Christopher St. John

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CHRISTOPHER ST. JOHN

Dec 7, 2018 - Feb 5, 2019. Opening Dec 7, 6-8PM for First Friday

Artist Christopher St. John

Christopher St John is an artist, illustrator, and curator living in Eugene, Oregon. His work touches on the the incredible luck we have in living on a planet with a biosphere, the joy of form, and the importance of listening. Animals make regular appearances in his work. Christopher St. John's work has been exhibited and collected across the United States and internationally across Europe, Japan, Canada, and Malta. He received his BFA from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. His work is in the permanent collections of two American museums.  He is represented by Circuitous Succession Gallery in Memphis TN, Elizabeth Gordon Gallery in Santa Barbara CA,  and Galerie Biz’Art Biz’ Art in France. He is currently working on a children’s book and preparing for an exhibition in February at the Maude Kerns Art Center in Eugene, OR.

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In February this year, I changed direction in my studio practice away from painting and begin working with clay.  Before that the last time I played with clay was in second grade when I was teased for a crude walrus man that I made. I read Paulus Berensohn’s book “Finding One’s Way with Clay”, began making pinch pots, and now, nine months later, I have embraced clay as a real calling. This is part of a larger shift in my artistic practice toward a place that is kinder, more loving and compassionate, and more deeply aware of the universe around and within us. For this body of work, I am still looking at animals and making work that draws people’s attention to our place in the biome. What is an animal? The search for life on other planets is very intensive right now, and I feel that it is a question of some importance. All of the clay work in this exhibition is hand-built, and my animal illustrations have helped guide me to a place of SHINE.