It’s a celebration of life – a whimsical selection of colourful people and animals and insects filling the canvas below a sky bursting with activity.
Inspired by a Vancouver fireworks display, the images are those of artist Ferdinand Maravilla, whose painting The City’s Fireworks on Display! was chosen among more than 50 for Surrey’s ARTS 2011 juried exhibition.
In its 27th year, the show features an eclectic mix of works from both established and emerging artists in an array of media.
Jurors Liane Davison, Jim Adams and Alison MacTaggart were charged with winnowing the pool of 220 submitted works down to 55 for the Surrey Art Gallery exhibit.
Included in the drawings, paintings and sculpture are four photographs and two pieces of glasswork and several clay sculptures. There are depictions of various birds and animals, a full wall of landscapes and human figures in various forms.
While some artworks are more traditional in either subject matter and/or medium, many artists, said the jurors, “were interested in 
pushing boundaries.”
Marthe Lemire’s self-portrait, for example, is done on a rough board with canvas stretched over it, textured with drywall mud.
Meghan Carich has done a bird-like mask of leather, while Paula Parkman’s painting is done on a map.
Personal Dam, by Kathleen Gaitt, is made from sticks that have all been cut and stripped of their bark by beavers.
Awards will be given in the categories of Painting: Works on Canvas; Painting: Works on Paper; Drawing, 2-D Mixed Media & Printmaking; 3-D Works & Fibre Arts; and Photography & New Media.
Maravilla’s painting won first place in the painting on canvas category, followed by An Idea by Nicoletta Baumeister in second and Brenda Peacock, Untitled 2 in third place.
In the painting on paper category, Deborah Strong won first for her piece Kildeer, while second went to Seonok Lee for Song of Spring and third to Becky McMahon for One More Mountain. Deborah Morriss’s Twins took top spot in the mixed media category, with Rosemary Burden’s Marilyn, Mona and me winning second and Life Is A Carnival by Adriana Molina taking third.
In the 3D and fibreworks category, Li Chuan (Amy) Chang took first for clay sculpture Industrial Organ, while Robert Gary Parkes’ glass piece Blossoms in Gold Platter won second and Mehran Modarres-Sadeghi’s fibre arts work Mina’s War Stories 2 took third.
Susan Jessop’s photo/gouach on cotton entitled Basement took first in the photo category, with Larry Breitkreutz’s Neighbors taking second and Ray of Hope by Melanie Lastoria in third.
Honourable mentions were also awarded in each category.
An opening reception for ARTS 2011, including an awards presentation, takes place tonight (June 24), 7 p.m. The show continues until Aug. 21.
The Surrey Art Gallery is located at 13750 88 Ave. Call 604-501-5566 or check www.surrey.ca/arts for more information.
