Linda Lee Vanderkolk

Linda Lee Vanderkolk

Artist, longtime resident of West Lafayette, teacher at Purdue's Patti and Rusty Rueff Department of Visual and Performing Arts from 1990-2019 (as Graduate Instructor and Continuing Lecturer) died on May 4th 2021 of Bronchiectasis. A collapse on her birthday in 2019 began 18 months of care, recovery and relapse.

Born on November 15, 1951 in Lafayette Indiana, fourth daughter of Julia Marie (Townsley) and Bernard James Vanderkolk, Linda herself was first and always an artist. What was her medium? As her daughter Aurelia says, "Everything." Sometimes known by her clever nom de brush Ann Ohnimous, Linda was a playful puzzler who sought to challenge, engage and inspire others to see the world from unusual points of view. She created large mosaic installations and sculptures, integrated intriguing wordplay, painted, puzzled, wrote, drew, and created community art events and gorgeous calligraphy.

Linda's interests and curiosity were vast. Tall, quiet and often mysterious, she walked slowly, absorbing everything, turning what she found (objects, trinkets, a unique turn of phrase) into grist for her internal artistic mill. Frequently brilliant, stubborn and occasionally prickly, Linda could not and would not compromise on her vision. The ravishing results speak for themselves.

Linda created a favorite local sculpture "Family Farm Objects" beside Farmers' Market at 5th & Main in Lafayette. It's a puzzle of parts and farm tools shaping three life-sized figures, fabricated with skilled welder Roy Patrick. Some of her better-known public works include ceramic mural "Tessellation Tango" at the Math Science Research Institute in Berkeley CA with Scott Frankenberger. She also worked with him on "Cypherspace," a 6' x130' between-floors tile and paint mural loop, for Ivy Tech Community College in Lafayette.

Linda's calligraphy and design skills illuminated signs and educational materials for Home Hospital Public Relations Department ('84-'99). To celebrate ground-breaking for Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, SIA factory, Linda created calligraphy gifts given by the City of Lafayette. She was an annual Traditional Crafts Demonstrator of Calligraphy ('80-2019) for the Feast of the Hunter's Moon. And over the decades she participated in countless art exhibits at multiple venues, too many to list. You can view some of her prodigious output here. < http://lindavanderkolk.com>

Linda was also a strong proponent of her community, volunteering with 35 organizations in the past 29 years. She was tireless in connecting people, plans, art and children's projects, all with her signature compassion and wit. Among her efforts, Linda curated and co-organized five original public shows at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette with programming that began with 120 of "Lafayette's Women Artists" (2005-'06); and showed 440 diverse artists by 2010.

She co-organized dance installation "DANCITY" with up to 15 multi-cultural dances (2003-'08 locally and 2004 for Indianapolis); performed with Gypsy Moon Cloggers; partnered in Pomme Productions; was Set Designer for Purdue Repertory Dance performances and Civic Youth Theater; and was a founding member of Imagicians. She also designed T-shirts for Battleground Fiddlers Gathering and Wayfaring Foods. Unsurprisingly, Linda was Recipient of the Susan Stafford award for outstanding arts volunteer, and was grateful for other, similar recognition.

Linda touched many, many lives in her cherished role as teacher to decades of university students; literally thousands of her students studied Drawing, 2-D & 3-D Design, Art Appreciation, Art History, Art for Non-Art Majors, Art for Elementary School Teachers. She also supervised instructors and curricula for 40 classes in 2-D & 3-D Design and was Advisor for Purdue's National Art Education Association, Student Chapter ('93-'95). Linda often taught in community settings, including Super Saturdays, at schools and cultural centers. She treasured colleagues, students and communities who know the arts change lives. Teaching was a role that nourished something within Linda's soul; it was very difficult for her to let it go.

Linda's death at age 69 wasn't fair; she never smoked, she stayed incredibly fit, and she wasn't ready to leave. So it surprised no one in her family that her battle was epic and lasted far longer than her doctors' prognostications.

The deeply-loved family she leaves behind includes husband C Barry Rubin; son Brishen Vanderkolk and his partner Hazey Shipp; son Eilif Vanderkolk and his wife Lindsey Knapton; daughter Aurelia Vanderkolk; sisters Kathleen Peyton, Sunny Miller, Laura Spensley and brother Joel Vanderkolk; grandchildren Aiyana King and Magnolia Shipp; nephews Christopher Miller, Robert Taylor, Jonathan Taylor, Brandon Peyton, Kael Vanderkolk, Eric Vanderkolk, Patrick Spensley, John Rubin, Ben Rubin, Gabe Rubin; nieces Alexa Gerend, Samantha Hoffmann, Kaitlin Miles, Dana Egle, Aura Vanderkolk, Claire Prat, Beth Taylor, Hannah Rubin, Miranda Knox; and cherished friend Robert Krusinski, her lifelong co-conspirator in sourcing the best thrift bargains and treasures.

Linda was laid to rest in a casket-basket at the conservation cemetery at Warren Prairie Sanctuary, by the community of artists, musicians, friends and family she loved so well. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to NICHES Land trust.