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Writer's pictureSandra Iafrate
Oct 232 min read

What's with the Maps?

The Metaphoric Ground for Paintings of Memory and Nostalgia


Above: studio table of maps, lace, paints and mediums.


Many people have been asking me about the underlay of maps in all of my work and it is so interesting sharing their love for this GPS of yesteryear and how maps fit into my new body of work. Maps, with their meandering lines, retro rainbow colours, and organic shapes on crisp, crunchy paper stock, have become a wonderful metaphorical foundation in my art. They have inspired my upcoming solo thesis exhibition, "Portrait of Past and Present," on view at PI Fine Art in Toronto from November 2, 2024, to January 2, 2025.


Maps as Metaphors

A serendipitous find of antique maps several years ago transported me back to cherished road trips—journeys to Algonquin Park and Florida, with their wrong turns, shortcuts, and roadside stops. These maps have found their way into my recent work, where my process responds to their lines, shapes, and colours. Each piece begins with these outdated maps, representing not just geographical spaces but also the passage of time and our shared history.


My mixed-media approach incorporates various found materials, each carrying its own narrative: sketches from old notebooks, vintage book pages, antique textiles like handmade lace and embroidery, and other ephemera from bygone days.


Above: The Dinner Table (detail), 48 x 48 in. mixed media on canvas


Place in Time (detail) 24 x 18 in., Place in Time (detail) 30 x 24 in., Place in Time (detail) 30 x 24 in. charcoal and acrylic on paper.


This body of work explores the dialogue between past and present through large charcoal drawings—figures, portraits, and still-life compositions emerging from historical layers. To emphasize this interplay, I introduce acrylic paint and additional charcoal marks, embracing spontaneity through drips and splatters. These elements represent my contemporary imprint while honouring the past.


Join Me Nov. 2

I warmly invite you to see this map-inspired work at the opening reception of my solo thesis exhibit at PI Fine Art on November 2nd from 5 PM to 7 PM. This collection of 25 works offers a personal exploration of time and identity, and I would be honored to share this artistic journey with you.


Portrait of Past and Present is an M.F.A. Thesis exhibition for the Savannah College of Art and Design.


Opening Reception

November 2, 2024: 5 PM - 7 PM

Venue

PI Fine Art, Toronto

1180 Caledonia Rd, Toronto, ON M6A 2W5

(Exhibition runs through to January 2, 2025)






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Writer's pictureSandra Iafrate
May 74 min read

Reflecting on Art, Process, and the Power of Our Shared Interpretations


Installation of artwork at Artist Project in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Above: Art installation at Artist Project Toronto (April 2024) © 2024 Sandra Iafrate

 I have finally sat down to share some news and thoughts about the special connections we have made around our mutual appreciation of art.

 

Firstly, I want to thank those who came out to visit me at Toronto Artist Project last month. I can not tell you how much I appreciate (after spending days on end, working away in the studio) how great it is to experience your interpretations of my work and learn about your personal related stories. I don't always get the opportunity to meet those who have questions about my work nor hear how it resonates with them. Meeting you made me realize how making art is really about sharing visual narratives and igniting something meaningful within. That is my ultimate goal as an artist.

 

Also, I'm sending a belated 'thank you' to everyone who visited my studio during the NOTL Rotary Club's Holiday House Tour, which took place way back in December. It was such an honour to have my studio as part of this event and get the opportunity to share my work, process and ongoings with guests while being able to contribute to the Club's initiative in their incredible national and international programs.


Open Studio Invitation

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Along with this, I want to extend a special invitation to visit my Open Studio this summer when I will have some of my new works and work-in-progress on exhibit.

 

Click on a select date to RSVP.

*with artist reception and talk on Sat., June 8th at 7 PM

and

*with artist reception and talk on Sat., Aug. 10th, at 7 PM

 

If you wish to visit outside of these times, please message me by replying to this email to schedule your visit.




Upcoming Thesis Exhibit TBA

 As some of you may know I have completed the halfway mark of my Master of Fine Art -Painting at Savannah College of Art and I can now safely say that I have passed my candidacy review and I am currently working towards my graduate thesis and solo exhibit. It will likely be held within the Greater Toronto Area in late Fall and I will be sure to follow up with more information on this once the dates and location are arranged. If you wish to sign up to be invited to the opening please see my exhibits page here. I hope you will be able to join!



South Florida Exhibit: ANIMALS

As part of my MFA requirements, I had the opportunity to spend the most enriching time working as Assistant Curator in South Florida at the Hollywood Arts and Culture Center where I worked on three separate exhibits: "The South Florida Cultural Consortium," "Environmental Futures III" showcasing international women photographers, and "Somewhere I Belong." an immersive digital exhibit by artist AdrienneRose Gionta.

 

I am also excited to be one of the artists in their upcoming group exhibit entitled ANIMALS which runs Sat., May 18 - Sun., Aug. 18, 2024. If you happen to be in the Broward County/Miami/Ft.Lauderdale area you must visit this thriving cultural center and gallery.



Other upcoming exhibits include the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce annual Artistry by the Lake outdoor show where I will show some small works in oil, mixed media, and works on paper over Canada Day weekend June 29 - July 1, 2024.




picture of artist Sandra Iafrate and Instagram address
@iafrate.art instagram address

 

Follow me on Instagram

I know we all love to hate social media! However, I am trying to use Instagram more efficiently-- to quickly share finished work, work-in-progress, and upcoming events on a current and more regular basis. My link is @iafrate.art and I invite you to follow me and peek into my day-to-day ongoings. My goal is to be 'real,' with me and my dog, art critic Danté (Alighieri,) so I will not be wearing beautiful garb, or showing fake mock-up designer installations. It's just us, making a mess and figuring out what I need to say on canvas. Hope to see you there.


 

For Artists

Due to a schedule conflict with my upcoming thesis show, I sadly had to postpone my Sicily retreat initially scheduled for this Fall. In place of this, I've added two separate one-day workshops to be held in Niagara-on-the-Lake: one on Aug. 3rd for beginner and intermediate artists and one to be held on August 4th for advanced working artists. If this interests you, please visit my workshop page for more information and registration or see the links below.





Finally, as promised, I will not add to your inbox too often, but I will follow up in the Fall so I do want to ensure I've added your contacts correctly here. If you are receiving my emails in error or need to unsubscribe or update your information, please do so at the end of my email.


Lastly, if you know someone who is an art enthusiast like yourself, please feel free to pass this email along to them!

For now, Happy Spring All🌷





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Writer's pictureSandra Iafrate
Mar 22, 20233 min read

Art and the Artist's Process

Updated: Mar 26, 2023

Dear Art Enthusiast, As we transition into the new season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the artistic process and its connection to the world around us. From current events to our personal experiences and relationships, everything we do influences our art. As an artist, I strive to create meaningful layers in my paintings that capture the essence of my experiences and emotions.


My latest work, "Portrait of Past and Present," is an example of this approach. Using a mix of recycled materials such as old maps, book pages, antique lace, and my own photos and technical drawings, I wanted to create a unique signature with selective colors and organic applications of acrylic paint and mediums. It is an invitation for the viewer to engage with the narrative and characters, while celebrating the past and embracing the future.

large square painting of a woman's face in mixed media acrylic collage
Portrait of Past and Present, 60"x60" mixed media on canvas by Sandra Iafrate on exhibit at Toronto Artist Project

I am thrilled to announce that this painting, along with other new work, will be showcased at the upcoming Toronto Artist Project, I'm honoured to be exhibiting amongst more than 200 independent artists selected from across Canada. The event will take place from April 13-18, 2023, and I will be available to meet visitors at BOOTH 918.


This is a great opportunity for art enthusiasts to interact with artists and purchase unique, contemporary artwork directly from the source. If you are interested in attending Artist Project please visit my EXHIBITS page and sign up to receive a discount code for tickets.


STUDIO VISITS - Niagara-on-the-Lake


Additionally, I'll be hosting an Open Studio Show at my Gate Street Studio in beautiful food-and-wine-country, Niagara-on-the-Lake starting May 12, 2023 and continuing throughout summer. To schedule a visit please check my exhibits page or the link below and let me know when you will be visiting.


COMMISSIONS IN THE WORKS

a painting of Niagara Falls on an easel
Work in progress 24'X36" oil on canvas

I have also been keeping busy with interesting commission work. Currently, I am working on a painting of Niagara Falls that blends historical underpainting with contemporary techniques. It is always so inspiring to capture the essence of the region's beauty and history. This painting is a work-in-progress and awaits rushing water and mist lastly. Following this is another landscape of vineyards in winter and more landscapes of protected spaces such as Algonquin Park which I hope to update on my website in coming months.


UPCOMING WORKSHOPS for Artists

I'm also thrilled to announce a few upcoming workshops, including my Sicily Painting Holiday workshop from Oct. 1-8, 2023, and a Full-Day Niagara-on-the-Lake Workshop on August 5, 2023.


The Sicily Painting Holiday is a magical week of art, food, and travel in the Baroque areas of East Sicily. We stay in a beautiful spacious villa with our own private chef. Daily studio sessions in our large bright studio on site, will include some observational drawing and painting from olive and pomegranate trees surrounding us as well as historical stone facades, doorways and windows. We also delve into contemporary and mixed media techniques and explore abstract processes from our endless inspiration during the week. The week's excursions visit stunning towns of Noto, Marzamemi, Ragusa and Modica.


For more information and registration on this and other workshops check out the links below.




I'm also offering shorter 3-hour workshops on mixed media (Niagara-on-the-Lake) and a Spring Flower painting workshop in Toronto, May 7th, 2023 (2 spots left!). Please check my workshop page for more information and registration details.




SMALL WORKS

To Benefit Kids Help Phone


As you may know I've spent the month of January creating a painting-a-day along with fellow GOLDEN Artist Educators for my annual January Challenge. I find this daily painting practice to be very important for an artist's development while adding to this theme of the Artist's Process. Each of these works, the color palette, brushwork and composition speak to my influences from flowers, antiquity and Dutch flower paintings. In all honesty, the challenge was difficult to manage along with other studio work as well as work and life outside of studio, but the idea is to create a small input every day. I am so thankful that I was able to make some small work while I continue to grow and learn as an artist. These small paintings and studies range from sizes 5"x7" to 10"x12" and are now on my website available to purchase. Once again, this year I am contributing 50% of sales from these works to benefit Kids Help Phone.



Thank you for your continued support and interest in my artwork and of course the artist's process. If you have any questions at all about the art or events mentioned here, please contact me using the form below or by email. I look forward to seeing you this spring and sharing my passion for art with you. Best regards,

Sandra Iafrate


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