Canvas + Clay Gallery’s newest exhibit, “Mystery in the Deep,” which pays tribute to the wonders of the ocean, is dedicated to local artist Chris Johnson, who died on May 20. Johnson — whose solo exhibit will fill half of the gallery for “Mystery in the Deep” — had been painting both coastal scenes and under the ocean scenes for the past year or so in anticipation of this show, which will be on view at the Canvas + Clay Gallery, 233 F St. in Eureka, starting Saturday, June 1, with an Arts Alive! reception that night from 6 to 9 p.
m. The exhibit runs through July 6. “Sadly, Chris .
.. passed away during the installation phase of his exhibition.
Yet, the body of work that he created for this ocean show was complete and it is a remarkable testament to what a true painter and passionate artist that Chris was,” said Jen McLaurin, manager of the Canvas + Clay Gallery. She added, “Chris Johnson was one of The Studio’s most prolific painters. He had been enthralled in the history of Humboldt and enjoyed researching the sites and people that he painted.
He was drawn to the classically beautiful landscapes like the ocean and the docks of the bay, however, he was also the kind of artist that could see and appreciate the beauty of the frayed and decaying buildings and more desolate landscapes around him. He was a full-time artist at The Studio and, even though he was mostly a quiet man, he would sometimes incite some of the most interesting and philosophical conversa.
