ZanaWoodArtZ     

About Anja Zander of ZanaWoodArtZ

Anja grew up in a little town in Germany close to the Dutch border. In 2012, Anja moved with her husband to Saint Leonard in Maryland. Here she finally got the chance to work with wood. Started as a hobby-woodworker besides her regular work as an archaeologist (her focus lies on South American/ Andean Archaeology), she realized that woodworking is more than a passion and in July 2017 she opened her woodworking/art business ZanaWoodArtZ. Her work includes wood art with political and naturalistic contents, functional objects, jewelry, home and garden decor made of domestic wood and driftwood. Some of her pieces also include other materials like sea glass, fossils, ink, acrylics or metal leaf.​ Anja also integrated abstract wood photography into her repertoire.

At the beginning, Anja was amazed by the high variety of  grain and color variations of the different wood types, especially exotic wood types like purpleheart or leopardwood. But, with the reduction of the rain forests, the long shipping distances of exotic wood and the human impact on the environment, her focus shifted quickly to more sustainable woodworking methods. 

Most of her work is now made of domestic wood and driftwood (until the leftovers are used up, exotic wood scraps are upcycled in some of her smaller projects). Anja also reduced the use of shellac and varnishes. Instead, she makes her own eco-friendly finishes, which are mixtures of mineral oil and local beeswax (Apex Bee Company).

​Awards

​9/2019: 2nd place in Catonsville, Upcycled Driftwoodlamp

​10/2018: Best Booth Presentation at Patuxent River Appreciation Days (PRAD), Solomons

​5/2017: 2nd place in North Beach´s Sculpture Competition,

Driftwood Sculpture "Chesie"