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MELANIE MINTY: Noted art magazine dubs Tibbits 'an artist to collect'

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SURREY — I know I sort of made a New Year's resolution to pay more attention to visual artists this year, but dang, I didn't expect to get off to an early start. Thanks to local artist Daniel Tibbits, my sort of resolution is going to be easy to fulfill. At least this is a good place to start.

The January 2014 issue of Arabella, a Canadian consumer art, architecture and design magazine, will profile local fine art painter, Daniel Tibbits, as an "artist to collect."

Let me pat myself on the back a bit here. I told you he was collectable 10 years ago. Tibbits has a different way of looking at "normal" things. His style is something I couldn't begin to define, but I like it. I've seen the progression of his artwork over a couple of decades and it is a great pleasure to see him get a further boost for his career with the profile in Arabella. This magazine showcases many talented artists and Tibbits declares that he is "honoured to be amongst them."

Daniel describes his work as something that reflects the natural world in a somewhat supernatural way.

"Stones that fly, clouds that carry and sticks that glide. These are some of the images that excite me and have driven my painting passion for the past 20 years."

Has it really been that long? Wow. It seems such a short time ago that Tibbits was delighted to being a selected winner in the annual Surrey Art Gallery Association's juried art show. I know that because his mother is a friend of mine, and at the time of this art show we were in the same adult tap class. And that is really how I "discovered"

Daniel, and I was lucky enough to see some of his early paintings from his high school days that were displayed in his parents' home. It's just one of those connections that happen in life from time to time.

Born in New Westminster and now residing in Langley, Tibbits grew up in Surrey and studied fine arts for two years at Kwantlen College. Now his work has collectors from around the world and is currently represented at Gallery 8 on Salt Spring Island. Wish I had bought a few pieces of his work when he was still almost affordable. Oh well. At one time I had promised to make him a carry bag for his art, but that was a project that never did happen.

Arabella, by the way, is a major quarterly magazine publication that has been distributed across Canada and the U.S. for six years. Each issue reaches close to half a million readers. So yes, it is a big deal.

MARRIAGE PROPOSAL ON STAGE

Getting noticed, being connected and staying informed seems to be technically easy these days. And if you do something a bit different, the world might see it on YouTube. White Rock Players' Club ended its production of Rumpelstiltskin with a new twist. As in most happily-ever-after fairy tales, most of the characters in the play find true love. Jennifer Tiles, in her Rocky Raccoon character, was one of the lonely characters that did not get a partner. That is, at least not until closing night.

On closing night, Tiles was surprised with a proposal of marriage right before the end of the show. Her boyfriend (and now fiancé), Joe Thompson, set up this proposal - live and onstage - with the assistance of director Susanne de Pencier. Of course, most of the cast and all of the audience had no idea of what was going on. Who was this person who charged up on stage and started singing to Rocky? Tiles said yes, the audience cheered and were delighted in being part of a real-life drama. This is definitely a different ending to a traditional pantomime. May they all live happily ever after.

melminty@telus.net