Dorothy Caldwell facts for kids

Dorothy Caldwell (born 1948) is a talented Canadian fibre artist. Fibre art is a type of art that uses natural or synthetic fibres and textiles. Dorothy Caldwell creates amazing abstract wall hangings using fabrics. She uses special techniques like wax-resist (where wax blocks dye), discharge dyeing (removing color), stitching, drawing, and appliqué (adding fabric pieces).

About Dorothy Caldwell

Dorothy Caldwell was born in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, in 1948. In 1972, she moved to Canada and settled in Hastings, Ontario. She even helped start a gallery called Conqueror Worm in Hastings in 1974. This gallery sold handmade crafts.

Her Artistic Journey

Dorothy Caldwell first studied painting at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, earning her degree in 1970. She found new inspiration for her art after seeing an exhibition called "In Praise of Hands" in 1974. This show made her want to try using textile techniques in her artwork.

In 1980, she took part in a special program for fibre artists at the Banff Centre. This experience helped her decide to switch from painting to creating art with textiles.

Exploring the World for Art

Dorothy Caldwell loves to travel to learn about different art forms. In 2007, she received a grant to visit India. There, she studied how women's co-ops worked and learned about a special type of embroidery called Kantha stitching. Her artistic research has also taken her to Japan, Australia, and even the Canadian Arctic!

Exhibitions and Collections

Dorothy Caldwell has shown her art in many places. She was a founding member of Artspace, an artist-run centre, in Peterborough, Ontario, in 1974. She even represented Canada at the World's Fair in Osaka, Japan, in 1991!

Her artwork has been displayed across Canada, the United States, and Australia. You can find her pieces in important art collections, including:

• The Museum of Arts and Design in New York City
• The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec
• The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• The Art Gallery of Peterborough

One of her famous artworks, called "Landstat," was made in the mid-1980s for the Red Deer Arts and Theatre Building at Red Deer College in Alberta.

Dorothy Caldwell's art is represented by several galleries:

• David Kaye Gallery in Toronto
• Mobilia Gallery in Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Snyderman-Works Galleries in Philadelphia

Awards and Recognition

Dorothy Caldwell has received several important awards for her amazing work:

• 1990: She won the Saidye Bronfman Award. This is a very special award given to only one Canadian artist each year. She was also chosen to represent Canada at EXPO 90 in Osaka, Japan.
• 1976: She received an award for her batiked fabric at the "Hand to Hand" National Craft Exhibition.