‘Exquisite Creatures’ exhibition open for the Holidays

INCLUDES STUNNING VIDEO | Take a look at this fascinating new art installation, on display through the Holiday Season and into the new year, at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry …

Guests stand in quiet contemplation as they view works of art created by naturalist artist Christopher Marley and his staff on display in his Exquisite Creatures Revealed exhibition, now at Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

After hosting a previous showing at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) back in 2019, naturalist artist Christopher Marley opened a stunning new edition of his Exquisite Creatures Revealed exhibition on October 5th.

Take a brief tour, and see what’s in store for you when you visit this remarkable exhibition that will be on display only at OMSI:

The artist’s artworks feature rare life forms collected from across the globe.

The works include an Amazonian stingray and 10-foot Japanese Spider Crab, in insightful and eye-catching displays of nature’s exquisiteness.

At the opening of the exhibition, OMSI Senior Director of Institutional Giving Patricia Brooke spends a moment with sponsor Greg Newland from Travel Portland, and with OMSI President and CEO Erin Graham.

“This exhibition is all about connecting people with nature, and the beauty and diversity of nature,” commented OMSI President and CEO Erin Graham at the art show’s preview fête. “Biodiversity is incredibly important to our world, because it’s one measure of planetary health.

“Exquisite Creatures Revealed helps fulfill the mission of OMSI to inspire curiosity, as guests see these amazing specimens from around the world,” Graham told East Portland News.

“And then, this inquisitiveness will hopefully encourage people to take informed action, and engage in dialogue about how we can sustain our planet,” Graham said.

Taking a closer look at an artwork are visitors Claire Flynn and Tommy Klein.

Exhibit’s ‘last tour stop’

As he spoke during the exhibition’s preview gathering, Christopher Marley, of Christopher Marley Studio, detailed the steps involved in creating the art – and told about the work that went into preparing this showing.

Due to the labor involved in mounting a traveling exhibit like this, Marley said, this would most likely be his final museum installation. “I’ve chosen OMSI, the museum I grew up loving, for my final temporary exhibition, before it moves to its permanent home.”

-4 Artist Christopher Marley talks with guests at the exhibition’s opening gathering.

Visitors to both levels of OMSI’s Featured Exhibit Hall will see a mesmerizing collection of preserved specimens, including:

The first leafy sea dragon every preserved whole;
A rarely seen Weedy Sea Dragon;
Deep sea spiders; and,
Rare and expertly preserved orchids.

This young person stands mesmerized, as he gazes at a work called “Morphosis”.

Exquisite Creatures Revealed runs through February 17, 2025. The exhibition is included with the cost of museum admission. Learn more: CLICK HERE.

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