Heidi Caswell Zander

Member since 2015

Heidi Caswell Zander’s work bares the imprint of growing up immersed in the artist culture of Cape Ann Massachusetts. As a youth, summer days were spent absorbing an enthusiasm for creating art. Picture a nine year old striding to catch up to a pack of adults through, for her, shoulder high meadow grass going through the summer light to some place unknown to paint rocks, clouds, boats. That was the first group workshop (Terelak’s), one of scores to follow over the next many decades. Her teen years inhabited the edges of places where the sea meets land, Betty Lou Schlemm and Edgar Whitney mentored with their passionate demonstrations, discussions and critiques. Cobalt and cerulean, the smell of horse glue as water hit paper were part of marathon sessions painting by the shore and watching dozens of versions of the same place manifest themselves on easels as the group members created and the sun arced across the horizon. This built a link between natural wonder observed on location to its impression painted on a canvas.

From these early foundations, by her mid-teens, Caswell Zander went on to study at Colby-Sawyer then Rhode Island School of Design. A smorgasbord of art immersions begun eventually led to a year in Rome, Italy as a select member of The European Honors Program. Months of exploring Italy later lead to years of exploring Europe and beyond and living in New York. Continuing on a buffet of museum collections, Zander’s personal style was fed and developed: a pinch of Sargent, a cup of German Expressionism & dollop of Impressionism, a gallon of energy and brushstroke. As a resident of Berlin, Germany, for ten years Zander had daily living lessons of observing from exhibitions and the birthplace of the Bauhaus School of Art, using this to give instruction for the German government as Art Department Head at the John-F-Kennedy-Schule.

In 2000, Caswell Zander returned permanently to her native island. She was artist-in-residence at Waring. In 2005, Zander opened Tidal Edge Gallery anchoring to the community she has always been so inspired by and connected with. Presently she is an artist member and President of The Rockport Art Association & Museum. Zander established Creative Community over 5 years ago to offer inclusive community programs; an echo of the art groups she participated in during her youth. She also has been an active artist member of North Shore Art Association, Rocky Neck Art Colony, Newburyport Art Association and the National Association of Women Artists.

Her work evolves through the making of marks. There is an energy displayed by the strokes which are carefully layered and retained to the final image. Zander distills from observation the essence of objects: native colors, subtleties of relationships, harmonies and contrasts. Place, culture, and history are all significant elements motivating this expression; opening dialogue between nature, artist and viewer.

Caswell Zander’s art is in collections throughout the United States and Europe, the recipient of numerous awards & citations. Commissions welcomed.

Heidi Caswell Zander's Website