The Artist

Artist

Artist and sculptor, Sandra Van Zandt, is a talented and highly sought after.  She has done many beautiful wildlife and patriotic statues nationally and many in Texas. Originally, from EaglesClaremore, Oklahoma, Sandra’s artist talent was impressive enough to earn her a scholarship to study art at Missouri’s Cottey College. She gained further exposure and training in sculpture by studying with other professionals at both the Scottsdale Artist’s School and the Loveland Academy of Fine Art.

She established her reputation with sculptures of America’s symbol, the Bald Eagle, with can be found in cities, museums, and both corporate and private art collections throughout the United States. In the early 1990’s her work took a turn from wildlife art, when she was commissioned to sculpt two historic monuments, “The Spirit of Naval Aviation” unveiled in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum on December 6, 1994 and scheduled to be permanently enshrined at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida in May of 1996. “The Cherokee KidTM”, a life-size equestrian monument to Will Rogers was dedicated on August 12, 1995 in historic downtown Oologah, Oklahoma, Roger’s birthplace. To her, these commissions represent the supreme challenge because she has to capture an important moment in time, and bring the subject to life. “It becomes a challenge instead of a commission,” she states.

COL Retired James Stryker conceived the idea of “The Price of Liberty” Monument and Sandra, with her natural ability, sculpted the model.  Sandra’s latest sculptures have been patriotic and historic. She explains, “I usually look at these types of commissions as “saving that part of history for future generations,” but there are emotions during the sculpting process!”  She says, “. . . my emotions are and were the “highest” when I actually saw the effect the piece [The Price of Liberty] had on many of the military personnel that either posed [for] or saw the piece for the first time. It is usually very emotional.”  Indeed, tears are often the first reaction of spouses and family members that have gone through one or more deployments.  They understand the loneliness, worry and sacrifice.

Artist

You can visit Sandra’s website and see her other beautiful work – Sandravanzandt.com