Paradise Now
Scarlet Black's photographs of Surrey's parks and gardens capture the beauty that surrounds us.
Artist: Scarlet Black
Location: Beside 6th Floor Meeting Room at City Hall (13450 104 Ave)
Category: Civic collection
Year Installed: 2017
About Paradise Now
Paradise Now is a series of parks and garden photographs taken at Darts Hill Garden Park in Surrey, BC, where the artist lives. Interested in the beauty that surrounds us every day, Black was drawn to these natural spaces, saying they gave her “freedom, strength, and joy.” While the artist has a deep personal connection with these spaces, she also loves that they are public: “Public access to shared beauty and a culture that cherishes the environment are central to the values expressed in these Paradise Now pictures. The images focus on framing patterns and separating visual order from the chaos and tangle of a garden. Pattern recognition has a large influence on what we recognize as a beautiful picture.
About the Artist
Scarlet Black (also known as Jannette Maedel) is a Surrey-based artist photographer. She specializes in garden and fine art photography. After completing an MFA degree, Maedel spent several years designing costumes and sets for Vancouver theatres. From theatre, she moved into fashion and designed a swimwear line (CeaSwim) for three seasons. Upon returning full time to art, she took on the persona of Scarlet Black and chose to concentrate on photography and painting as these areas offered more opportunity for creativity than applied design. Her photographic work centres on the natural world. Some favourite subjects include the garden, intimate landscapes, flowers, and abstracts.