Sandra
Chanis L.
The Making of a Sculptor
Since 1967, Chanis has done more than just making art. She breaths it! Guided by an intuitive knowledge, Sandra fuses personal experiences with surrounding spiritual energies to create her art. After numerous solo and group shows in museums and galleries in the US and internationally, her work shows commitment and passion. At present, Sandra works in clay and stone utilizing recycled and found materials to enhance her sculptures.
While traveling, instead of photos, Sandra chooses plein-air watercolors to express the brilliance of the ever changing yet the same vibrant colors of the surrounding landscapes.
A Panama native, Sandra attributes her creativity on her family’s upbringing where being tuned to surrounding energies of people and landscapes are essential to the awareness of daily human existence.
After finishing high school in Panama, Chanis’ parents sent her to the US to study in Oxford, Ohio where she received her BA from Western College for Women. In order to satisfy her curiosity and thirst for art, they sent her to University of Dallas, Texas, where she received her MA in painting. While in Dallas, James & Lillian Clark (financier and collector with one of the biggest Dallas private art collection), encouraged her to travel with them to Europe. They introduced Sandra to museums, collections, galleries and contemporary artists. Feeling she did not know enough about art, she extended her stay and lived in London at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Adams a well known British sculptor. Robert introduced Sandra to Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore (among others) who advised Sandra to return to Panama to fully understand her DNA. She did.
Chanis started teaching at University of Panama in the architecture department becoming, at 27, the youngest Full Tenured Professor. Her close academic relationship with Guillermo Trujillo and Juan Manuel Cedeño were instrumental in her development. After numerous solo art shows and years of teaching, Sandra, now married and with children, moved to the US where by serendipity and due to her clear anatomical understanding, became medical illustrator for Tulane’s Ophthalmology Dpt. in New Orleans . From New Orleans the family moved to CA. After settling in Carlsbad, CA she became founder and eventually Board President of Oceanside Museum of Art, twice! During a museum transition, Sandra acted as Interim Executive Director. For her Art foresight and contributions to the San Diego area, Sandra Chanis was named Mover and Shaker of San Diego for two consecutive years. After devoting many years teaching in the MFA program as one of CA’s artist teacher for Montpelier University in Virginia, Sandra is is now devoting all her time to the expression of her magical world of painting and sculptures (clay and stone) while exhibiting her works in galleries, private art spaces and Oceanside Museum of Art (group shows). Additionally, Chanis has been commissioned by GLAS ANIMATION to create original sculpture awards since it’s inception (7 years and counting).
Sandra Chanis resides happily with her soul mate, John Cadman, in Carlsbad, CA.
Email: chanisLsandra@gmail.com
WebSite: www.sandrachanis.com
Instagram: @chanis_sandra