I’m Alive by Adaeze Okaro for Surfergirl Gallery

Written by Ashley Mercado

Photo Edited by Tania Flores

Twelve accomplished, talented women artists create their definition of what the word joy means to them in the exhibition, Joy. The exhibition, Joy premiers at Surfergirl Gallery where a range of art is presented from NFTS, photography, sculptures, art fashion, and paintings. Each piece of art is diverse in each way making you appreciate the various definitions of joy that can be formulated from one person to another.

Freedom, happiness and bubbles of peace by Fares Micue for Surfergirl Gallery

The photo, “Freedom, Happiness, and Bubbles of Peace” by Fares Micue shows a woman on top of a mountain looking up at the sky as bubbles surround her. The colors in the photo are refreshingly vibrant and radiate freedom with a sense of youthfulness. The picture has a feeling of fearlessness given the woman being on top of a mountain that seems to be in very close proximity to the sky. Freedom, youthfulness, and fearlessness all radiate a feeling of joy and the warm undertones in this picture only push this feeling even further.

Ditch Plains by Audrey Amelie for Surfergirl Gallery

“Ditch” by Audrie Amelie reminds me of what could be a distant memory. “Ditch” displays that to others joy can also exist in memories that we wish to experience once again. “Joy” by Irene Marzo also exhibits this by focusing on one specific core memory of a girl reading as a dog sits next to her. The colors in the photograph “Ditch” fade into one another and we are left with a figure that is unrecognizable on the beach carrying a surfboard. The photo looks like something that was taken on a vintage film camera while also looking like a painting revealing Amelie’s impeccable experimental editing skills as a photographer.

“Surfergirl” by Marcia Lorente Howell has the same contents as Audrie Emelie’s photo with a distant unrecognizable figure being shown also walking on a beach. However, “ “Surfergirl” is an oil painting instead of a photograph. The oil painting is filled with yellows, reds, blues, and whites bringing about a more bouncy, lively feel that is rooted in the present moment. It is warm and inviting similar to the paintings “Elvis at the Fairmont SL” and “Gay Street” by Marcia Lorente Howell as well as “Blushing Tide” by Candance Ceslow where scenery seems to be one of the main focuses of their definitions of joy.

Erika Ehrman with her The Gang (her art)

“Gang” by Erika Ehrman exhibits that someone’s definition of joy can be found in people. The acrylic painting shows five distinguished figures standing next to one another as their arms are around each other. The painting is interesting with each person having a style that is unique to them showing that our friend groups can be filled with an eclectic amount of people that can still find ways to love, accept and choose one another. Joy exists in whoever we connect with, we don’t get to choose who we have chemistry with but we do get to choose who we keep around. Usually, we pick those who bring about joy in our lives.

Where the heart lives by Adaeze Okaro for Surfergirl Gallery

Whether people, places, memories, joy is found in so many things in this exhibition that make you appreciate the everyday things that life has to offer. Joy takes place in Surfergirl Gallery.

The exhibition JOY is now available from May 18 through September 30 at their virtual gallery here.