Bowen Island artist Hans-Christian Behm has just completed a unique print that combines the methods of silk-screen printing and embossing. It is a very special project and he has offered it for a very special cause. It will be sold to raise funds for Dr. Alexandra Morton, a marine biologist who is working to study, and save, wild salmon. Behm is looking toward the local community for help with the logistics.
Behm has been interested in Dr. Morton's work for the last four years. He met her personally in 2009 when she walked from North Vancouver Island to Victoria to raise awareness of the plight of the Sockeye salmon. Behm joined the march of supporters north of Nanaimo. Dr. Morton's research has revealed the devastating effect of sea lice that infest the Atlantic Salmon raised in open pens in BC's coastal waters and then attach themselves to young fry as they swim past into the open ocean. The sea lice stunt the salmon's growth and make them weak. As a result, they become easy prey for predators. And recently, Dr. Morton has identified a new threat: the ISN virus. Behm is impressed by Dr. Morton's integrity and was looking for a way to help.
Last Christmas, Behm worked on a card and developed a pattern for fish scales. "That gave me the idea for the print," Behm said. He started with the project in March and added, "It took longer than expected; the process was very challenging."
The result is a stunning 63 cm by 95 cm print. It is an embossed image of a salmon on a background of a four-colour screen print that shows the Sockeye's life cycle. There are the eggs and the fry on the way downriver to the sea. The adult salmon then return from the ocean to freshwater where they change form and colour. The cycle end their lives after spawning. The print is done with interference colours that give the impression of a transparent coating that shimmers green, blue and red when viewed at different angles. The embossed image in the centre was produced with a hand carved plate.
Behm is a senior member of the art institute in the printmaking section of the Studio Arts Faculty at Capilano University. His instructor, Wayne Eastcott, told him that a print like this hasn't been done before.
The limited edition will have approximately 100 prints to be sold at $1,000 a piece. The price includes taxes, shipping and handling. Dr. Morton has written that she appreciates the effort and has offered her list of 20,000 email contacts as a means of promoting the sale. Since Dr. Morton operates on a limited budget and all her funds go to research, Behm has offered to oversee all other aspects of the fundraiser.
The Bowen Island Arts Council will display the print at its table at the BICS Christmas Craft Fair and Behm is looking for additional local support. He would like to find someone to help him with communication, monitoring the orders and payments, banking, packing and shipping. If you are interested in being part of the fundraiser, please email [email protected].
