Barbara Sandler, Vortex Art@Site

It’s been remarkably difficult to find out anything about the sculpture. It’s an enigma, a mystery. What does it represent? Does it even matter? Just enjoy it for what it is.
According to a small sign in the pavement, it’s called Vortex by Barbara Sandler, and was unveiled by Nick Raynsford MP on 22nd July 1999. It was commissioned by St George, the company responsible for the housing development behind it. The artwork is standing just to the north of Spitalfields Market. It's a public sculpture looking like a swirl of a person crouching down.
Anyone hunting for the artist, Barbara Sandler will struggle, until they realise she is better known as Lady Barbara Bear, but worked as an artist under her maiden name. Her husband since 1979, Alderman Sir Michael Bear was the Lord Mayor of London in 2010-11. Before that, he was responsible for the completion of the development of Spitalfields and was Chief Executive of the Spitalfields Development Group.
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Lady Barbara Bear and her husband Alderman Sir Michael Bear served as the 683rd Lord and Lady Mayoress of the City of London 2010/11. During their Mayoral year, she worked closely with The Concordia Foundation, embarking on a programme of Cultural Diplomacy to complement the Lord Mayor’s programme of Commercial Diplomacy, building bridges of friendship in China, Vietnam, Kenya and South Africa. She became Honorary Patron of The Concordia Foundation in 2010.
She has a particular interest in the Arts and is an accomplished musician and sculptor. She was awarded an LTCL (piano) while at university in South Africa and has taught piano for many years. She composed a children’s educational musical story which premiered in 2008 and became a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 2009. As a sculptor, she has a 9’ bronze sculpture in a public square in the East End of London.
She is a practicing craniosacral therapist and has been active in setting up Craniosacral Therapy Clinics, offering assistance to military veterans and their families, with post traumatic stress.