CV
I am Linda Mackey Lang, an oil painter and stained glass artist living in Maynooth, Ontario. Although I have been painting for over 50 years, I started taking my artistic career seriously in 2002 when, as renowned artist Doris McCarthy’s studio assistant I accompanied her on what was to be a once in a lifetime expedition to the Canadian High Arctic. This sparked a passion for the Inuit culture, the changing ice, and the breathtaking Arctic landscapes and a quest to share the stories of my journeys through my art.
The first artist expedition I organized was in 2004 when I took a group of artists on a painting expedition to Pangnirtung, Baffin Island. It was there that I realized AY Jackson and Sir Frederick Banting travelled to the Arctic on the ship Beothic and painted Pangnirtung as well. Early explorers often had artists painting onboard. I realized the importance of carrying on that tradition and began organizing an expedition to take 25 Canadian artists through the Northwest Passage. This journey took place in 2006 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the successful navigation of the NWP by Roald Amundsen.
It was through this project that I learned about International Polar Year and volunteered as International Artist Liaison. On my many (almost 20) polar expeditions I am able to see first hand how the climate is changing, how it affects my many northern friends, and learn from scientists how it affects the rest of us. I document these changes through my art and share my stories through exhibitions, radio/TV interviews, teaching in the schools and on expeditions.
As Art Director on several youth expeditions through the Arctic I learned more about the Inuit culture, and more about the importance of Truth and Reconciliation. In 2023, I was invited to be one of the non-indigenous artists to work together with the Indigenous artists – while they painted Truth, non-indigenous artists were invited to paint their stories of what Reconciliation might look like. The research for this project made me realize the importance of working together with indigenous artists and the importance of dialogues that art can inspire.
art education
2002 - present
18 expeditions to polar regions including Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Siberia, and Antarctica
2019 - present
Various stained and fused glass workshops across Ontario
2010
Ontario College of Art & Design – web design course
2002
Arctic expedition with Doris McCarthy aboard Academic Ioffe to Resolute, Devon Island, Baffin Island, and Greenland
2001 - 2004
Studio Assistant Doris McCarthy. Doris was also my mentor.
2001
Workshop, Jasper Park Lodge featuring Doris McCarthy and Jack Reid
2000
Watercolour Workshop, Buckhorn Ontario
1990 - 95
Scarborough Art Guild – various workshops
1991 - 92
Watercolour Workshop, Doug Pardon
1983 - 85
Ryerson Polytechnical Institute – Graphic Arts Management
1981
York University, Fine Arts-Visual Arts
1981
Watercolour Workshop – Tecumseh Gallery
1973 - 81
Oil Painting – Alice Forestell
Exhibitions
2016 - Present
Brush with the North, Maynooth, Ontario
October 2023
Reconciliation – group exhibition at Art Gallery of Bancroft,
paid CARFAC fee
2022
Artists for Conservation, group virtual exhibit Vancouver, BC
“Greenland Glacier”
2021
Hastings Highlands Public Library, solo exhibition
2015
Bancroft Art Gallery, solo exhibition
April 10 - 13 2014
Toronto Art Expo
June 2014
Hastings Highlands Public Library, solo exhibition
July 2014
Bancroft Art Gallery, group exhibition
August 2014
Hastings Highlands Public Library, group exhibition
september 2014
Maynooth Community Centre
September 2014
Bancroft & Area Studio Tour
February 2014
Aurora Cultural Centre, solo exhibition
November 2013
RBC Barrie, Ontario
2013
Artists for Conservation, Vancouver BC, group exhibition “Transition”,
and “Watching the Iceberg Calve – Antarctica”
June 2014
RBC Blue Water Project
September 2011
Wellington Gallery, Aurora, Ontario – two person exhibition
2010, 2011
The Artist’s Project, Toronto, Ontario
August - October 2010
Gibson Centre for Arts & Culture, Alliston, ON – solo exhibition
March 2010 - 2011
The Second Cup, Barrie, Ontario. Solo Exhibition
February 2009 - 2010
Ward Street Gallery, Bridgenorth, Ontario – group exhibition
2009
Gibson Centre for Arts and Culture, solo exhibition
April - May 2009
Art Gallery of Northhumberland, Ontario group exhibition
October - December 2008
Westmount Gallery, Toronto group exhibition
June - November 2007 & 2008
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, Group exhibition
April - May 2008
University of Alaska Museum of the North, Alaska Group exhibition
December 2007 - February
2008
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery, group exhibition
September 2007
Barber Gallery, Guelph Group exhibition
June - September 2007
Legislative Assembly, Iqaluit, Nunavut, group exhibition
November - December 2007
Penn State Abington College Gallery, group exhibition
April - July 2007
Wesburn Manor Art Gallery, Etobicoke, group exhibition
June 2007
Arts & Letters Club, group exhibition
December 2006 - June 2007
Vancouver Maritime Museum, BC, group exhibition
November 2006
Gallery on the Grand, Group Exhibition Waterloo
October 2006
TD Centre, Links Gallery
October 2006
Georgina Arts Centre & Gallery, group exhibition
2003-4, 2006-8
McMichael Gallery Art Show & Sale
September 2006
Win Hencock Gallery, group exhibition Oakville
2005-2008
Bond Head Gallery, resident artist, on-going exhibitions
March 2006 - 2008
Toronto Art Expo
July - August 2005
Right Side Gallery, Penetanguishene, Feature Artist
2004
Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery, Scarborough, group exhibition
2002, 2003
Bluffs Gallery, Scarborough
community collaboration activities
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Launched Polar Artists Group at McMichael Canadian Art Collection with invited guests Roberta Bondar and Her Excellency Mary Simon (included 100 artworks from international artists, silent auction, presentations) in 2006
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Organized Arctic Circle of Friends Festival north of Toronto in 2009 which included youth forum on climate change and Inuit guests from the Canadian Arctic to share their experiences on how climate change is affecting life in the Arctic
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Organized several climate change exhibitions
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Organized “Past, Present, and Future Fine Art Exhibition” celebrating history of artists in Hastings Highlands
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Director and founder of Arctic Quest project—group of 25 Canadian artists who celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Northwest Passage on a journey in 2006. This was followed by a year of international exhibitions
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Co-led a hiking expedition through Auyuiituq National Park on Baffin Island, July 2009
art work experience
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Art Coordinator, Gibson Centre, Alliston, Ontario, 2008
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Studio Assistant to Doris McCarthy, 2001 - 2005
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Graphic Design, 1985 - 2001
teaching and mentorships
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Taught art workshops in 3 Arctic communities as part of International Polar Year Time Capsule Project in Canadian Arctic, 2009. Students work went into a time capsule to be opened in 50 years
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Art Director on SOI Climate Change expeditions 2007-2015
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Instrumental in organizing student Climate 4 Change workshops and exhibition at McMichael Canadian Art Collection as well as develop their Arctic Artist in school program 2006-2008
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As part of the Lieutenant Governor’s Twinning Initiative between Nunavut and Ontario, Linda was asked to be artist in residence for the TDCSB and teach Arctic workshops in all Toronto schools participating in the project March 2006
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Artist in the School, Toronto Catholic School Board: teach painting incorporating Inuit art and culture as well as Canadian Arctic Art History 2003-7
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Artist in the School, Toronto District School Board, 2003
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2000-4 Art Instructor for children out of my studio and en plein air
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2002-6 Art instructor for seniors, Scarborough Retirement Centre
volunteer experience
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Former Art Liaison for International Polar Year (IPO), UK 2007-9
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Resident artist The Club at Bond Head 2005-8
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Resident artist McMichael Gallery, Kleinburg January 2004
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Resident artist Varley Gallery, Unionville October 2004
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Marketing designer for “Friends of Doris McCarthy” charitable group raised funds to install sculpture to honour Doris McCarthy, 2001-2
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Former Board of Directors Society of Canadian Artists
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Former Membership chair Scarborough Art Guild
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Director and founder of Arctic Quest project—group of 25 Canadian artists who celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Northwest Passage on a journey in 2006. We donated art supplies in each Arctic community we visited. This was followed by a year of international exhibitions.
artist talks & presentations
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2015 Presentation on my art and climate change MaRS Discovery District, Toronto
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2010 hosted “Exploring Antarctica” dinner and presentation, Gibson Centre, Alliston, ON
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Oct 2009, Presentation on the Arctic and painting demonstration as part of Family Sunday McMichael Canadian Art Collection
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Oct 2008, Presentation on my art and climate change, Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa
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April 2007, Presentation for school in Yamal, Russia
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2007, Presentation Penn State Abington College, Philadelphia
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May 2007, Presentation of my artwork and climate change to art group in Montreal
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2006, Presentation to board of directors McMichael Canadian Art Collection
awards & community recognition
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Elected Signature member of Artists for Conservation
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Invited to participate in Circumpolar Artists Round Table Discussions at United Nations Office, Geneva
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Represented artists at launch of International Polar Year, Paris France, 2007
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Represented Canada in Northern Lights Climbing Festival, Yamal, Siberia, 2008, 2009
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Painting “When Mountains Cry Out” part of NWP 100th anniversary permanent collection at Vancouver Maritime Museum
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Painting “Follow Your Dreams” presented to Ontario’s former Lieutenant Governor as part of TCDSB Arctic Festival
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Governor General, Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon has 3 paintings in her personal collection
media coverage
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2007, The Weather Network interview on my art and climate change
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2008, Russian TV interviews while participating in Northern Lights Climbing Festival
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2007, Golf Magazine featured one of my paintings
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Numerous local newspaper articles, TV and radio interviews between 2006-2015
memberships & affiliations
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Founder of Polar Artists Group–an International Polar Year project that brought together artists and scientists from around the world
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Elected Signature member of Artists for Conservation