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.

Goblin Hot Pot

“Goblin Hot Pot” drawn by Sandy Ross Bender with crayons and colored pencils on red paper a while ago.

Dancing around a fiery cauldron bubbling with delicious goblin cuisine ingredients is in stark contrast to coping with real time global dangers that encroach upon our conciousness. Living in art and music is starlight as darkness and its inky blackness thicken and roll out the last glimmers of the day.

“Goblin Hot Pot” composed, performed, and recorded by Sandy Ross Bender with guitar, banjo, glockenspiel, and concertina on November 19, 2021.

And then there is music for the next morning…

“Beautiful Banjo Morning” composed, performed, and recorded by Sandy Ross Bender on banjo, guitar, and concertina on November 20, 2021.