Dorothy Caldwell facts for kids

Dorothy Caldwell was born in 1948 and is a Canadian artist. She is known for her amazing art pieces made from fabric. These are often abstract wall hangings, meaning they show shapes and colors rather than real objects. Dorothy uses special techniques like dyeing fabric with wax, removing color, stitching, drawing, and sewing different fabric pieces together.

About Dorothy Caldwell

Dorothy Caldwell was born in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, in 1948. In 1972, she moved to Canada and settled in Hastings, Ontario. Two years later, in 1974, Dorothy helped start a place called Conqueror Worm. This was a gallery and shop in Hastings where people could buy and sell handmade crafts.

Dorothy's Art Journey

Dorothy studied painting at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and finished her studies in 1970. She found new inspiration for her art when she saw an exhibition called "In Praise of Hands" in 1974. This show made her want to try working with textiles, which are fabrics and fibers.

From Painting to Fabric Art

In 1980, Dorothy took part in a special program for fabric artists at the Banff Centre. This experience helped her decide to switch from painting to creating art with textiles. She loved exploring new ways to use fabric in her work.

Traveling for Inspiration

Dorothy has traveled a lot to learn about different art styles and techniques. In 2007, she went to India to study how women's groups worked together and learned about a special type of stitching called Kantha. Her travels have also taken her to Japan, Australia, and even the Canadian Arctic. These trips helped her discover new ideas for her art.

Exhibitions and Collections

Dorothy Caldwell has shown her art in many places. In 1974, she helped create Artspace, an art center in Peterborough, Ontario. Her artwork has been displayed across Canada, the United States, and Australia.

Her pieces are also part of permanent collections in important museums. These include the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in Boston. One special artwork, called "Landstat," was made in the mid-1980s for the Red Deer Arts and Theatre Building in Alberta.

Awards and Special Recognition

Dorothy Caldwell has received several important awards for her art.

Saidye Bronfman Award

In 1990, Dorothy was given the Saidye Bronfman Award. This is a very special award given to only one Canadian artist each year for their amazing work in visual and media arts. She was also nominated for the Governor General's Award.

Other Achievements

• In 1990, she represented Canada at the World's Fair in Osaka, Japan.
• In 1976, she won an award for her batiked fabric at the "Hand to Hand" National Craft Exhibition.