Lida Gordon

Widely known visual artist and longtime summer resident of Vinalhaven, Lida Gail Gordon, 71, departed this "mortall coile" the 17th of July, 2021.

A resident of Louisville, Kentucky, Lida, is beloved as an artist who created works in fiber, paper, and print, as an inspiring teacher of several generations of Kentucky artists, and as a vibrant participant, along with her husband, Peter Bodnar III, in the conversations, exhibitions, and activism of the Louisville art community.

The daughter of the late Ben and Lida Ignafol Gordon, Lida Gordon was born on 28 September, 1949, in Elkhart, Indiana. During summers as a teen at her folk's camp on Long Lake, she excelled at "tripping the light fantastic" on water skis. After graduating with a B.A. in Art from DePauw University, she taught in public schools for two years and then decided to go on for graduate work at Indiana University in 1973. After completing studies for M.F.A. in 1976, Lida was drawn to Louisville because of Kentucky's venerable Alma Lesch and joined the textiles program at the Louisville School of Art. She chaired that program until the school closed in 1983, when she was then invited to join the faculty of the Allen R. Hite Institute in the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Louisville and head the Fiber area.

Lida was always a "present companion," an extremely focused listener whether with a new acquaintance, a student, a colleague or a lifelong friend. A quick wit with an infectious laugh, Lida would stand and fight on principle in both her personal and professional life. She was a feminist who walked the talk and always stood for more inclusion and equity.

She had become a national, even international, figure, who earned, in addition to peer recognition, fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts (1993) and the Kentucky Arts Council (Al Smith Prize, 1994) and other awards from the Southern Arts Federation and the Kentucky Foundation for Women.

She is survived by beloved husband Peter Bodnar, III; his parents Phyllis and Peter Bodnar of Urbana, Illinois; sisters-in-law Dawn Bodnar-Sutton (Phoef) of South Pasadena, California, and Eden Bodnar (Kevin Klein) of Minnetanka, Minnesota; and brothers-in-law Stephen Bodnar (Heather) of Atlanta, Georgia, and David Bodnar of Urbana, Illinois; aunt and uncle-in-law Loralee Knotts and Howard Murad of Marina del Rey, California; niece Martie Boulanger of Union, Michigan; cousin Guy Ignafol (Cindy) of Musgeon, Michigan; and adoptive nephew Travis Stove (Ashley) of Ossian, Indiana, as well as dozens of close friends, colleagues, and former students in and around Louisville, on Vinalhaven, and around the U.S. who mourn her loss.

A memorial celebration will be held at the Water Tower at Zorn and River roads, Louisville, from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 1. Donations may be made to LAFTA (https://lafta louisville.org).