| ARTIST BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: | Born in Kavanaugh, Alberta, photographer Frank Kozar attended the University of Alberta to earn a Certificate in Counselling and Guidance (1955), a B.Ed in History and German (1956), a BA in Sociology (1963), and an M.Sc (1967) and PhD (1969) in Genetics. While a graduate student, he studied theoretical, technical, and practical photography, as well as electron microscopy as related to biological sciences.
Kozar devoted much of his life to helping youth, including by teaching grades 1 through 12 in rural and urban Alberta (1950 – 1989), working as a guidance counsellor at Thorsby High School (1956 – 1966), and instructing art classes and serving as art advisor for high school camera clubs. He also taught basic first aid to army cadets, and developed a self-study course in high school biology that aired on Alberta’s educational Television channel ACCESS (1978 – 1980). He was also a junior high school principal, and chair of the Division of Liberal Education for Grande Prairie Regional College (1970 – 1980), where he offered an introductory course in photography. He worked as a photographer for the University of Alberta’s Evergreen and Gold yearbook and the Gateway students’ newspaper (1953 – 1969), and was staff photographer for a weekly publication, The Western Messenger (1958 – 1966).
Kozar’s photographs have appeared a range of popular magazines and newspapers as well as scientific publications. The Royal Academy of Art in Toronto included two of his photographs in its Spectrum Canada exhibition. He published twenty articles on biology in scientific publications including The Canadian Journal of Botany.
Kozar was a member of numerous organisations, including the Alberta Society of Artists, the Canadian Society of Phytopathologists and the Royal Canadian Legion. He received recognition for his service to youth from multiple organisations, including a Jubilee Medal from the Royal Canadian Legion, the Order of St. John, and the Germany Life Saving Society. |