The Twin Town Times will be producing their annual ANZAC day Special, Thursday April 20. We are calling on local residents to contact the TTT and help us tell their ANZAC story.
Keep an eye out for our remarkable front page courtesy of famous artist Sandi Lear next Thursday.
“The Gift” was Sandi’s entry into The Gallipoli Memorial Art Prize 2017.
The following information details Sandi’s piece…….
A 5th generation Australian, I dedicate this work to my Great Uncle who fought in WW1 and WW2, one of the Lighthorsemen; my Grandfather who was shot in Mersa Matruh, Egypt and survived; and my father who inspired this piece, served his country and survived the forgotten “Korean” war; and all the men, women and animals who gave the ultimate gift.
The selfless acts of giving, loyalty, respect and comradeship are described in the digger’s hands holding out his slouch hat with precious life-saving water, which also symbolises reconciliation between combatants; the horse who gives of his loyalty, strength, courage and trust; the water giving purity and life to the dead ground on which so much blood has been spilled; the gift of blood by men, women and animals in support of their country and each other transformed to the beauty of a flower; the Rising Sun badge, a badge of honour on the traditional slouch hat instantly recognisable as quintessentially Australian.
Espousing the spirit of the ANZAC, these values cannot be torn by war or conflict, they are bred into us, a part of the human spirit.
BIO
Soulful, atmospheric, moody, ethereal, Sandi’s style is full of movement, capturing her subject with light and colour. She has a deep connection with nature, the ocean, and water is obvious in a lot of work, as are especially endangered species.
Sandi was born in Victoria, Australia and immediately set upon travelling the country, with her parents in charge. This paved the way for an exciting and challenging life. Departing Australia in the early 80’s Sandi became a ‘citizen of the world’ for the next 16 years, 7 spent sailing the world’s oceans. Returning home, she became an OIC/Paramedic, a wonderful career of some 15 years, culminating in her Masters of Medical Science and a member of the first cohort of Physician Assistants in Australia.
Life however took a right turn. Encouraged by her partner to pick up a pencil Sandi’s first painting “Pride” won the title of Best Emerging Artist. Passionate about the incredible facets of the medium, totally immersed in the ebb and flow across the paper, there was really no other option than to pursue excellence in Contemporary Watercolour.
Fascinated, Sandi allows her choice of pigments to move and interact with the water and each other in a dance across the paper, very little colour mixing occurs in the palette instead the colours are invited to mingle, push and tangle according to their personalities. Totally absorbed by this interplay, Sandi accentuates light and life in her work, suggesting the whole in abstraction but capturing the essence of her subject in an exquisite point of focus, encouraging the viewer to complete the journey.
