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A guided bus tour of the UBC galleries

Surrey staff hosting visit of different cultures, media and art influences.
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Lucas Tangun’s How Tambanum Grew in the Footprint of the Crocodile Man

No need for an art degree to get onboard this bus – just a curiosity for learning about contemporary art and meeting some fellow adventurers along the way.

The Surrey Art Gallery and the Surrey Art Gallery Association invite you on a guided bus tour to the University of British Columbia On Wednesday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,

Visit the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, and Museum of Anthropology (MOA).

Led by Surrey Art Gallery Curator Jordan Strom and Assistant Curator Brian Foreman, participants will meet at the Surrey Art Gallery for an orientation over coffee before hitting the road where the first stop will be the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. Here you’ll tour Slip the Snare, an exhibition of work by the 2016 graduates of the University of British Columbia’s two-year Master of Fine Arts program: Benjamin J. Allard, Jeneen Frei Njootlli, Saroop Soofi, Leigh Tennant, and Olivia Whetung.

The next stop is the nearby Beaty Biodiversity Museum.

Although known as a natural history museum, they have a current art exhibit on display called From Meadows Woodlands Far and Near by Brigitte Potter-Mael. Participants will see delicate watercolours and striking woodcuts inspired by plants from the landscapes of Germany and Canada.

Rounding out the day will be the Museum of Anthropology, renowned for its displays of world arts and cultures.

Participants will view In the Footprint of the Crocodile Man: Contemporary Art of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea showcasing sculptural works carved from wood and ornately decorated. The Sepik River is one of the largest river systems in the world, extraordinarily beautiful, but seldom visited.

It is here that the latmul people, who live along its banks, have created internationally renowned works of art primarily inspired by stories of the majestic crocodile as the primordial creator.

In addition to highlighting the exquisite carvings of Papua New Guinea’s latmul people, the exhibition will delve into their economic, cultural, and spiritual connections to the river system, drawing urgent attention to the logging and mining operations that pose environmental threats to the region.

The event is for ages 16 and over.

The cost is $90.

Bring a bag lunch or pick something up from the MOA café.

To register for the bus tour, visit this page under the “Events” section at http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/19108.aspx