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Surrey gallery’s free ‘Art Together’ program encourages art exploration among teens and young adults

The program, launched in December, happens every second Tuesday evening at SAG
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The Arts Together Sizzling Art Bash was held July 11 at Surrey Art Gallery. (photo: Alex Wilks)

By Alex Wilks, Surrey Now-Leader contributor

Hands were kept busy as many inner artists were unleashed at the recent Art Together Sizzling Art Bash.

Art Together, a free program launched last December, encourages people between the ages of 15 to 30 to explore art in an open and welcoming environment.

“We meet together every two weeks, and the youth and young adults get to choose and give input as to what’s going to happen in the upcoming months,” explained Charis Au, Engagement Assistant at Surrey Art Gallery.

Collaborative watercolour landscapes, recycled cardboard beach balls and clay creations were the three artistic projects voted in by the team members for the special extended evening session.

“Our usual program, what we do is we invite different artists every week to talk about their practice so the participants learn how to make art together, projects together, learn about different mediums,” Au noted.

Held on July 11, the Sizzling Art Bash was just an enhanced version of that, Au added. “Instead of just one artist coming in, we have three.”

Tomoyo Ihaya, an exhibiting artist in the Gallery and previous instructor with the Art Together group, mentored participants in the art of watercolour landscapes.

“It’s a spontaneous drawing with a bit of mixed media,” explained Ihaya as she pointed to a colourful, detailed landscape piece on the table. “Mixed media means that there’s a strip of paper that I brought and they cut it out and collage it [and] paint over it.”

“It’s so free and releasing for [my students],” she added. “When everybody comes together, they have such different drawings.”

Although there is no obligation to come to every meeting, some members of the group are very passionate and committed; Gemma Lazarich has attended every Art Together session.

“I wanted to be more involved in community on some level,” explained Lazarich. “I really, really love art. It’s just a chance to do it more socially.”

“It’s a real opportunity to get a new perspective on art you don’t get,” she added.

Past Arts Together workshops have featured arm knitting with Karen Cancino, printmaking with Sarah Hart, film graffiti with Alex MacKenzie, breakdancing with Arthur Tiojanco, painting with Jim Adams and more.

On Aug. 15, the group will hold a “feedback session” at Chuck Bailey Rec Centre (13458 107A Ave., Surrey), from 7 to 9 p.m., with a talk about collaborative chalk landscape drawing with artist Jennifer Clark.

Art Together meets every second Tuesday between 7 and 9 p.m. at Surrey Art Gallery, located at Bear Creek Park. For program details, visit surrey.ca/culture-recreation/21721.aspx.