Dec. 26, 2004 will be a day long remembered by a local artist. Along with the rest of the world, Nadina Tandy watched the horrible events unfold in South Asia. In addition to that universal sorrow, Tandy also lost a childhood friend that day to breast cancer.
Consequently, when Tandy donated art to the Vancouver Area Artists for Tsunami Relief, she did so both to ease the pain of the flood victims and to honour her friend.
The art fundraiser took place Jan. 9. Through it the artists raised $50,000 for the Red Cross relief fund. The event was well publicized by media outlets in Vancouver. A busy artist, last summer Tandy was involved in the public art project, Orcas in the City. That event raised money for the B.C. Lions Easter Seals and the Canucks for Kids fund. Tandy designed and painted an eight-foot, three-dimensional fibreglass orca she titled Country Drive Orca. In spite of a vigorous campaign by Gibsons' town council to buy the orca, the town was unable to beat a private bid on the sculpture.
Earlier this month Tandy was featured on the CBC art show ZeD. Taping for the show occurred in the middle of a snowstorm. Getting there was more than half the battle. "I thought, oh my god, my two minutes of fame and I'm snowed in," she laughed.
Fortunately Tandy made it to the studio, and after a half-hour makeup session, she showed her two-minute clip of her stellar art.
The opportunity to be the only woman featured on the show came about a year ago when Tandy sent in an audition tape to do a guest host segment. With her high energy level and good looks, Tandy is a natural for TV.
And that's only a small part of this dynamo's art.
Tandy has, among other art experiences, worked as a production artist for various Vancouver animation houses, including International Rocketship and A.K.A. Cartoons Inc.
"I loved the flexible work environment, and the animated commercials and specials we produced for MTV and Cartoon Network were a lot of fun," she said.
Tandy knew early in her life she was meant to be an artist. She left high school at 16. And although many parents would have been upset, Tandy's father backed his unique daughter's path.
Later Tandy finished high school and went on to art school. Although the art school was not a good fit for Tandy, she credits what she saw as rejection for giving her an inner confidence.
Later experiences proved more positive.
"I was one of four female artists selected in B.C. for the The Feminine Viewpoint, a national juried exhibition and catalogue," Tandy said. "It was a turning point for me. I saw there were other venues for my art."
Next she was accepted to be part of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association's window art gallery project.
Tandy's work was shown in the Arts, Sciences and Technology Centre. This was a very busy time for the new mother. It became a balancing act - creating new work, pursuing exhibitions and caring for her daughter.
"I wanted to be a good mother and still express myself artistically. I didn't feel one thing excluded the other," she said.
Eventually she went from showing her art in coffee shops to selling the pieces through gallery exhibitions.
Soon after Tandy moved to Gibsons she became a valued part of the local art community. Her piece, Have I Made Myself Clear, a triptych in black, white and sepia, was selected as viewer's choice at a Sunshine Coast Arts Centre show.
"It was encouraging for me to move to this new community and present new work that was moving in a different direction and receive that kind of acceptance. It was exciting," she shared.
Since then she has participated in the Town of Gibsons street banner project. Tandy has also produced a portable mural for the Gibsons Jazz Festival, stage sets and the covers of books.
Her art decorates Gregory Zbitnew's book, Generator Eternal Golden Light and the cover for Nocturnes, poems of the night by Michael Bullock. Now she is working on CD covers.
To check out Tandy's eclectic art, go to nadina_tandy.tripod.com.
