Chris Maynard: Featherfolio

Chris Maynard, from Olympia, WA creates exquisite artwork using hand-cut feathers as his medium. His inspirations include a background in biology and devotion to the natural world.  Maynard's work has been included in numerous group shows in museums, and solo and group shows in galleries and festivals nationally and in Canada and China since 2011. His work is in several international collections. The upcoming exhibition at BIMA will be his first solo art museum show. Both framed compositions of varying scales and site-specific installations will be included, and promise to delight viewers of all ages.

Feathers mark nature’s pinnacle of achievement: the intersection of function and beauty. They make flight possible; insulate against water, sun and wind; and their colors and patterns help them hide and attract mates. To Chris Maynard, each feather is a small bit of perfection. When birds shed or discard their feathers every year, he recycles them in his art.

Feather legalities: The feathers Maynard uses are from private aviaries and zoos. Most feathers used are from birds not native to North America—even the crow feathers. The exception to using feathers from North America are those from turkeys and grouse. All feathers used in Maynard's artwork are legal to have and sell.

Chris Maynard has worked with feathers since he was twelve. His unique feather shadowboxes are recognized by art collectors, bird lovers, and a wide and interesting variety of people from around the world. He only has time to turn a small portion of his ideas, which fill many notebooks, into his shadow box feather designs. His favorite tools are the tiny eye surgery scissors, forceps, and magnifying glasses passed down through his family.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.