Biography for Iddo Van Der Geer

When Iddo Van Der Geer walks into a room, the first thing you notice about him are his dreads. Beads and felt peer out at you from the many layers, each as unique as the artist who wears them. They speak volumes but don’t give away much about man, or the mind, behind them.   

            As a boy growing up in Zwijndrecht, Holland, Iddo was always busy with something or another. He was involved in sports and he took music lessons, and if he wasn’t busy with those he enjoyed being outside in nature. Iddo had wanted to be an archeologist since he was, and still is, interested in ancient history.

            When he was 14, Iddo along with his parents and younger sister immigrated to Canada and settled in Prince Edward Island. Although while Iddo was there he wasn’t involved in extracurricular activities at school, he took up kickboxing on his own time, and he worked for the Watershed group for a little while. While in school Iddo enjoyed art classes because it gave him a chance to work with his hands.

            When it came time for college, Iddo chose to follow the arts and applied to the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. He had intended to go into ceramics but when he got there he instead found himself drawn in by the fibre arts studio. He enjoyed being able to create cloth and art using natural materials.

            Now that Iddo is a fibre art student much of his time is spent in the studio. Whether he’s working on schoolwork or on one of his new ideas that he always seems to be brimming with. His work is heavily inspired by nature. The colours he uses are usually very earthy and natural. But colours are not the only part of nature that has the honour of being used in his work. Iddo is also inspired by naturally occurring patterns in nature and with his creative mind he brings these inspirations to life in his work.

            When he began studying fibre, Iddo seemed instantly drawn to felting. The art of it seemed to come naturally. Watching him felt is like watching life being breathed into the wool, as he constructs it and molds it to his vision. Each piece he crafts is a piece of art.