Surrey Art Gallery explores ancestry and connection through group exhibition

The Surrey Art Gallery is marking its 50th anniversary with remember the earth, remember the sky, a group exhibition that explores themes of ancestry, memory, and connection to land and environment.

Curated by Alanna Edwards and on display until Sunday, the exhibit brings together 13 artists working across mediums including painting, digital art, sound, sculpture, ceramics, and natural materials. The works reflect on personal and collective histories, spirituality, migration, and relationships to place.

The exhibit was inspired in part by the poem “Remember” by Joy Harjo, which influenced both its title and thematic direction.

The artists participating in the exhibit are q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ Phyllis Atkins, Nicole Avanrenren, Amy (Yun Ru) Bao, Francisco Berlanga, Roxanne Charles, Snack Witch Joni Cheung, Cat Hart, Laura Wee Láy Láq, Aaron Moran, Ovila Mailhot, sɬə́məxʷ Rain Pierre, Keysha Rivera, and Manuel Axel Strain.

“This exhibition is parallel to an exhibition I curated back in 2023 called Invisible Fish, also inspired by a Joy Harjo poem, with the focus on water and connections through waterways,” Edwards wrote in an email statement to The Runner.

She wrote that many of the artists featured in the exhibition are individuals she has worked with before.

“I love to work with artists long-term, invested in how their practices develop and their unique viewpoints.”

The exhibit also includes pieces by Salish artists from the gallery’s permanent collection.

Because she primarily works with children, Edwards wrote that she tried to focus on how they would experience remember the earth, remember the sky.

“Many of the works have touchable elements, and I wanted to privilege non-visual ways of experiencing art,” she wrote.

“For example, before entering the exhibition visitors are welcome to smudge themselves with a smokeless smudge spray (cedar, sweetgrass, sage, and tobacco) created by local artist Deanna Miller. This can help ground people before they come into the space. We also have a reading nook with kids books, to act as a respite within the exhibition.”

One of the featured works, “Estrella” by Francisco Berlanga, has a large piñata that references his Mexican heritage as a second-generation immigrant.

“Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday staff lower the piñata and hand-rolled candies by Berlanga and his grandma come out. Visitors are welcome to take a piece.”

In addition to this exhibit, Edwards also curated two other exhibits to mark 50 years of the gallery: Atheana Picha: Portals and Zachery Cameron Longboy: HOST.

Edwards hopes the exhibition encourages viewers of all ages to “ground themselves by remembering their ancestors, their connection to place, and their journey.”

“That art is everywhere and can be anything.”