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Chris Maynard combines his scientific knowledge, artistic sense, and love of feathers and life in a new art form. His message is one of beauty, appreciation of life—especially birds, and conservation. He applies various methods of art, design, and craft using surgery scissors, forceps, scalpels, and magnifiers to arrange feathers. Since feathers are three-dimensional, Mr. Maynard aims to respect their form. He does not paste them flat against a background but sets them apart so their curves and shapes are enhanced and doubly enhanced by placing them in shadowboxes so the feathers cast shadows and change according to the intensity, quality and direction of light. Unlike a painter’s palette, the choice of colors in feathers is quite limited. Nevertheless, Maynard keeps the natural colors and patterns of each feather. Feathers are often perceived as endearingly delicate, but they are actually quite tough, having to keep a bird clothed, sheltered, and in flight for a year or more. In the same vein, Mr. Maynard’s feather shadowboxes are meant to appear delicate but maintain their integrity for many years, just like a more traditional paintings using good quality materials. His sources for feathers are through an extensive network of private aviaries and zoos. All are legal to have and sell. Most of the feathers he uses were naturally molted and many of the birds whose feathers he uses are still alive and well. Since feathers can represent flight, transformance, healing, and a bridge between our present lives and our dreams, Mr. Maynard is grateful that his work with feathers has hit a soft-spot in the hearts of many people and cultures. His work is in private collections in the USA and Canada, Asia, Europe, and Australia and has been featured in hard copy magazines and online around the world. Mr. Maynard’s new book, Feathers Form and Function highlights his art while informing about what feathers are and how they grow, what they do for birds, and what they mean to us. He is represented by Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe and NOW Contemporary Art in Miami. Visit his website gallery, www.featherfolio.com to see more of his work and writing. He also posts on facebook (Featherfolio) and other social media.
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