David Sears
Artist's Statement
For seventy-plus years I have immersed myself in water - Pennsylvania creeks, New Hampshire lakes, Cape Cod beaches, the coast of Nova Scotia, the Delaware River and now the Gulf of Maine. Exploring with the eyes of a child and the awareness of a student, parent, educator, photographer, filmmaker, woodworker, writer and painter, my pattern has been to gather knowledge from a small section of the natural world and share it through creative, site-specific activities. For the past two decades I have lived part of each year on Matinicus, a small Maine island on the outer edge of Penobscot Bay, where I make things and try to understand life on a mountaintop surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.
My carved and painted birds reflect a fascination with objects which convey an intense knowledge and awareness of the maker’s environment. Combining function, sophisticated woodworking and designs with traditional knowledge, these birds are imbued with beauty, mysticism and the pragmatic need to attract sources of food. I hope my work honors those traditions, expands the concept and encourages a greater appreciation of traditional skills, the fragility of all environments and the critical need to preserve unspoiled locales and living things.
My work has supported a variety of environmental and educational groups including the Island Institute, OceansWide, the Tinicum Conservancy, Friends of the Upper Delaware River, the Georges River Land Trust, the Maine Seacoast Mission, Maine Audubon and the Maine Fishermen’s Association. A series of birds based on wooden lobster buoys has supported Matinicus Island projects including the library, church and school.
Exhibition Highlights
2024
Artemis Gallery, Northeast Harbor, ME - Group Show - August 15-28, 2024 and online - artemisgalleryme.com
HighWater Studio - Matinicus Island, ME - June - September - By chance or appointment
2023
Artemis Gallery - August 3-17 and online - Northeast Harbor, ME
“Black Bird” - May 25-June11 - Salt Pond Studio - Friendship, ME
“Avian Artistry: Treasures from Mount Desert Island Collections”- Wendell Gilley Museum - May 15-August 15 - Southwest Harbor, ME
“Lobstermen” - July 27-August 13 - Salt Pond Studio - Friendship, ME
“The Art of Penobscot Bay” - July 1 - January, 2024 - Thos Moser Gallery - Freeport ME - featuring artists whose work appears in the book Art of Penobscot Bay by Carl and David Little HighWater Studio - July - September - Matinicus Island, ME
2022
Harbor Square Gallery - “Flight Risk - TheFineArt of Birds “ - group show benefitting Maine Audubon at Harbor Square Gallery in Rockland, Maine - June-October, 2022.
Artemis Gallery - Northeast Harbor, ME - Group Show - August 4 - 18, 2022 and online - HighWater Studio - MatinicusIsland,ME - June - September - New Work - By chance or appointment.
2021
Artemis Gallery - July, 2021 - Group Show and HighWater Studio - Matinicus Island
2020
2020 - Artemis Gallery - July, 2020 - Group Show and HighWater Studio - Matinicus Island
2019
Artemis Gallery - August, 2019 - Group Show and HighWater Studio - Matinicus Island
2018
“Sticks and Stones” - Cushing, ME - Solo Show and HighWater Studio - Matinicus Island
2016
“Untitled” - SFA Gallery , Frenchtown, New Jersey and HighWater Studio - Matinicus Island
2015
"CONDON COVE - New Work” - HighWater Studio - Matinicus Island, ME
2014
“WATERSHED” - SFA Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey - Solo Show and HighWater Studio - Matinicus Island
2013
“LOCALS - Island Artists Group Show” - HighWater Studio/Gallery - Matinicus, ME
2012
“EDGES” – New Maine Work - Archipelago Fine Arts Gallery, Rockland, ME -July-Sept - 2012 - Solo Show
2011
“Untitled" - Bucks County Commerce Center, Doylestown, PA - Solo Show and HighWater Studio - Matinicus Island
2010
“New Work” - Archipelago Fine Arts Gallery, Rockland, ME - Group Show
2009
“Change of Directions” - Center Bridge, PA - Solo Show, - Stover Mill Gallery, Erwinna, PA - Group Show - "Environmental Art" - Graphic Imagining Gallery, Plumstead, PA - Group Show
2007
“New Work” - Mixed Media Gallery - Doylestown, Pennsylvania - Group Show
2006
River Run Gallery, Lambertville, New Jersey - Group Show - Mixed Media Gallery - Doylestown, Pennsylvania - Group Show
2005
Tinicum Arts Festival - Erwinna, Bucks County, PA - Honors for pastel - Group Show - Stover Mill Gallery, Erwinna, Pennsylvania - Group Show - Phillips Mill Fall Exhibition - New Hope, Pennsylvania -Group Show
Publications
2024
“The Art of Penobscot Bay” by Carl and David Little, Islandport Press, 2024 - features a painting entitled “To The Light/We Gathered As a Community” (acrylic/canvas/wood//cardboard/painted frame - 36x48 - 2011 - in the collection of Eva Murray - Matinicus Island)
2023
“ To The Light/We Gathered As a Community” (Acrylic/canvas/wood//cardboard/painted frame - 36x48 - 2011 - Collection of Eva Murray - Matinicus Island) will be included in “The Art of Penobscot Bay” by Carl and David Little, Islandport Press, Fall 2023-ISBN-139781952143502
2020
MaineBoats.com The Website of the Coast - August, 2020 - One Island Library on a Mission
Maine Home and Design - Art Maine Issue - February, 2020 page 60
2019
Maine Home and Design - Art Maine Issue Annual Guide to Maine's Most Notable/Collectible Artists
Where the Magic Happens: Cushing Artists Open Their Studios - The Free Press
Cushing Artists Open Studio Weekend - Penobscot Bay Pilot
2018
Knox Village Soup - July 6, 2018
The Free Press
2017
Laura Bohn - Ways of Seeing - Pointed Leaf Press - 2017 - ISBN: 978-1-938461-401
New York Times - “What You Get for 2.2 Million - Bohn-Fiore Bucks County Property" - July 5, 2017
2015
Interior Design Home - Fall, 2015
Maine Home+Design - May, 2015 - “The Canvas”
2012
Island Journal - “David Sears: A Matinicus Artist Charts His Course", Carl Little - Island Institute
2009 - 2020
Island Reader- Anthology of Island Writing and Art - Maine Seacoast Mission