A limited-edition fine art reproduction supporting conservation in the Southern Blue Ridge.
I hope this painting serves as both a celebration of the black bear and a reflection of the enduring spirit of the mountains and the people who call them home.” – artist Christopher Freeman
Mainspring is excited to join with Durham, North Carolina, wildlife artist Christopher Freeman in a Conservation Print Partnership to offer Still Standing, a limited-edition contemporary interpretation print inspired by the strength of the people and landscapes of western North Carolina.
Artwork Specifications
- Overall paper size: 35 × 27 inches (W × H)
- Image size: 33 × 25 inches (W × H)
- Border: 1-inch white border on all sides for signing and numbering
- Medium: Archival giclée fine art reproduction on hot press cotton rag paper using archival pigment inks
- Edition: Limited to 100, individually signed and numbered
- Price: $400
By acquiring one of just 100 signed and numbered fine art reproductions of Still Standing, you become part of Mainspring’s mission to protect the lands and waters of the Southern Blue Ridge. Each archival giclée is produced using rich, fade-resistant pigment inks on heavyweight, 100% cotton hot press fine art paper, faithfully capturing the original painting’s vibrant colors and intricate details. Your purchase brings a collectible work of art into your home while generating unrestricted funding to support Mainspring’s conservation work for generations to come.
Christopher’s paintings blend realism with bold color and simplified forms, striking a balance between careful observation and expressive design. He hopes each work feels both familiar and unexpected, inviting people to see not only the animal, but the wild place it represents.
How Your Purchase Makes an Impact
After production and fulfillment costs, net proceeds are shared equally between Mainspring and the artist. Your purchase provides unrestricted funding that allows Mainspring to direct resources where they are needed most, while also supporting future conservation partnerships through original wildlife artwork.
About Still Standing
When Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina in September 2024, the destruction struck a deeply personal chord with artist Christopher Freeman. Nearly twenty years earlier, while living in Louisiana, he had experienced the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina firsthand, working eighteen-hour days pumping floodwaters out of an abandoned New Orleans.
Christopher says, “Helene brought those memories back. Communities were shattered, familiar landscapes transformed. But in the months that followed, something remarkable emerged. Neighbors helped neighbors, communities rallied together, and the extraordinary resilience of the people of western North Carolina became impossible to miss.
Still Standing was inspired by that resilience. The black bear, an enduring symbol of the Southern Appalachians, represents the strength of the people and wild places that weathered the storm.
Ultimately, Still Standing is a painting about the strength to endure, the courage to rebuild, and the hope that carries us forward. Whatever storms we face in our own lives, it is a reminder that we are often stronger than we know.”
