Linda Craddock facts for kids

Linda Craddock (born in 1952) is a Canadian artist who creates visual art. She lives in Calgary, Alberta. Her artwork has been shown in many exhibitions since 1973. She is also known by the names Brock, Edgar, and Green.

Linda Craddock's Early Life and Education

Linda Craddock was born and grew up in Vegreville, Alberta. She studied art at the Alberta College of Art + Design from 1970 to 1974. Later, she earned two special art degrees from the University of Calgary. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) between 1979 and 1981. Then, she completed her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from 1986 to 1988.

In 1987, a very important art museum, the National Gallery of Canada, bought six of Linda Craddock's photographs. These photos became part of the Canadian Photography Institute's collection. This was a big achievement for her early career.

Linda Craddock's Art Career

In 1988, Linda Craddock moved to Vancouver Island with her family. There, she taught photography at a college in Victoria. In 1997, she moved again, this time to one of the quiet Gulf Islands. She used the peaceful, faraway location to think deeply about her art.

While living on the island, Craddock (who was then known as Linda Brock) found that being in a remote place helped her remember her past. She could easily "go back to other times and places." These memories of her life growing up in the Prairies greatly inspired her art. Her exhibition called Awaiting Memories (2003) was a result of these personal reflections.

After living on Pender Island for six years, Linda Craddock returned to Calgary. She became involved with the Calgary Board of Education. She also taught photography at the University of Calgary, sharing her knowledge with new students.

Exploring Memory and Time in Art

Linda Craddock created a series of paintings for an exhibition titled Hometown Dreams: Memory and Change. In these paintings, she explored how memories and time can feel hard to grasp. She looked at her connection to the small towns of rural Alberta. Craddock explained that "None of us live exclusively in the present." She believes that what we think of as "now" is actually a mix of our own experiences and shared memories. This mix, she says, helps define who we are.

Inspiration from Nature

Another exhibition, Levitas, was inspired by Banff National Park. Craddock created paintings that focused on the feeling of levitation, which is like floating. She described this as an experience we have in our dreams. She believes that wanting to feel "free" or to float above the ground is also connected to our spiritual hopes. This feeling can even change how we remember things.

Exhibitions and Collections

Linda Craddock's artwork has been shown across Canada. Her exhibitions have been in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. In 1990, her work was part of a traveling exhibition called Portraits of Women. This exhibition was organized by the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography.

Her art is also part of important collections. These include the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography in Ottawa, Ontario. Her work is also held by the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in Alberta.