Chris Butler is an internationally renowned artist and public
speaker whose work focuses on science, nature, and maritime
subjects. His illustrations have appeared in thousands of
publications worldwide, from the Times of London to Scientific
American. A graduate of California State University Fullerton's
school of Television and Film Production, Chris has also served
as a conceptual artist and animator on both educational and
entertainment programs. Among his screen credits are the
National Geographic IMAX film "Forces of Nature" and Griffith
Observatory's "Centered in the Universe," on which he served as
art director. Chris has also produced his own educational
programming since 1985, including "Our Little Corner of the
Galaxy," which will premiere in February, 2007 at selected live
venues.
In addition to his work as an artist, Chris is also a performer.
His penchant for humor has earned him the nickname "stand up
comedian of the scientific world." In 2004, he was honored to be
the first (and as of 2006, the only) live planetarium lecturer
aboard Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2, a venue to which he has
returned many times. The world's biggest and most luxurious
ocean liner, Queen Mary 2 is the only vessel to feature its own
planetarium theater, which utilizes a full-dome video system
developed by SkySkan, inc. Its famed predecessor, the original
Queen Mary, has also hosted Chris for appearances many times in
Long Beach, California. On land, Chris serves as assistant art
director for planetarium and exhibit programs for the Griffith
Observatory in Los Angeles and is a regular lecturer at dozens of
science education venues across the country.
Several museums, including Griffith Observatory and the Santa
Catalina Island Conservancy, have commissioned Chris to create
exhibits. For the latter, Chris painted a large mural depicting
the island's native wildlife. In 2006, Chris began an even
bigger (115 feet-long) mural of the now-vanished native landscape
of the Los Angeles area, one of the first reconstructions of its
kind. Research for this project included creating a detailed
computer model and animations of the landscape as it appeared in
a natural state. An ardent naturalist, Chris is also working on
an illustrated book on this subject.
Chris's unique art and presentation style reflects his diverse
experience; he has been the director of a children's science
museum, a tour guide on the original Queen Mary, a technical
illustrator, a representative for a telescope manufacturer, an
amateur astronomer, and a financial analyst on the space shuttle
program for Rockwell International.
Chris was the 2006 recipient of the Western Astronomical
Association's G. Bruce Blair Medal for service to astronomy, a
prestigious award previously bestowed upon astronomer Sir Patrick
Moore and famed illustrator Chesley Bonestell. Chris was also
recognized in 2002 by having an asteroid named in his honor by
the International Astronomical Union (minor planet 13543 Butler).
In 2007, Chris was honored to be appointed the "Artist in
Residence" of the Queen Mary.
The son of an engineer who worked on the development of the
Apollo lunar spacecraft and the Space Shuttle (Robert E. Butler),
Chris grew up with the space program. As a child, he would
regularly visit the factory where spacecraft were being designed
and built, meeting luminaries such as Werner von Braun and many
astronauts. Many years later, Chris returned to work at the same
location, providing a deeper personal insight into the technical
accomplishments of the space program. Over the years, Chris has
had the opportunity to meet and interview most of the astronauts
who voyaged to the moon, such as Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Gene
Cernan, Pete Conrad, Jack Schmitt, Dave Scott, Alan Shepard, and
John Young.
An avid amateur astronomer, Chris brings direct experience with
astronomy to his work. He has served as a vice-president and
board member of the Orange County Astronomers (the largest
organization of its kind in the world), and is a life member of
the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. Chris's maritime
credentials include the Vice-presidency and board membership with
the Steamship Historical Society of America's Southern California
Chapter.
Chris resides in Buena Park, California, with his wife Tracy and
daughter Diana.
|
|
A few publications which have carried Chris Butler's work:
Focus Magazine, England
The Times of London
The Independent, newspaper, England
Biological Sciences Review, Phillip Alan Publishers
University Magazine, Birmingham University, England
Stephen Hawking's Universe, BBC Books
The Guardian, newspaper, England
Encylopedia Brittanica Int. Ltd. - Children's Brittanica Yearbook 1997
Is Anyone Out There, Drake and Dava authors, Simon & Schuster Publ., 1997
Prehistoric Life, Aladdin Books, 1997
Dinosaurs, Aladdin Books, 1997
Collins Advanced Science: Physics, Harper-Collins Publ., 1997
A Covert Agenda, Redfern author, Simon & Schuster publ., 1997
The Daily Mirror, newspaper, England
Astronomy Before the Telescope, British Museum Press, 1996
The Orange County Register, newspaper, California, many times
KNBC News, television, 1994
|