Tequesta, FL (June 9, 2009) Local surfers, regional naturalist artists and the Lighthouse Center for the Arts staff have created summer sensation during the opening reception held in The Gallery @ The Lighthouse Center for the Arts on June 5 th. A diverse crowd of 350 people were treated to three openings - SURFari: The Old and New of Surfing in Florida, an exhibition in partnership with the Surf History Project, Earth Elements, celebrating the intricate and innovative works of three naturalist artists and Staff Style, highlighting the eclectic and varied talents of the staff at the Lighthouse Center for the Arts.

"This summer we are inviting everyone to explore three different artistic interpretations of Florida, "said Sonya Davis, Executive Director. " SURFari explores how the relatively young sport of surfing has been inspirational to both athletes and artists. Earth Elements is filled with images of natural beauty are created with fabric, thread and clay and Staff Style celebrates the hidden talents of our valued employees."

The centerpiece of SURFari is the 1930 Ford "Woody" Station Wagon, the iconic surf-mobile, made immortal by the Hits of the Beach Boys album cover. On loan from the Model A Museum in Lake Park, this is one of the 3,150 Type 150-B models ever manufactured. The dazzling array of surfboards on display show the evolution of the equipment and the sport, from the oldest known board from the 1940's to a new computer designed model created last month. Artists, including Dan Makin and Julie Silk-Beaumont, works depict the surf culture through memorizing ocean scenes.

SURFari evokes fond memories of perfect waves. Images captured of surfers along the coast from Ft. Pierce to Ft. Lauderdale from the 60's to today taken by noted photographers Tony Arruza, Mark Hill, John Tate, and the late M.E. Gruber fill the gallery. Gruber, a WW II veteran and amateur photographer became fascinated with South Florida's surf culture in the mid-60's and his collection of over 5000 images has become the launching pad for the Surf History Project. This newly formed group of seasoned Palm Beach County surfers started this nonprofit group with the goal to preserve and display the history of surfing along our coast.

"We've got everybody from the pros that are in the magazines to the guys back in the 60's that nobody knew about," stated Corky Roche, Surf History Project Trustee. "...we are documenting all the photographers, surfers, surf club memorabilia and board manufactures from the 60's to now."

The second exhibition, Earth Elements,features the work of three Florida artists Melani Kane Brewer, Maya Schonenberger and Pam Moody. Brewer uses a technique called thread painting or free-motion sewing to created three-dimensional embroidered nature based work of art. Schonenberger's concern of wild habitats colliding with man's environmental encroachment are depicted in elegant quilting that is truly is like painting that dares a viewer to look away. Moody, a self-taught artist with a well-developed sense of whimsy, realistically portrays subjects in a non-traditional or humorous manner. Her playfulness is captured in the ceramic piece Rock Shrimp, a clam shell auditorium stage of hard rocking, realistic rock shrimp playing sea shell instruments- complete with a lead singer. The majorities of the pieces in the exhibition were on display this Spring at the Nature Conservancy in Hobe Sound and will be available for viewing until July 16 th

Staff Style includes paintings, ceramics, mixed media, watercolor and fine crafts by the dedicated and talented Lighthouse Center for the Arts staff. SURFari: The Old and New of Surfing in Florida exhibition runs from June 5 th through September 4 th, Earth Elements and Staff Style both close July 16 tn. All exhibitions are free and open to the public. The Gallery @ The Lighthouse Center for the Arts, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, is located in the Gallery Square North Plaza, 373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL., ½ mile west of US Hwy 1, and is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4:30 pm. For more information call 561-746-3101 or visit online at www.lighthousearts.org.