Hawaii Island artist Chris Barela was looking forward to the unveiling of his third life-size statue in California yesterday.
Barela has collaborated with the South Bay Boardriders Club to create the new Catalina Classic Commemorative Statue, which was be unveiled at 2 p.m. Pacific time Friday in Manhattan Beach.
This is the third statue that Barela created for the Beach Cities area of California, with the two other bronze statues in Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, although they are not related to each other.
South Bay Boardriders reached out to Barela, who is a California native, after seeing his other statues and appreciating their realism and storytelling within the art.
The 18-foot bronze statue features three paddle boarders and is a symbol of athleticism, perseverance and the enduring spirit of the beach community. Barela drew from his own personal connection to the ocean after a professional surfing career.
“I moved to Oahu as a professional surfer many years ago. I was in the Banzai Pipeline Masters finals in 1983 and did a world tour of surfing for five years. After this, I knew I couldn’t do it forever and had to find other passions,” Barela said. “One day, I met Terrie Bennett, who is an incredible sculptor, and I started to work for her and she guided me through learning how to sculpt. It ended up being my big break.”
After learning from Bennett, who is a second-generation sculptor and has been sculpting professionally for over three decades, Barela opened his own studio in Malibu, Calif., where he honed his sculpting skills and started his art career.
After working for a while, he realized that most of his business was from Hawaii, which inspired him to make the move to Hawi.
“I realized that moving to Hawaii would be the best move for myself, and now I’ve made a business and raised my family here. It’s been amazing,” Barela said. “I’m able to create new designs with beautiful pastures in view with my family and the ocean nearby.”
Barela has consistently worked as a sculptor and has built an impressive art career over the course of 30 years. He is known for his marine life bronze sculptures, with his work being displayed in galleries and public spaces around the world.
“I love to base my art off of what I see in the water and marine life in general,” Barela said. “The ocean has been a part of my life since I can remember, and I still use it to inspire and help me create my work.”
For about two years, Barela spent time going back and forth between his studio in Hawi and the Heritage Bronze art foundry in California to create the large statue for Manhattan Beach.
The statue will celebrate the Catalina Classic Paddle Board Race, which was established in 1955. The race is a 32-mile, open water channel crossing from the Catalina Isthmus to the Manhattan Beach Pier.
The event epitomizes the thrill and dedication of paddleboard enthusiasts, and now, through Barela, it will be etched in bronze to forever grace the coastal landscape.
Barela is excited to be part of today’s unveiling after so much work and dedication from himself and the Manhattan Beach community.
“It hasn’t hit me, but I know it’s amazing. These opportunities are not just about being a good artist, but about being in the right place at the right time,” Barela said. “The team I worked with was so resilient, and they helped garner support from the community and the local government. I’ve felt really supported, and I am so blessed this really happened.”
Barela has a website dedicated to raising ocean awareness through art, education and conservation, which can be found at alittegreen.org.
Those interested in viewing Barela’s art can do so at barelaart.com.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.