Vivienne Gardner, Sculptor: a profile on artistic insight.

Well known local Bermudian artist, Vivienne Gardner, is the designer and sculptor of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's latest sculpture entitled, "The spark of life''.

Last summer she entered the hospital's art competition where artists were asked to submit proposals. Because the hospital is a modern, state of the art facility the directive was given that the sculpture would be in a present day abstract form and being abstract it could be interpreted to have various meanings.

All of the proposals were anonymously submitted to the panel of judges to avoid selection prejudice. The panel was comprised of Sheila Manderson, Clement Talbot, Colin (Dusty) Hind, and George Anthonisen.

Mrs. Gardner said, "The primary interpretation was to see the sculpture as two cupped hands that gently hold and preserve the "spark of life''. We were told the art should reflect the work of the hospital and the concept of caring.

"I made a lot of sketches and even a model of something quite different which I threw away.

"Then one day going for a walk along the railway trail I kept thinking of care giving -of caring for something infinitely precious.'' Mrs. Gardner reflected that she thought about the little spark blinking on an ultrasound screen showing the heart beat of a newly conceived baby in the womb. This was one of her first ideas of the precious spark of life, held and nurtured.

Body language became a focal point in Mrs. Gardner's mind. How in anger one's fists clench, how in fear one wards off danger and how if one treasures something dear it gets cupped in one's hands.

"I thought of the doctors' and nurses' caring hands. In the operating room, in the emergency ward, in the intensive care unit. All those hands that work so hard to keep life in their patients and the gentle hands of those that soothe and comfort. Those who serve the trays and help someone to eat.

"And so I got this shape: The hands of God that sustain us. I didn't want a pair of giant hands, fingers or fingernails! I translated the idea into two growing shapes ... leaves? The bud of a lotus flower?'' Mrs. Gardner made a 12 inch model out of clay and cast it in plaster and submitted it to the hospital with 2D photos. She was the winning recipient.

Although the competition was over a year ago, Mrs. Gardner was not allowed on site to build the sculpture until the end of September this year.

The materials used to create the sculpture are cast concrete with a stainless steel gold leaf and slab glass obtained in the US.

The sculpture floats on a fountain of healing water, explained Mrs. Gardner.

She hopes the water will provide a happy, soothing sound for those who sit beside it in the tranquil garden.

"At night the spark will be lit and will become an everlasting flame in memory of those who have died,'' Mrs. Gardner pensively said. This piece of art will probably be considered one of Mrs. Gardner's most significant works in public view.

Mrs. Gardner studied sculpture with Byllee Lang in Bermuda in the early '50s.

She attended the Cooper Union for Science and Art in New York City and majored in fine arts many years ago. Additionally, she attended the Rhode Island School of Design.

Her largest work is the 40' x 10' bas-relief stone mural in the lobby of Mt.

St. Agnes Academy. It was made in sections.

She has created many stained glass windows for churches around Bermuda such as the "Angel window'' at the Anglican Cathedral in 1968 and "Raising Jairus' Daughter'' at St. Anne's Church.

"My major interest is in stained glass. I have done many windows here and abroad. My fascination with stained glass goes right back to my childhood when I liked to collect pieces of coloured glass on the beach.'' Mrs. Gardner works in her Paget studio built by her parents in 1940.

"I like a cat sitting about my studio as I work. Sometimes I listen to classical music but not while I am creating. I cannot create or design with noise. I need solitude.

"When I do the actual mechanics of a piece I enjoy company around me and sometimes other artists come by and work. I become more sociable,'' Mrs.

Gardner said with a smile.

From the age of one she began dabbling with pencils and loved colouring. She feels she was born an artist without a doubt.

"When I was two and a half I distinctly recall drawing my dollies in a pram.

I won my first real prize at the Bermuda Agricultural Fair when I was about age 12. It was first prize for a finger painting of a swan.'' Gardner presents spark of life She's made major achievements with many art mediums since then. In 1995 she received a lifetime achievement award from the Bermuda Arts Council.

Future art projects on Mrs. Gardner's list are enhancements for her studio and stained glass for her home's staircase.

Mrs. Gardner is a memorable person. She has placed her "spark of life'' all over our Island with her various sculptures, stained glass windows, mosaics and murals. Her exceptional ability to create decades of beauty is phenomenal.

Vivienne Gardner, well known Paget artist.

The new "Spark of Life'' sculpture and fountain designed by local artist, Vivienne Gardner.