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July Showcase - "Artists in Isolation"

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Sandy Fontaine - "Hearts of Glass"

Sandy Fontaine - "Grapes of Wrath"

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Listen to Sandy's Interview:

​​​Sandy Fontaine
Covid-19 Artist Statement

2020 has certainly been an interesting year so far! All plans were suddenly put on hold – and we were thrown into the unknown! After the initial shock of what was happening in our world, I decided I had to have some goals for the immediate future.

The first thing I did was wipe my calendar clear of all commitments. That actually felt pretty good! Sometimes I get so many things going on – I just say stop the world and let me off! That is how I felt in mid March – that the world had stopped.

The second thing I did was make a list of people to call and check up on - to make sure they were doing ok amidst all the commotion. Anxiety levels were elevated and people just like to connect and talk about what was going on in the world.

Third, like the majority of women on the planet, I baked a batch of buns.

I guess that is when I started to settle down and think about being creative. I had seen the World of Hearts 2020 and A World of Hearts initiatives on Facebook so I pasted paper hearts in my window. But I wanted to do something in my workshop with glass. Being in isolation, I did not have opportunity to shop for any kind of supplies I might need, I had to use what I had available in my shop and my shed. I must say it was one time I was very happy that I am an art supplies hoarder!

Thus, the creation of my COVID 19 commemorative heart window! I had the little red glass hearts in my shed from when I lived in Saskatchewan almost 20 years ago. They were perfect to create the heart window. The window was also found stacked in the shed waiting to be transformed into a piece of art. This heart window hanging is to remind people that there is hope and love in the world, and for me it counteracts all the negativity that we see and hear during this worldwide pandemic that we find ourselves in.

My second piece could well be named the Grapes of Wrath! It was created for the local wine festival that was supposed to be held here this spring – but due to COVID was cancelled. Therefore, I think it qualifies as COVID art. I want to clarify that it was not created as a “cure” for COVID! The medium is all glass. Actual wine bottles were melted in a high heat kiln to 1800 degrees. Plates were also melted the same way and cut to accentuate the corners as leaves. Green and purple cabochons symbolize the grapes.

Both of these pieces will be reminders to me of this time in our history. The grapes of wrath reminds me of all we have lost through this pandemic – all of our social activities, connections with friends and family, the good life we have become so accustomed to. The commemorative heart reminds me of the hope and love we will not lose.

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

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July Showcase - "Artists in Isolation"

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