Lydia Van Pelt

                                                                       

 

Biography

Lydia grew up in Holland before immigrating to Canada where she pursued a career in the visual arts. She spent two years studying drawing, painting, ceramics, and sculpture at Central Technical Art School in Toronto, before going on to the Ontario College of Art, where she was accepted into second year of the Sculpture Installation Program. Three years later, in 1995, Lydia received her diploma, as well as several awards. In addition to a number of selective shows while at OCAD, she has been exhibiting her work in numerous Juried and Group Shows since 1991.

During her time at OCAD Lydia took several courses in Public Art and was encouraged to submit a sculptural proposal to the Toronto Sculpture Garden.

In the year 2000, Lydia entered the Moose-in-the-City competition and was chosen to paint two of the mooses. One of them, called 'Pet-A-Moose', was painted by her and the children of the Central Montessori School in North York. The other Moose, called 'Home-Away-From-Home', was painted with the help of the children of the Ronald MacDonald House in Toronto.

Lydia's interest as an artist has always been in working in community based projects. Over the years she has been involved in projects such as Artbeat in Toronto and has been a board member of Gallery 1313 on Queen Street West, Toronto and a member of the Parkdale Village Arts Collective. She has submitted proposals to Artscape, Oakdale Arts Community, and the Toronto Transit Commission and has written several grant proposals for artists' grants.

Since 1997 Lydia, has been invited to the John Fisher Public School in Toronto as an "Artist in the School" in an effort to engage the Grade 1 and kindergarten children in specialized art projects.

Lydia has worked on the "Get to Work" art project with the Immigrant Culture and Art Association (ICAA). She also teaches visual art, crafts and pottery at the ICAA Professional Art School.