Gordon's Guitar

Geordie Lishman, Gordon's Guitar

Gordon's Guitar is an interactive permanent public artwork that commemorates Gordon Lightfoot, one of Canada's most celebrated singer-songwriter's.

About the Artwork

Gordon's Guitar commemorates Gordon Lightfoot (1938-2023), one of Canada's most celebrated singer-songwriters.  This interactive sculpture features a 12-string acoustic guitar modelled after the one Lightfoot played during his live performances and used to write some of his most iconic songs.  The butterfly symbolizes Lightfoot's long-standing relationship with the Mariposa Folk Festival and his passionate dedication to the community.  Reflecting the legacy he leaves behind, this work inspires visitors to gather, play, and share in the joy of music.  

Built in the 1980s, the Steeple Hill neighborhood in which the sculpture resides, features streets named after Lightfoot's songs:  Sundown Crescent, Rainy Day Drive, Cattail Court, Edmund Drive and Lightfoot Place.

About the Artist

Geordie Lishman (b. 1975, Port Perry, Ontario) is a sculptor, painter and educator whose work explores the interconnectedness between nature, imagination, and material exploration.  Raised in a family of artists and innovators, he grew up immersed in creativity, environmental awareness, and experimentation.  These experiences continue to shape his practice through themes of wildlife, growth and transformation.

After completing a degree in Computer Animation at the Vancouver Fil School in 2022, Lishman established his Ajax studio in 2005.  Since 2007, he has taught life drawing, Sculpture, 3-D Studio, Traditional Art Techniques, and Metal Sculpture at Durham College.  His work transforms discarded steel into sculptural forms that reference nature and creative transformation.  Dedicated to sustainability, Lishman sources most of his materials from scrapyards carrying forward a family legacy of creativity coupled with ecological responsibility.