ARTS 2021 celebrates the diverse work of Surrey's thriving community of artists, all summer long
The juried exhibition, hosted by Surrey Art Gallery and the Arts Council of Surrey, has just released a video spotlighting category winners
Jude Campbell’s Taking the one seat, a sculpture showing at Surrey Art Gallery as part of ARTS 2021.
Surrey’s thriving arts community is on view with ARTS 2021, now showing more than 50 pieces across painting, sculpture, and much more, until September 11.
Hosted by Surrey Art Gallery, the event marks the Arts Council of Surrey’s annual summer juried exhibition . Admission is free.
Created by both emerging and established artists, the pieces now fill the walls and halls of the Surrey Arts Centre, a year after organizers were forced to move the 2020 exhibit online during the pandemic.
The show is the result of an open competition, with the jury choosing more than 50 works from over 200 submissions in diverse media—including digital painting, multimedia sculpture, textile art, and more.
The array illustrates the extraordinary variety of techniques practiced by the community’s artists. Outstanding entries this year include a powerful photograph of an agricultural settlement in the United Arab Emirates; a video portrait of the Helmcken Falls near Clearwater, BC; and a functioning radio-controlled car.
Below, see Surrey Art Gallery’s new #ArtinConversation video featuring interviews with the first-place winners in each prize category, hosted by local artist and arts advocate Wendy Mould. Also appearing in the video is Arts Council of Surrey vice-president Maxine Howchin and Surrey Art Gallery Assistant Curator Rhys Edwards.
The jury this year included local artist and civic treasure Cora Li-Leger, Kwantlen Polytechnic University Fine Arts instructor Liz Toohey-Wiese, and Surrey Art Gallery visual arts programmer Lindsay McArthur. The jury nominates artworks to receive first, second, third, and honourable mention awards across several categories: painting; drawing, mixed-media and printmaking on paper; sculpture and fibre art; photography; and digital, performative, and new media art. Selected works show technical skill, innovative artistic thinking, and strength in addressing their theme. Visitors to the Gallery are also invited to vote for the People’s Choice Award, announced at the end of the exhibit.
Visitors can pre-book a time to see the art in person by emailing artgallery@surrey.ca or phoning 604-501-5566. Surrey Art Gallery is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 4 pm to 7 pm and Saturdays 10 am to 3 pm. Artworks in the exhibition can also be viewed online on the Arts Council of Surrey’s website at artscouncilofsurrey.ca.
This post was sponsored by Surrey Art Gallery.