Eve Sandler facts for kids

Eve Sandler is an American artist who creates amazing paintings, films, and other types of art. She is known for her unique style called Abstract Expressionism. This means her art often uses colors and shapes to show feelings and ideas, rather than trying to look exactly like real life.

Eve Sandler was born in Harlem, a famous neighborhood in New York City. Her father, Alvin Sandler, was also a painter in Harlem. Her sister, Kathe Sandler, is a filmmaker. Art and creativity run in her family!

Starting Her Artistic Journey

Eve Sandler began her professional art career when she was just seventeen years old. At first, she worked with jewelry and metals, making beautiful pieces. In the 1990s, she started focusing on relief painting. This is a special kind of painting where parts of the artwork stick out from the surface, creating a 3D effect.

Exploring Big Ideas with Art

One of Eve Sandler's most well-known artworks is a multimedia installation called "Mami Wata Crossing." This piece was shown in a big exhibition in 2008 at the Fowler Museum.

What is "Mami Wata"?

"Mami Wata" is a special water spirit or goddess from different cultures in Africa and places where African people settled around the world. She is often seen as a powerful and beautiful figure connected to water, wealth, and healing. Eve Sandler's art explores the stories and meanings of Mami Wata.

Connecting to History and Family

In "Mami Wata Crossing," Eve Sandler explored important connections. She looked at how Mami Wata relates to genealogy, which means studying your family history and ancestors. She also connected it to the Middle Passage. This was the difficult journey across the Atlantic Ocean that millions of enslaved African people were forced to take to the Americas. Sandler's art helps us think about these deep historical and family ties.

Where Her Art Has Been Seen

Eve Sandler has been an important part of the art world. She was a member of a group called Black Women Artists. Other artists in this group included Carole Byard, Nanette Carter, and Howardena Pindell.

From 1990 to 1991, Sandler was an artist-in-residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem. This is a special program where artists can live and work at a museum, focusing on their art. Her artwork has been shown in many important places, like The Bronx Museum of the Arts.