Father, daughter show that ‘you can’t kill art’

Jay D. Anderson and his daughter, Jenna, collaborate on painting “The Warmth of Fredericksburg II” in his studio at Artful Dimensions Gallery in downtown Fredericksburg. / Photo by Peter Cihelka

BY BILL FREEHLING

The recent theft of a downtown Fredericksburg painting gave the artist, Jay D. Anderson, a long-awaited opportunity to work with his daughter on a project.

Anderson’s “The Warmth of Fredericksburg” painting was taken last weekend from a fence between Wally’s Homemade Ice Cream Shoppe and Bangkok Café on Caroline Street. City police don’t have any suspects.

Anderson was on vacation in the Outer Banks when he found out about the theft through a picture posted on Facebook. He was shocked.

“Who would steal art?” he said this weekend. “That kind of shocked me.”

Rather than dwell on the loss, Anderson decided to craft a replacement and put it back up alongside the other five paintings on display in the 800 block of Caroline. The 2010 outdoor art project was supported by an $8,000 grant from the Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority.

Anderson and his daughter, Libertytown Arts Workshop artist Jenna Anderson, decided to paint the new version of “The Warmth of Fredericksburg” together. The young woman in the painting is a representation of Jenna Anderson.

The father–daughter team worked on the new painting Saturday at Jay Anderson’s studio at the Artful Dimensions Gallery on Charles Street in the city. They hope to have the 40- by 56-inch painting done in time to hang it back up next weekend.

The painting depicts a woman sipping a latte at Hyperion Espresso on a cold winter day. The Andersons made a few changes to the replacement version based on the recent events.

Whereas the woman was looking to the side in the original version, she is now looking directly ahead at the audience. She’s also finished her latte and the scone in front of her. The idea was to conjure up an image of a confident woman undeterred by the theft—much like the artists themselves.

“You can’t kill art,” Jay Anderson said. “Art is in your mind.”

Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405

bfreehling@freelancestar.com

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