Jump to content

Rita Winkler (artist)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rita Winkler
Born
Rita Winkler

1987 (age 36–37)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Alma materDrewry Secondary School
Known forAn artist with Down syndrome
Notable workMy Art, My World
Parents
  • Jay Winkler - deceased (father)
  • Helen Winkler, nee Jundler (mother)
RelativesLeora Winkler, Rachel Winkler (sisters) - Mark Winkler, Lawrence Winkler, Sam Jundler (uncles)
Websitewww.ritawinkler.art

Rita Winkler (born 1987) is a Canadian artist who is known for her paintings and artbook, My Art, My World.[1][2]

Biography

[edit]

Rita Winkler was born in 1987 with Down syndrome in Calgary, Alberta.[3] She attended Drewry Secondary School where she learnt sign language.[4][5] Later, she went to DANI, an organization which is helping people with disabilities, where she participated in their stage productions and wrote their newsletters.[5][4] At DANI, she discovered her passion for art.[4]

After the death of her father due to cancer in 2002, her family moved to Toronto, Ontario in 2003.[5] There, Rita began a life that included folk dancing, yoga, signing, and painting.[6][5] As a folk dancer, she used to perform dance until COVID-19 pandemic at Prosserman Jewish Community Centre with her mother, Helen, who also taught a course called Move N'Mingle at the center. Nowadays, she performs a dance with her mother for Jake's Jam every Sunday.[5]

In the past few years, Rita flourished as an artist, painting how she sees life through her own eyes.[7] Alongside creating paintings, she also likes to paint birthday cakes and create birthday cards.[5]

During the pandemic, she took classes at L'Arche London and learnt watercolor painting.[4]

In 2021, a publishing company approached her family, and with the help of her mother, Helen Winkler, and her uncle, Mark Winkler, from New York, they co-authored an educational picture book entitled, My Art, My World.[8][9] The book shows how she views her life through paintings and teaches inclusion.[10][9] The book received positive reviews, including a star in Kirkus Reviews.[11]

Rita is also a member of the Ontario Folk Dance Association.[12]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Winkler, Rita; Winkler, Helen; Winkler, Mark (2021). My Art, My World

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Canton, Jeffrey (November 19, 2021). "Kids' books gift guide: Find new ways for young readers to explore the world". The Globe and Mail.
  2. ^ "My Art, My World". CBC Books. September 2, 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  3. ^ "41 Canadian picture books to watch for in fall 2021". CBC Books. September 2, 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  4. ^ a b c d Zebak, Orly (April 11, 2021). "The unbridled joy in Rita Winkler's world and art".
  5. ^ a b c d e f "'My Art, My World' is a riveting read". Kenora Miner and News.
  6. ^ "My Art, My World | CBC Books". CBC News. 2021-09-02. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03.
  7. ^ "My Art, My World: A book by Rita Winkler". Global News. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  8. ^ Winkler, Rita (March 2, 2021). My Art, My World. Second Story Press. OCLC 1269275079 – via Open WorldCat.
  9. ^ a b "My Art, My World". Canadian Review of Materials.
  10. ^ "Rita Winkler on seeing the world through her artwork – Breakfast Television".
  11. ^ "MY ART, MY WORLD". Kirkus Reviews.
  12. ^ "Party! Party! Party!" (PDF). Folk Dancer Online. The Ontario Folk Dance Association. April 2015. p. 5.
[edit]