ABOUT ANJA ZANDER
"Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world."
- John Muir
BIOGRAPHY
Anja grew up in Germany. In 2012, she and her husband moved to Saint Leonard, Maryland. Here she finally had the chance to work with wood. Starting 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.
Since her career's beginning, much has changed. While her early work focused mainly on functional home decor, she now creates a high variety of wood art to acknowledge the unique character of wood. Inspired by the outdoors, many of her artworks are representation of nature's beauty. Anja also understands art as a very important medium to engage with people about socio-political and environmental topics. Thus, her statement art is what she considers her most important work.
How ZanaWoodArtZ future will look like remains to be seen. But one thing is certain. ZanaWoodArtZ time to provide her art in the US is coming to an end early summer 2025.
A COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIROMENT
A balanced relationship with nature is very important to Anja, and as a woodworker she feels especially committed to reduce her impact on the environment. During her wood art career, she integrated various aspects to become more sustainable.
LOCAL & DOMESTIC WOOD
Most functional wood art is made of locally sourced domestic wood. The driftwood has been selected on the Chesapeake Bay or brought back form vacation
RECLAIMED WOOD & RECYCLED MATERIALS
Besides working with driftwood, ZanaWoodArtZ also reclaimes wood. She also re-uses packing materials and reduces the use of plastic to a minimum.
LESS VARNISHES
ZanaWoodArtZ cuts down on varnishes and uses coconut oil as finishing.
BEE HOTELS & BIRDHOUSES
​To provide shelter for pollinators and birds, backyard art is one of ZanaWoodArtZ's favorites..
SINCE 2023
PLANT A TREE!
To give back to nature, Anja donates to organizations that restore forests in the US and worldwide
01/2023: One Tree Planted
50 trees worldwide in areas affected by wildfires (planted in Mexico)
TREES PLANTED
200
03/2023: One Tree Planted
25 trees in the Andes, supporting indigenous communities
06/2023: One Tree Planted
30 trees planted where they are needed most
09/2023: One Tree Planted
50 trees planted where they are needed most
11/2023: One Tree Planted
25 trees planted for forest fire recovery
01/2024: One Tree Planted
20 trees planted where they are needed most
MORE
AWARDS
2019
"Shadow of a Tree", Upcycled Driftwood Lamp
Arts & Craft Fair, Catonsville, MD
2nd place
2018
Best Booth Presentation
Patuxent River Appreciation Days (PRAD), Solomons, MD
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2017
"Chesie", Driftwood Sculpture
2nd place
Sculpture Competition, North Beach, MD
MEMBERSHIP
2018 -recent
Annapolis Woodworking Guild
​2019-2021
Artswork@7th, North Beach, MD
2018 -2020
Calvert Artists Guild, MD
2018-2019, 2023
Unique Boutique of Southern Maryland
2019
Northern Virginia Handcrafter's Guild
EXAMPLES OF ATTENDED ART SHOWS
2017
North Beach Art Show, North Beach, MD
2018
Artsfest, Annmarie Scultpure Garden, Solomons, MD
Unique Boutique of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick, MD
2019
Arts in the Park, Richmond, VA
Lakefest, Columbia, MD
Northern Virginia Handcrafter's Guild, VA
2020
Artsfest, Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons, MD
2021
Made Fair, Bozeman, MT
Made Fair, Helena, MT
2022
Made Fair, Missoula, MT
Art Sparkle, Greenbelt, MD
Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Beach Art Festival, St. Michaels, MD
2023
Arts in the Park, Richmond, MD
Art on the Avenue, Alexandria, VA