Island Gallery in collaboration with Eagle Harbor Book Co. present “Sea Adventures — Stories in Sculpture & Print” by Chris Demarest

Sea Adventures — Stories in Sculpture & Print by Chris Demarest
Exhibit from May 3 – June 28, 2019

I’ve had the pleasure of writing about Chris Demarest in the past, so I am excited to share his newest exhibit with you.

Chris began his career many years ago as a children’s book author and illustrator, publishing over one-hundred titles. His FIREFIGHTERS A to Z was a New York Times bestseller in 2000, and he’s received many additional accolades for his other titles. As his writing career began to wind down, Chris found a new passion, painting our nation’s first responders and heroes. Chris was a volunteer fire-fighter in New Hampshire, he flew with Hurricane Hunters out of Biloxi, Mississippi into Hurricane Ivan, he is also an official artist with the U.S. Coast Guard, where he embedded himself with rescue swimmers and helicopter pilots and travelled to places like the Persian Gulf, living aboard patrol boats, not just painting what he saw, but hearing their stories and seeing the world through their eyes. Chris was also an artist-in-residence at The Women in Military Service to America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, where he paid tribute on canvas to the WWII generation. From 2012 to 2017, he embarked upon a national portrait tour paying homage to WWII veterans, where he visited libraries and museums as well as other venues, such as retirement homes—that tour eventually brought him to Bainbridge Island, and he’s been here ever since. In addition to his writing and painting, Chris also creates sculptural pieces, using bamboo, shoji paper and wood, such as his teapot collection, airplane collection, lamps and dioramas.

The dioramas are the focus of his current exhibit at the Island Gallery and in collaboration with Eagle Harbor Book Co., where he’s drawn on the epic stories of sea adventures, in particular The Old Man in the Sea, Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, Kon-Tiki, Moby Dick, and Snow Falling on Cedars to create extraordinarily dimensional dioramas. Chris’s pieces are influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese elements of spareness and simplicity, yet his dioramas are complex and detailed, reflecting the powerful nature of the sea.

Chris’s journey as a writer and artist have taken him too many public venues, allowing him to share his talents not just visually but also verbally—his engaging demeanor is inspiring, especially when speaking with children. He is available to visit classrooms or groups to discuss his adventures and share the joy of artistic creativity.

To read more about Chris and his work, please click here: Chris Demarest – Part 1; Chris Demarest – Part 2; and Chris Demarest – Part 3

You can also visit his website at: https://www.chrisdemarestart.com/

The Island Gallery was established in 2002 and features internationally and locally recognized artists from many genres. The gallery is located in downtown Bainbridge, just steps from the ferry terminal, 400 Winslow Way E, #120, Bainbridge Island, WA – Hours: Tues-Sat 11-6, Sun Noon-5, Closed on Mondays
Web site: www.theislandgallery.net
Shop: www.theislandgallery.net/shop
Blog: www.theislandgallery-artblog.blogspot.com

Eagle Harbor Book Co. is Bainbridge Island’s premier downtown book store, connecting readers with writers since 1970. They are located at 157 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, WA – Hours: Mon-Fri 10-7, Sat-Sun 10-6
https://www.eagleharborbooks.com/