FEATHERFOLIO BY CHRIS MAYNARD

An American creator turns conservation into an art

Mother Nature presumably did not have art in mind when creating the bright colors and patterns of our feathery friends, however feathers are natural masterpieces. They insulate against the weather, make flight possible, provide camoflage and also serve as decoration to lure potential mates. Washington artist Chris Maynard has recognized the inherent beauty of feathers and gone a step further by turning them into art.

Using feathers that have been molted, Chris Maynard meticulously crafts miniscule installations out of turkey, crow, duck, swan, peacock and songbird feathers. Tiny flocks spring from wispy threads and miniature peacocks strut out of brilliant blues and greens.

Chris uses his work to draw attention to the feathered inhabitants of our increasingly fragile ecosystem, encouraging viewers to draw connections with their surroundings and gain consciousness of their own ecological impact. The feathers are all naturally shed and then collected from local zoos and aviaries, so no birds are harmed in the making. Follow Chris’ latest work and check out his upcoming book here!