Lelde Alida Kalmite
708-369-2355
EXHIBITIONS
Governors State University (University Park, IL), “Vistas”, March 9 – April 6, 2018
McCord Gallery and Cultural Center (Palos Park, IL), ”Migration of the Line – Drawings and Paintings by Lelde
Kalmite”, September 11 – October 16, 2017 (solo)
Bridgeport Art Center (Chicago, IL), “Curators Create”, May 19 – July 7, 2-17
Ferguson Art Gallery, Concordia University Chicago, (River Forest, IL), “Shadows, Fires and Thresholds: Imaginary
Landscapes by Lelde Kalmite”, January 9 – February 19, 2017 (solo)
World Center for Latvian Art (Cesis Latvia), “The Kalmite Story”, May 28 – October 31, 2016 (two-person)
Printworks Gallery (Chicago, IL), “Another Iliad” – collaborative work with Carol Harmel, February 19-
March 26, 2016
Lewis University (Romeoville, IL), “Anxious Images – Imaginary Landscapes by Lelde Kalmite”,
January, 2015 (solo)
Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College(Naperville, IL), “Breaking Criminal Traditions”,
February - April, 2015
Art on Armitage Gallery (Chicago, IL), ”Burning Earth” October 1 – 31, 2014 (solo)
Fermilab Art Gallery (Batavia, IL), “Foundations of Drawing”, May 10-July 8, 2013
Latvian National Museum of Art, Arsenals Hall (Riga, Latvia), “Latvian Art in Exile”, May 9 – July
28, 2013
Bridgeport Art Center (Chicago, IL), “Apparitions and Constructions”, May 5 - June 3, 2012
Klinklava Gallery (Three Rivers, MI), June 2011 (solo)
Global Society for Latvian Art traveling show “Diaspora Art Returns”, 17 Regional Latvian
Museums and Riga, 2008 – 2011
Ventura Artists’ Union Gallery (Ventura, CA), “Small Treasures”, 2008
Valmiera Regional Museum (Valmiera, Latvia), 2007 (two person)
Evanston Art Center (Evanston, IL), staff exhibition, 2004
Beverly Arts Center (Chicago, IL) 1995 (solo)
Moraine Valley Community College (Palos Hills, IL) Faculty Show, 1994
Skiltera Museum (Riga, Latvia), 1993 (two person)
Limbazi Student Center (Limbazi, Latvia), 1993 (two person)
Governor’s State University (University Park, IL), Community College Faculty Show, 1989
Beverly Arts Center (Chicago, IL), 1989 (solo)
Ciurlionis Gallery, Lithuanian Museum (Chicago, IL), 1986
Inaugural Exhibition, State of Illinois Center Gallery (Chicago, IL), “Collection Artists Select”
(selected by Ruth Duckworth), 1985
Art Affair Gallery (Rockford, IL), 1978
Gallery 1134 (Chicago, IL), “Critics’ Choice” (chosen by Harold Hayden), 1976
Bergman Gallery, University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), 1974 (solo)
Wabash Transit Gallery (Chicago, IL), “Women Choose Women” (chosen by Vera Klement), 1973
Hyde Park Bank & Trust Company (Chicago, IL), 1973 (solo)
Hyde Park Art Center (Chicago, IL), 1973 (two-person)
EXPERIENCE
CURATORIAL
Curator, Bridgeport Art Center (Chicago, IL), 2012 – present
Guest Juror, Water Street Studios Winter Show, Batavia, IL, 2013
Curator for Permanent Collection, Global Society for Latvian Art, 2008 - present
ADMINISTRATIVE & FUNDRAISING
Director of Development and Public Relations, Evanston Art Center (Evanston, IL), 2004 - 2007. Responsible for public information, annual campaign, special events, grant writing and fundraising. Doubled annual campaign income and increased grants, including first NEA grant award for the organization.
Executive Director, John G. Blank (now Jack & Shirley Lubeznik) Center for the Arts (Michigan City, IN), 2001 - 2004. Responsible for exhibitions and educational programming, outreach, fundraising and community relations. Developed collaborative program with LaPorte County agency that resulted in $500,000 grant for new building and environmental education through art programs.
Artistic/Executive Director, Beverly Arts Center (Chicago, IL), 1995 - 1999. Responsible for exhibitions, educational programs, performing arts, grants, fundraising, and all other administrative functions. Instrumental in securing $3.5 million grant from state for new facility.
TEACHING
Graduate Theological Foundation (Donaldson, IN), weeklong intensive seminars
The Aesthetics of Human Presence, 1996
Icons & Images, 1995
DePaul University (Chicago, IL), 1992-93
Learning through the Arts
Critical & Creative Thinking
Student Teacher Supervisor
Rosary College (now Dominican University - River Forest, IL), 1992
Art Methods for Education Majors
The University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN), 1990-91
Survey of Art Activities
Coordinator of Post-Baccalaureate Program in Art Education
Student Teacher Supervisor
Moraine Valley Community College (Palos Hills, IL), 1989-90 and 1992
Painting & Drawing
Color Theory
Art History Survey
Humanities Survey
Art Appreciation
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Education, University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN), 1995. Dissertation: A Comparative Analysis of Conceptions of Art in Studio Art and K-12 Art Education, World War II to 1990
State of Illinois Teaching Certificate (secondary art), Saint Xavier University (Chicago, IL), 1989
MFA, the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), 1973; BFA, the University of Chicago, 1968
PUBLICATIONS/PAPERS PRESENTED
The Globalization of Contemporary Art. Lecture presented at the Latvian National Museum of Art
Conference on Latvian Art in Exile, Riga, Latvia, July 9, 2013.
Contemporary Art in Chicago & History of Chicago Latvian Immigrant Artists. Lectures presented at
the Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga, Latvia, June 2012.
Catalogue essay for traveling exhibition “Artist in Exile- Latvian Refugee Art, 1944-1950”, 2010.
Professional Training of the Artist: Historical Overview (1991) inProceedings of the 5th Annual National Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists. New York: School of Visual Arts.
Conceptions of Art in Studio Art and Art Education, World War II to 1990. National Art Education Association Conference, Houston, Texas, April 18, 1995.
Issues of Assessment and Free Expression at John Dewey’s University of Chicago Laboratory Schools as Reflected in the Work of Jessie Todd. NAEA Conference, San Francisco, CA, 1996.
The Icon-Image Relationship in Western Religious Art as a Model for Understanding Modern Art. Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, Indiana, December 9, 1996.
“I don’t know much about art, but. . .” a regular column about art topics in The News Dispatch, of Michigan City, IN, 2001-2003.
AWARDS/HONORS
The Eglitis/Janelsina Foundation artist award, 2007 ($20,000)
March of Dimes “Mission in Motion” award for service to the children of LaPorte County, Indiana by increasing their exposure to arts and culture, 2003
Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, for developing a summer art program that taught children respect for the environment through creation of a large-scale public art project, 2003
Getty Center for Education in the Arts, 1994 Doctoral Fellowship in Art Education ($12,500)
The University of Minnesota: Coffman Memorial Scholarship, 1989; teaching assistantships, 1989-90; tuition scholarship, 1991
Saint Xavier University, Sisters of Mercy Scholarship, 1989
The University of Chicago, full tuition scholarships, 4 years undergraduate & 1year graduate study
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Member, peer review panel for the Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) of the Cultural Grants Division of the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, 2004
Member, Project Advisory Panel to select art for Brainerd Branch of the Chicago Public Library, a program of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, 2000
Member, Illinois Arts Council Multi-Arts Advisory Panel, 1997, 1998, 1999
Officer, Northeast Council, Illinois Art Education Association, 1996-97
Consultant, Beverly Area Planning Association Annenberg Challenge focus group for the arts (addressing issues of art curriculum, resources and teacher isolation), 1997
Panel member, Saint Xavier University Conference on Educating the Whole Child, 1996
VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN THE BALTIC COMMUNITY
Founding Director and Board President, Global Society for Latvian Art, a non-profit dedicated to studying and preserving Latvian 20th century diaspora artworks, 2004 - present. Responsible for nonprofit incorporation, program development, fund-raising and public information. Initiated partnership with the City of Cesis, Latvia, to establish a World Center for Latvian Art.
Member, planning committee for 11th Latvian Song Festival (Chicago, 2002). Wrote proposal that netted the festival a $165,000 grant.
International President, Diploma Review Commission for Master of Fine Arts candidates at the Latvian Academy of Art in Riga, Latvia, 2001 .
Member, Chicago Honorary Committee for the 2000 Baltic Art Exhibition, a traveling exhibition of contemporary Baltic art, sponsored by the United States – Baltic Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the promotion of democracy in the Baltics.
President, Latvian American Artists’ Association, 1995 - 2001. Supervised book project and funded its publication with outside grants.
Art teacher and piano accompanist, Latvian School of Chicago, 12 years (Saturdays)