On Friday, June 28th from 5pm – 9pm, over a 100 visual artists and their patrons gathered in the Surrey Art Gallery located at the Surrey Arts Centre for a reception celebrating the ART 2019 exhibition. The ‘Summer Exhibition Opening Ceremonies’ as the reception is called, kicked off with Surrey Art Gallery Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Jordan Strom introducing the evenings MC, Surrey Art Gallery Director/Manager Alison Rajah. Alison was followed with the city’s official opening remarks by Clr. Jack Singh Hundial. Also attending from city council were Brenda Locke and Linda Annis to lend their support for Surrey arts.

Following the opening comments, ACS Director James Crosty proudly announced the winners in twenty categories while ACS President Carol Girardi presented each winner with their award. Surrey Photography Club Member; Gail Stephan presented three awards. Following the award presentations, the reception was held allowing guests to mingle and view the astonishing work this years ‘juried exhibition for Visual arts’ produced.

On behalf of the Arts Council of Surrey and the Surrey Art Gallery we would like to thank you all for attending the Arts. The ‘ARTS…’ series began 36 years ago and is open to all local artists throughout the lower mainland. ‘ARTS…’ gives artists the chance to have their artwork juried and featured in the Surrey Art Gallery. We would like to thank all 128 artists who entered the competition this year. Without your efforts the ‘ARTS…’ series wouldn’t be the success it is. This year, 61 applications to exhibit were granted.

A special thank you to Surrey Art Gallery for their continued support and collaboration in making this annual event happen. We also thank jurors: Jordon Strom, Willa Downing and Ying-Yueh Chang, awa weel as the ARTS 2019 committee, Jordon Strom, Rhys Edwards, Carol Girardi, Maxine Howchin, Jenny Lewis, Lyn Vera-Lay and Elisabeth Vera-Lay.

Artist were asked to create artwork based off the realization that artist make art for different reasons and from different experiences. The jurors looked for new works that showed personal creative explorations and artistic commitment. Jurors also consider the execution of the work, in relation to the artist’s meaning, their select and balanced representation of styles, their subject matter, and media from the submissions.

In 2016, the Arts Council of Surrey proudly created ‘The Kay VanDeventer Award’ in recognition of her spectacular dedication and hard work promoting Surrey arts. Kay VanDeventer had been a volunteer for the ‘ARTS…’ series for more than 25 years. Her generosity and kindness had been instrumental in the development and growth of the Exhibition. From gathering volunteers, numbering forms, and calling artists, to working with jurors and ordering refreshments, Kay had done it all.

The Kay VanDeventer Award will go to a piece in ARTS 2019 chosen by the Arts Council of Surrey. This year’s recipient is photog Helmut Gruntorad for his work ‘Painted Hills’.

Special Thanks to award-winning Helmut Gruntorad for event photos seen on this page.