Rita Winkler (artist)

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

Rita Winkler
Born
Rita Winkler

1987 (age 35–36)
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

Biography

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

References
  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. Zebak, Orly (April 11, 2021). "The unbridled joy in Rita Winkler's world and art".
  5. "'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. "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. http://www.ofda.ca/fdo/archives/2015/2apr15.pdf
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