill weave. Twill is arranged to give movement through diamond shapes woven into the cloth. Design by Dani Ortman. 100% Organic Cotton

Neon Diamonds (second edition) Collection
Handwoven on a 4-shaft floor loom in a twill weave. Design by Dani Ortman. 100% Organic Cotton

Neon Diamonds (second edition) Collection
Handwoven on a 4-shaft floor loom in a twill weave. A special pallet of colour is carefully arranged to amalgamate into neon hues. Design by Dani Ortman. 100% Organic Cotton

Old Time Rhythms - Weaving Process
Handwoven on a 6-shaft floor loom in a lace weave. An exploration of colour applied to pattern produces cloth reminiscent of classic textiles

Old Time Rhythms Collection
Handwoven on a 6-shaft floor loom in a lace weave. Design by Dani Ortman. 100% Organic Cotton

Dances With Shadows Collection
Handwoven on a 4-shaft floor loom. Colours arranged in alternating sequences give the illusion of depth in cloth through a technique called ‘shadow weave’. Design by Dani Ortman. 100% Organic Cotton

Square Dancing Collection
Handwoven on a 4-shaft floor loom in a shadow weave. Design by Dani Ortman. 100% Organic Cotton

Pin Stripes Collection - Private Commission
Handwoven on a 4-shaft floor loom in a twill weave. Design by Dani Ortman. 100% Mercerized Cotton

Blooming Flower Collection
Handwoven on a 4-shaft floor loom in an advancing twill weave. Design by Dani Ortman. 100% Cotton. Hand dyed with natural dyes

Symmetry (second edition) Collection
Handwoven on an 8-shaft floor loom in a block twill. Design by Dani Ortman. 100% Silk. Hand dyed with natural dyes

Who We Are

Formerly the Ontario Crafts Council, Craft Ontario is a not-for-profit service organization that works to have craft recognized as a valuable part of life. We promote and celebrate professional craft through providing member opportunities, and advocate for craft practice by educating and empowering diverse audiences.