Environmental Awareness

The “Environmental Awareness” series takes you through the cycle of life, death, and rebirth within our water ecosystem. The goal of this series is to increase awareness of this cycle and how we unknowingly, but dramatically, impact it.

As a major effort to bring awareness, Chris is designing sculptures and concepts for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) new corporate headquarters in Washington, DC, expected to open in 2024. The NFWF is the Nation's largest private conservation grant-maker, and leader in environmental education for over 80 years, inspiring American's to protect wildlife for our children's future.

Also in 2023, Chris will be working with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, VIMS, to develop custom marine designs specific to their education mission which will be used as awards and "thank-you" gifts for donors.

There are 3 distinct subsets with correlating artwork:

Pristine Nature focuses on the natural beauty, purity and necessity of clean water symbolically represented in stainless steel. It begins with “The Source” and ends with a sign of hope, “The Sanctuary” illustrating that it is possible for nature to recover from our negative impact.

Unseen Microscopic illustrates the often unseen chemical additives we carelessly pollute our waters with from Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, Petroleum and Microplastics.

Ghostly Impact demonstrates the impact of the negligent actions of the commercial fishing industry and recreational anglers leaving behind "ghost gear".

The impact of Sport Fishing, Industrial Negligence, and by-products of the Fishing Industry have massive consequences for aquatic life. Chris' latest series brings attention to some of the damage inflicted on marine wildlife and dangerous impact on our waters.

Chris saw this humpback whale washed ashore in 2021. The deep scars on its body, flippers, and tail were evidence of it's struggle to escape fishing nets. This encounter inspired Chris' research into the issue of Ghost Gear, and was the concept behind his latest whale sculpture.

E. A. Gallery

Environmental Awareness Gallery

The Source

Illustrates pure water pouring down from the sky and percolating up from beneath the earth.

*To Enlarge - click top left corner

Stainless Steel with Hot Waxed Pigment, 2022

144”H x 40” W

Looks Like Rain

The view of a pond as it just begins to rain -but is this water really clean? This piece strives to bring attention to the chemicals we all use daily on our ground water.

*To Enlarge - click top left corner

Stainless Steel on Birch Panel with Acrylic Paint, Acrylic Glazes and Laser-Printed Logos, 2023

46”H’ x 44”W

Moonlit Crude

The moon’s pure bright reflection temporarily covers and distracts from the crude oil spill that it illuminates.

*To Enlarge - click top left corner

Stainless Steel on Birch Panel with Acrylic Paint, Acrylic Glazes and Laser-Printed Logos, 2023

46”H x 44”W

Waves of Thirst

The oceans are now polluted by microplastics that originate from the improper disposal of garbage and waste. Ironically, a lot of plastic that slowly breaks down into the water into these microplastics originates from bottles for holding pure drinking water.

*To Enlarge - click top left corner

Stainless Steel on Birch Panel with Acrylic Paint, Acrylic Glazes and Logos, 2023

33”H x 84”W

Spoiled Sport

This Tarpon jumped and spun in the water until it broke the fishing line. Victorious, yet exhausted and vulnerable, it will now drag this fishing tackle burden along as it tries to survive. The intention was never to eat this fish, is this really a “sport?”

*To Enlarge - click top left corner

Stainless Steel with Hot Waxed Pigment and Recycled Marine Cables, 2023

17”H x 37”W

Nesting Season

There is a huge impact along our shorelines from discarded and lost fishing tackle which ensnares wildlife and often causes slow and torturous deaths. This Pelican struggles to avoid the tangle of fishing line which might entangle it.

*To Enlarge - click top left corner

Stainless Steel with Recycled Marine Cables, 2022

38”H x 28”W

Medals Earned In Battle

After an hour-long battle with a commercial fisherman, this swordfish breaks away at the last minute, just before large metal gaff hooks are stabbed into it to aid in hauling it aboard the vessel. Unfortunately, now it will wear a reminder of this traumatic day in it’s mouth for months.

*To Enlarge - click top left corner

Stainless Steel with Hot Waxed Pigment and Recycled Marine cables, 2023

17”H x 44”W

Avoiding Ghosts

Ghost Nets float unattended and forgotten in the ocean randomly killing anything that happens along and gets tangled in them. This humpback whale tries to avoid the gauntlet of ragged nets along it’s migration route.

*To Enlarge - click top left corner

Stainless Steel with Hot Waxed Pigment, Nets Fashioned From Recycled Marine Cables, 2023

78”H x 80”W

The Sanctuary

Represents a clean and healthy marine ecosystem as a thriving coral reef.

*To Enlarge - click top left corner

Stainless Steel, 2022

30”H x 70”W

If you are interested in reading more about what brought Chris to care deeply about protecting marine creatures, he shares about it as a result of his encounter with a shark in the About section entitled "Chris' Shark Story".