Chris Maynard, from Olympia, Washington creates exquisite artwork using hand-cut feathers. His exhibition at BIMA is his first solo art museum show. His work has been featured internationally in diverse galleries, museums, and festivals.  This BIMA exhibition features forty-two framed and shadow-box artworks, site-specific and free-form installations, artist tools and ephemera.

Maynard uses the natural colors and forms of feathers (without adding paint, etc.) to craft his unique hand-cut and mounted artworks. From a distance his work may look like 2-dimensional paintings, but a closer work reveals the assemblage or montage nature of his art. This is enhanced by the play of light and shadow, further bringing his cut, pinned and glued compositions to life.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Maynard has worked with feathers since he was twelve years old.  He was inspired by his mother who was an artist, and his father who was an eye surgeon.  His work is also influenced by his background in biology and love for the natural world.  He combines these artistic inspirations and experimentation with composition, light, and shadow to create his unique feather art.  His favorite tools are the tiny eye surgery scissors, forceps, and magnifying glasses passed down through his family.