ANDREW CSAFORDI I VORTEX COLLECTION
Fine Art Encaustic Paintings

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What began as a successful bid for a small concert auction prize offered by Canadian musician, artist, author and sommelier Astrid Young (in support of 99.3 County FM Radio last fall) ... quickly flourished into a unique collaboration!
 
I've created a new exhibition of encaustic paintings inspired by songs on Astrid’s newest album, “The Beautiful Can Get Away with Murder.”  
Her music and lyrics allowed me to venture into new direction for creative explorations.

For each VORTEX painting, I chose individual lines from her music that I wanted to paint - that spoke to me deeply and ignited my imagination.
Some specific lines in Astrid’s lyrics instantly said “Paint me.” I started the process by doing several sketches for each chosen line.

​For this project, writing about my paintings was as important as creating the paintings themselves. I had ideas in my head. I felt I needed to explore my thoughts – both to paint them and put them down on paper. 

In addition to the artwork displayed on the gallery’s walls … visitors will see a bottle of wine paired with each VORTEX work of art and song - curated in partnership with six leading local wineries: Closson Chase Vineyards, Karlo Estates Winery, The Grange of Prince Edward Winery, Rosehall Run Vineyards, Sandbanks Estate Winery and Three Dog Winery. ​A collaboration, a coming together.

Smartphone holders will enjoy an Enhanced Visitor Experience thanks to an NFC chip embedded in the tag of each VORTEX artwork or featured wine. By tapping their smartphones to the tag, visitors will be able to instantly hear the song that inspired the art, view the artwork digitally, access tasting notes about the paired wine, and other related content, powered by Musical Bead.

The summer-long VORTEX Art Exhibition & Sale will run at ANDARA Gallery from June 21st through September 7th, 2026. 
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All paintings © Andrew Csafordi

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​To purchase available works, please contact ANDARA Gallery.

For more information about any of the paintings in the VORTEX collection, click on an image below.

Lay Me Down Like An Empty Dress © Andrew Csafordi

Dance On The Devil's Night © Andrew Csafordi

Tryin' To Ride A Carousel Without A Hold © Andrew Csafordi

I Made A Circle In the Sand © Andrew Csafordi

If I Were A Popsicle © Andrew Csafordi

We Got A Spaceship © Andrew Csafordi

About Astrid Young

Astrid Young is a singer-songwriter-musician with influences that range from classical to heavy rock, with a healthy dose of blues and country in between. Playing music since she was able to walk, she likes to say, “Know my music, and you’ll know me.” Astrid’s discography dates back to 1984.

She’s played and sang on more than forty releases, some her own, but most as a side musician or back-up singer. She has been in a lot of rock bands, and her solo acoustic shows have been compared to “Alice in Chains Unplugged.” Astrid has played stages large and small all over the world. Her early influences were classical – Rimsky-Korsakov-Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Beethoven … which evolved into Black Sabbath, Kate Bush, David Bowie, and others. She loves texture and feeling, stating, “Music changes everything. It’s a living, breathing art form that allows me to paint with sound and communicate what’s in my head without saying a word, although there are plenty of well-chosen words to punctuate those sonic thoughts.”

Astrid plays piano, bass, and 12-string guitar (some say like a weapon). She has released five solo albums: Brainflower, Matinee, Pokalolo Paniolo (as iST), One Night at Giant Rock (produced by Victor DeLorenzo, an original Violent Femme), and her latest, The Beautiful Can Get Away With Murder, produced right here in the County by the legendary Eddie Kramer.
 
Contact: Astrid Young, Canadian Musician, Artist, Author, Sommelier - [email protected] / www.astridyoung.net​

Portrait of Astrid Young © Tara Wilkinson

Thank you to our VORTEX Sponsors!

Please show them some love with your support

MEDIA SPONSOR

Thank You To Our Prince Edward County Wine Partners!!