Northport Gallery Opening: Artist Regan Santry

Visitors to will have the opportunity to meet texture painter Regan Santry Saturday. The nationally renowned artist is not only a master of Gyotaku, the Japanese art of fish printing; he has taken the ancient technique to a whole new level.

In the mid-1800s, Japanese fisherman began to use "fish printing" to immortalize noteworthy catches by inking one side of a fish and then pressing the fish onto rice paper.

“It’s a unique artistic medium," LaMantia co-owner Robert Bluver said. "Regan invented a more advanced and precise technique which he named ‘Textureprinting.’ His renderings accurately portray the textures and details of his subjects beyond anything previously done."

According to Bluver, Santry’s objective as an artist is to accurately convey the striking beauty of marine life, and he does this with the help of computer technology.

Santry scans his fish prints and then uses the computer to enhance  color and texture so that the resulting images resonate with unprecedented vitality and depth, Bluver indicated.

The selection of 30 limited editions of Santry’s work at LaMantia Gallery showcase in striking detail the magnificence of barracuda, stingrays, hammerhead and mako sharks, green sea turtles, and other denizens of the deep. His work is available on canvas or watercolor paper.

Given Santry’s lifelong love for the sea and its inhabitants, he only takes impressions of fish that were caught to be eaten or turtles that have died and washed ashore, Bluver said.

As is customary for LaMantia Gallery, the opening will dovetail with a fundraiser for oceana.org, a foundation devoted to protecting the world’s largest bodies of water. To enter into a drawing for one of Santry’s limited editions, guests can write $50 check payable to Oceana.org.

Santry will be at LaMantia Gallery, 127 Main St., Northport, from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, and will personally dedicate artwork. Purchasers will also receive a special limited edition gift on Saturday only. To RSVP or learn more, call 754-8414 or visit lamantiagallery.com.