Building Bridges

Artists: Vallalee Hoffman, Claire Cilliers with Bridgeview Community Association and the Surrey Environmental Education Centre
Location: Bridgeview Community Hall (11475 126A Street)
Category: Civic collection
Year Installed: 2004

About Building Bridges

Hoffman and Cilliers worked with the Bridgeview community to create a large, detailed mosaic walkway with seats and a nearby painted mural. In developing a theme for the project, the creative team considered Bridgeview’s history as one of Surrey’s oldest communities and its connection to the Fraser River.

All five bridges are visible from the community and are featured on the pillar seats, while the mosaic pathway is rich with images of natural life indigenous to the area and community activity. Building Bridges was supported by the Community Art Matching-fund Program.

More on Building Bridges

About the Artists

Vallallee Hoffman

Vallalee Hoffman is a versatile artist and arts educator/ facilitator, working primarily with clay using a variety of techniques. Hoffman has worked for the Surrey Arts Centre as a visual arts instructor and as a programmer. She developed and taught art classes for the Community Arts Council of White Rock and District. Hoffman received a BFA from Emily Carr Institute. Her other public artworks in Surrey are Convergence and Newton Community Centre Mosaics, both with Connie Glover.

Claire Cilliers

A graduate of the University of Cape Town’s Michaelis School of Fine Art, Claire Cilliers has over 15 years’ experience as a professional artist creating large-scale mixed media works. She has painted murals for public and private clients and has been involved in a diversity of community art projects. Cilliers teaches art to children at Surrey Art Gallery and coordinates the Celebration Arts tent for the Surrey International Children’s Festival.