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EVITA SCHVALLBE (Anita Dudryk) grew up in the historic city of Wroclaw, Poland. She traveled widely, absorbing the rich artistic heritage of Europe, Singapore, India and Malaysia – their cities, villages and natural landscapes – while supporting herself as a visual artist by creating wearable textiles, jewelry, ink drawings, oil paintings, murals, and designing interiors.
In 1982 she graduated with an MSc in Architecture from the Wroclaw Polytechnic Institute. Choosing not to accept an offer to pursue a career in the academy, she continued developing her own aesthetic and reputation as an artist, represented by the independent Polish gallery “Galera”. Her works were shown and collected throughout Poland, Germany and France. |
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During her personal retreats into the Tatry mountains, Evita would renew her energies and deepen her connection to spirit. Eventually she decided to follow the Buddhist path and connected with the Warsaw Zen Center community. In 1985 she gave up art production to immerse herself in spiritual practice as a staff member of the center. This group was affiliated with the Toronto Zen Centre, Canada, where Evita got invited for a visit in 1988 to continue her work there. In 1991 she married and moved to the countryside near the village of Acton, Ontario, where she began a ten-year career as a Shiatsu therapist.
In 1994, Evita met Susan Schantz, who shared her knowledge of Mennonite quilting techniques. This was the catalyst that turned Evita’s focus back to creating textile art. Working full time in her studio, she continues to create fibre artwork that reflects a lifetime of inspiration. Evita’s textile art has been exhibited across Canada and the USA. Since settling in Canada, Evita has explored the UK, India, Italy, Nepal, and Tibet. This has given her an opportunity to rediscover photography, an art form she has pursued since childhood and yet another outlet for her constantly developing artistic vision and insight. |
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