Polar Ardor

Polar Ardor (2021)

A short animation about polar life and love created by Camille Wainer (camillewainer.com) in collaboration with composer Sanford Bender (sanfordbender.com).

Inspired by the paper cut style of early animator Lotte Reiniger, Polar Ardor incorporates the additive techniques of woodblock stamping and Chine-collé printmaking to recreate a delicate landscape threatened by division and deterioration.The whimsical music of composer/architect Sanford Bender accompanies each stage of the polar bear’s journey through a varied composition using only two symbolic forms (the heart and the puzzle piece). Simply and subtly, Polar Ardor offers an optimistic message about the importance of collaboration and compassion in the face of an uncertain future.

Long snowy walk home under a crescent moon

“Snowy forest” drawn with pen and ink on paper by Sandy Bender in 1981.
“Winter Spruce in snow beyond” drawn with pen and ink by Sandy Bender on January 23, 1995
“Snowy hills” drawn with pen and ink by Sandy Bender in April, 1996.
“Long snowy walk home under a crescent moon” composed. performed and recorded with acoustic guitar (with and without metal tube slide on separate tracks) by Sanford R. Bender on September 12, 2021.