Surel's Place

Exhibit and Art Talk: The OmniGripper
2025-08-29 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Boise) | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
EXHIBITION & ARTIST TALKThe OmniGripperFriday, August 29th | 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Alieh Rezaei has created four fiber-based panels depicting the emergence of bodies and organs from the chest of a mountain. These works are inspired by four monumental tombs carved high into a cliff face in her native Iran. Her research centers on Naqsh-e Rostam, a necropolis northwest of Persepolis, where rock-cut tombs honoring Achaemenid kings (circa 550–330 BCE) embody both historical preservation and political narrative. Reinterpreting these carved facades through a personal lens, she engages the body as a site of memory and transformation. At the heart of this project is an investigation of materiality: she associates the woolen texture of rock with a Quranic verse that describes mountains turning into carded wool on the Day of Judgment–an image etched into her memory since childhood. This symbolic connection becomes a framework for confronting and resisting recurring cycles of pressure, as she continuously reshapes carded wool, reclaiming the repetitive act of needle-felting as a gesture of endurance and transformation.

The art talk will be followed by a short Q&A and reception.

Mix + Mingle + Maja
2025-09-12 15:30 - 17:00 | Oldspeak Bar, 3640 W Chinden Blvd, Garden City, Idaho, 83714, United States
Come meet Maja and see some of her work on display during Happy Hour at Oldspeak! She will also have some zines available.

Maja Milkowska-Shibata (Illinois) was born and raised in Poland. She is a public health professional and medical interpreter by training, using writing and art to share stories and perspectives. Over the past few years, she began seeking a deeper connection to humanity in her work, which led her to discover the field of graphic medicine, which uses comics to discuss health-related topics. Her comics have been featured in Sequential Artists Workshop Anthologies (2023, 2024), as well as in the journals The Rhetoric of Health and Medicine (2023), Intima (2024), and Tendon (2025).

Drawing from Experience: An Introduction to Graphic Medicine and Creating Autobiographical Comics
2025-09-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
WORKSHOP

Drawing from Experience: An Introduction to Graphic Medicine and Creating Autobiographical Comics

$45 | General Admission$35 | Surel’s Place Sustaining Member Admission (register with Special Passcode)Partial scholarships are available by request to info@surelsplace.org.

REGISTER

In this workshop with Maja Milkowska-Shibata, we will explore the advantages of comics as a medium, highlighting their various applications, such as simplifying complex concepts to enhance understanding and knowledge retention. We invite participants to focus on personal encounters with illness and disability exploring the genre of graphic medicine. These applications will be illustrated with examples from published graphic medicine works, showcasing various visual styles and diverse authors.

As a hands-on exercise, the workshop participants will choose a memorable or challenging topic to transform into a short comic strip. We will start by developing a written narrative, which will then be adapted into a script and illustrated as a one-page zine. Participants will learn the basics of creating comics and relevant terminology. No drawing experience will be required, and participants will be able to use publicly available images for reference.

After completing the comic, we will discuss participants’ impressions of using a visual format to convey information, share experiences, and express emotions. Participants will be encouraged to complete and publish their works as zines, which can be copied and distributed at Surel’s Place community spaces, the local libraries, or submitted to short comic calls.

Open Studio: Maja's Comic-Making Journey
2025-09-18 09:30 - 17:30 | Lake Hazel Library, 10489 W Lake Hazel Rd, Boise, Idaho, 83709, United States
OPEN STUDIOMAJA’S COMIC-MAKING JOURNEYThursday, September 18th | 9:30am – 5:30pm

free

at Lake Hazel Library

Open Zine Studio with Maja Miłkowska-Shibata
2025-09-24 17:00 - 20:00 | Garden City Public Library, 6015 N Glenwood St, Garden City, Idaho, 83714, United States
OPEN STUDIOOpen Zine Studio with Maja Miłkowska-ShibataWednesday, September 24th | 5:00pm – 8:00pm

free

at the Garden City Public Library

Join us for a hands-on evening exploring the art of zines! Maja Miłkowska-Shibata, Artist-in-Residence at Surel’s Place, will guide the participants in creating their own mini comic zines. Discover how this DIY medium can be used for self-expression, storytelling, and community connection. All supplies provided. Parental supervision is required for younger makers.

Becoming Who I Always Was: A Graphic Memoir of Trauma and the Search for Identity
2025-09-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
FINAL EVENT & ARTIST TALKBECOMING WHO I ALWAYS WAS: A GRAPHIC MEMOIR OF TRAUMA AND THE SEARCH FOR IDENTITYMonday, September 29th | 7:00pm – 8:30pm

free

at Surel’s Place: 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City

Maja Miłkowska-Shibata will share from her graphic memoir weaving together themes of growing up with a disability, navigating a dysfunctional home, and building a career within the healthcare field. The memoir follows her experience as a patient undergoing forearm-lengthening surgeries due to an infection in infancy, alongside the highs and lows of her professional journey in health sciences, which took her from Poland to the Netherlands, across South Asia, and eventually to the United States. Through this work, she examines the lasting effects of medical trauma, the intergenerational impact of addiction, and the complexities of navigating the healthcare system.

The genre of graphic medicine blends the medium of comics and the discourse of healthcare, merging the principles of narrative medicine with visual storytelling. Moved by the power of visual storytelling to capture the complexities of personal experience, Maja strives for an intimate and authentic account of her journey. Her graphic memoir integrates written narrative with visual storytelling, including sequential art, illustrations, photographs, and archival documents, all presented in her own handwriting.

The art talk will be followed by a short Q&A and reception.

First Friday Art & Studio Stroll
2025-10-03 17:30 - 21:30 | Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, Idaho, 83714
Garden City’s Surel L. Mitchell Live-Work-Create District is bustling with artists, artisans, and creative, artisanal businesses. Come to our neighborhood on the river as much as you can, but especially during our First Friday Art & Studio Stroll. You’ll find many locations open during the event, including artist studios, restaurants, and businesses featuring art events. In addition, there will be special events at many locations, including exhibits, readings, and performances.

More information about the next First Friday, is available at The LWC District First Friday Event Page on Facebook.

See below to view an interactive Google map of the First Friday participating venues.

OCTOBER 3RD HIGHLIGHTS

“Illuminate” projected video art and things that shine in the dark: 7:30pm – 9:30pm.

Surel’s Place

212 E. 33rd Street

In the gallery, Heavy Weather exhibition by Garth Claassen.

Material Mirages Projection artists from the 2025 CWI Sculpture Class:

Ava Madrigal, Gracie Sosa, Sadie Meyer, Bronwyn Hitchcock, Ellie Wilson, Ilene Antonov, Madi Miller, Nalani Roberts, Casey Stitzel, Natalie Masterson, Emily Hall, Josefine Carver

The Tiny House ILLUMINATED!

Material Mirages Projection artists from 2025 CWI Sculpture Class: Eden Hunt, Ali Henslee, Ahmed Abouzeid, Kim Bessette, Kiwi Edington.

The GreenBox

Rhythm Brie Schettle & Megan White ILLUMINATED!

The Holdover House

3338 N Carr Street

Sally Brock, paintings

On loading dock at SGW Designworks – New Venue!

Corner of Clay & 33rd

Vievvs The Band, 7:00pm – 8:00pm ILLUMINATED!

ensemble performs instrumental music set to video

andrew | keys, guitar, style

chuck | vidZARD

john | cello, ·̩̩̥͙＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊·̩̩̥͙

mike | space gator, clarinet

The Waterfront District

First time in many years!

3640 N Willowbar Ln

Sara Hill (Painting)

Samuel Paden (Pottery)

Sandra Shaw (Painting)

Linda Williams (Painting)

Wade Bollinger (Oil Painting)

Plus a dedication to the Mosaic along the Greenbelt at 6:30pm with artist Reham Aarti

Visual Arts Collective (VAC)

3638 Osage Street

“When the Light is Right”

Recent paintings by

Terry Vineyard – Rick Friesen

Oldspeak

3640 W Chinden Blvd

solo show by Jaime Roberts aka Amended Archives (mixed media highlighting the feminine experience)

Water’s Edge Gallery at The Riverside Hotel

2900 W Chinden Blvd

Main Level

OPUS by Treasure Valley Artists Alliance

New Gallery! The Catwalk

perched above the Event Center and Fireplace Foyer

The Color of Sound, featuring seven local artists whose work explores the intersection of visual art and sound. Each piece invites you to imagine what it might sound like—what rhythm, melody, or tone it might carry.

Ken Levy

Preston Craig

Killi Smith

Irina Mackay

David Rodriguiez

Mary Docktor

Hilary Ackley

The Common Well

110 W. 31st Street

You are invited to wander throughout the building to see all of the many artists in their studios.

Gallery- Luma Jasim: Rage Given Over to Mourning

2nd floor popup- Bex Wilkinson Opening!

Create Gallery & Frames

3520 W Chinden Blvd

Nicole Hitchcock Contemporary Art

206 E 35th Street

Door #3 Artist Collective

413 E. 37th Street

Home to Mosaic Essentials and other artist events.

Zion Warne Studios

3242 W. Chinden Blvd

Glassblowing

sPacePort

112 E. 33rd Street

Jessica Evett

Lala’s Fresh Pots

eC wares

Kim Bennett Porter

Lindsay Rae

Starbelly Dancers ILLUMINATED!

Justin Blauch ILLUMINATED!

Goran Fazil ILLUMINATED! (pictured)

Grandpa Crump (Music)

"Heavy Weather:" Garth Claassen Opening Reception/Art Talk
2025-10-04 17:30 - 20:30 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
FLASH SHOW RECEPTION & ARTIST TALKHEAVY WEATHER with Garth ClaassenSaturday, October 4th | 5:30pm – 8:30pm | Artist Talk at 7:00pm

free

at Surel’s Place: 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City

ARTIST STATEMENT

I work a lot in mixed media and often make pieces that consist of multiple, regular parts. The layout is somewhat like the panels in a comic book or graphic novel, and it implies a narrative, although there is no coherent story arc. Sometimes small printouts of earlier works are collaged onto pieces along with related sketches, other images, and simple abstract shapes. I am interested in process, specifically the exploitation of chance textures that arise during the making of the work.Much of my work explores the tension between flat shapes and modeled forms, jagged and rounded contours, strong value contrasts, and dramatic changes in scale. This sense of struggle and conflict prompted my exhibition title, Heavy Weather. The bulbous white forms were partly inspired by Alfred Jarry’s King Ubu, a comically vulgar and satirical play first performed in 1895. The flatter black shapes are partly indebted to Eugene Ionescu’s absurdist play, Rhinoceros, of 1950. The former play was probably a critique of imperialism and corruption, and the latter is considered an allegory of the rise of fascism, but I have made no attempt to illustrate the plot of either play.The ambiguity of the imagery is not intended to confuse the beholder (although it may do that). Rather, it is an invitation to viewers to construct their own stories based on what they see in my work.

BIOGRAPHY

Garth Claassen studied art at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, earning a BAFA in 1976, with majors in ceramics, art history, and English, and then a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts.

In 1982 Claassen was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study art history at Indiana University in Bloomington, graduating in 1991 with a doctorate in the history of modern art. During his time at Indiana, he continued to make ceramic sculpture, and mixed-media abstract collages. In 1989 he returned to South Africa and taught there for five years. Claassen joined The College of Idaho in 1994. He taught art history, life drawing, and painting. His attitude to making art has been deeply influenced by his academic studies and teaching experience.

Claassen’s work has been included in three Idaho Triennial Exhibitions—1995, 1998, 2011, and he was awarded Idaho Commission of the Arts Fellowships for 2001, 2009, and 2023. He has exhibited at the College of Idaho, the College of Southern Idaho, the Stewart Gallery in Boise, the Boise Art Museum, the Visual Arts Collective in Garden City, MING Studios in Boise, the Art Association Gallery, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, Montana, and the Prichard Gallery, University of Idaho.

ADDITIONAL FLASH SHOW GALLERY HOURS:Sunday, October 5th | 10:00am – 1:00pm

"Heavy Weather:" Garth Claassen Open Gallery Hours
2025-10-05 10:00 - 13:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
FLASH SHOW GALLERY HOURSHEAVY WEATHER with GARTH CLAASSENSunday, October 5th | 10:00am – 1:00pm

free

at Surel’s Place: 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City

ARTIST STATEMENT

I work a lot in mixed media and often make pieces that consist of multiple, regular parts. The layout is somewhat like the panels in a comic book or graphic novel, and it implies a narrative, although there is no coherent story arc. Sometimes small printouts of earlier works are collaged onto pieces along with related sketches, other images, and simple abstract shapes. I am interested in process, specifically the exploitation of chance textures that arise during the making of the work.

Much of my work explores the tension between flat shapes and modeled forms, jagged and rounded contours, strong value contrasts, and dramatic changes in scale. This sense of struggle and conflict prompted my exhibition title, Heavy Weather. The bulbous white forms were partly inspired by Alfred Jarry’s King Ubu, a comically vulgar and satirical play first performed in 1895. The flatter black shapes are partly indebted to Eugene Ionescu’s absurdist play, Rhinoceros, of 1950. The former play was probably a critique of imperialism and corruption, and the latter is considered an allegory of the rise of fascism, but I have made no attempt to illustrate the plot of either play.

The ambiguity of the imagery is not intended to confuse the beholder (although it may do that). Rather, it is an invitation to viewers to construct their own stories based on what they see in my work.

BIOGRAPHY

Garth Claassen studied art at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, earning a BAFA in 1976, with majors in ceramics, art history, and English, and then a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts.

In 1982 Claassen was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study art history at Indiana University in Bloomington, graduating in 1991 with a doctorate in the history of modern art. During his time at Indiana, he continued to make ceramic sculpture, and mixed-media abstract collages. In 1989 he returned to South Africa and taught there for five years. Claassen joined The College of Idaho in 1994. He taught art history, life drawing, and painting. His attitude to making art has been deeply influenced by his academic studies and teaching experience.

Claassen’s work has been included in three Idaho Triennial Exhibitions—1995, 1998, 2011, and he was awarded Idaho Commission of the Arts Fellowships for 2001, 2009, and 2023. He has exhibited at the College of Idaho, the College of Southern Idaho, the Stewart Gallery in Boise, the Boise Art Museum, the Visual Arts Collective in Garden City, MING Studios in Boise, the Art Association Gallery, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, Montana, and the Prichard Gallery, University of Idaho.

Dark Night Artist Talkback
2025-10-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
Join Andrew Nemr at an intimate gathering as he shares stories from his groundbreaking 12-hour performance. On August 8, 2025, Andrew performed DARK NIGHT LIVE, a 12-hour improvised solo tap dance inviting participants to encounter, reflect on, and honor the choice to endure dark nights of the soul.

At this Artist Talkback, Andrew will share anecdotes from behind the scenes, his experience of performing Dark Night Live, and what is next for the project.

Be the first to see official photos from the performance, enjoy snacks and drinks, and join the conversation.

RSVP

This event will be livestreamed on Andrew Nemr’s channel on YouTube.

BOSCO: Boise Open Studios Tour
2025-10-11 10:00 - 18:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
BOISE OPEN STUDIOS TOURYIDAN GUOSaturday & Sunday, October 11th & 12th10:00am – 6:00pm

free

at Surel’s Place: 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City

Boise Open Studios Collective Organization (BOSCO) features over 125 Treasure Valley artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, printmaking, jewelry, textiles, mosaic, collage, assemblage, digital images, and glass. BOSCO’s main event, the Open Studios Tour, occurs during the first two weekends of October each year, with half of the artists opening their studios on the first weekend and the rest on the second. This event aims to enhance public understanding of the artistic process, foster connections, and build community.

Join us at Surel’s Place to see the work of our Artist-in-Residence Yidan Guo. Yidan’s journey as a painter has spanned thousands of miles, from her birthplace in China to her present home in the US. This migratory experience has deeply influenced her choice of subject matter: women who are immigrants and refugees. As an Asian immigrant and a woman artist, there’s a shared bond, a collective experience of navigating new cultures, which forms the core of her creative exploration.

At the age of 15, Yidan began eight years of rigorous training at China Central Academy of Fine Arts – the most prestigious art school in China and earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Chinese Painting. In 2005 she earned a master’s degree in Philosophy from Renmin University of China and a MFA from Idaho State University in 2024.

BOSCO OPEN STUDIOS TOUR

BOSCO: Boise Open Studio Tour
2025-10-12 10:00 - 18:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
BOISE OPEN STUDIOS TOURYIDAN GUOSaturday & Sunday, October 11th & 12th10:00am – 6:00pm

free

at Surel’s Place: 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City

Boise Open Studios Collective Organization features over 125 Treasure Valley artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, printmaking, jewelry, textiles, mosaic, collage, assemblage, digital images, and glass. Our main event, the Open Studios Tour, occurs during the first two weekends of October each year, with half of the artists opening their studios on the first weekend and the rest on the second. This event aims to enhance public understanding of the artistic process, foster connections, and build community.

Join us at Surel’s Place to see the work of our Artist-in-Residence Yidan Guo. Yidan’s journey as a painter has spanned thousands of miles, from her birthplace in China to her present home in the US.This migratory experience has deeply influenced her choice of subject matter: women who are immigrants and refugees. As an Asian immigrant and a woman artist, there’s a shared bond, a collective experience of navigating new cultures, which forms the core of her creative exploration.

At the age of 15, Yidan began eight years of rigorous training at China Central Academy of Fine Arts – the most prestigious art school in China and earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Chinese Painting. In 2005 she earned a master’s degree in Philosophy from Renmin University of China and a MFA from Idaho State University in 2024.

BOSCO OPEN STUDIOS TOUR

Workshop: Watercolor Painting Techniques for Beginners
2025-10-25 13:00 - 16:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
WORKSHOPWATERCOLOR PAINTING TECHNIQUES FOR BEGINNERSSaturday, October 25th | 1:00pm – 4:00pm

$45 | General Admission$35 | Surel’s Place Sustaining Member Admission (register with Special Passcode)Partial scholarships are available by request to info@surelsplace.org.

REGISTER

Watercolor is a vibrant, approachable medium that invites creativity—even if you’ve never picked up a brush before! In this workshop, artist Yidan Guo will guide you through the fundamentals of watercolor, making it easy to start exploring.

You’ll learn essential basics, including:

Key materials (paints, brushes, paper) and how to use them

Core techniques: wet-on-wet (blending colors on damp surface), wet-on-dry (applying color to dry surface), and dry-on-dry (layering crisp, dry brushstrokes)

Brushwork styles and simple composition tips to make your art feel balanced

Yidan will demonstrate each technique step-by-step, and you’ll get plenty of hands-on time to practice. By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with new skills and a finished watercolor piece of your own to take home.

No prior experience needed—just bring curiosity and a willingness to play!All experience levels are welcome. All materials supplied.

BIOGRAPHY

Yidan’s journey as a painter has spanned thousands of miles, from her birthplace in China to her present home in the US. This migratory experience has deeply influenced her choice of subject matter: women who are immigrants and refugees. As an Asian immigrant and a woman artist, there’s a shared bond, a collective experience of navigating new cultures, which forms the core of her creative exploration.

At the age of 15, Yidan began eight years of rigorous training at China Central Academy of Fine Arts – the most prestigious art school in China and earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Chinese Painting. In 2005 she earned a master’s degree in Philosophy from Renmin University of China and a MFA from Idaho State University in 2024.

Workshop: Watercolor Painting Techniques for Beginners
2025-10-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
WORKSHOPWATERCOLOR PAINTING TECHNIQUES FOR BEGINNERSSunday, October 26th | 1:00pm – 4:00pm

$45 | General Admission$35 | Surel’s Place Sustaining Member Admission (register with Special Passcode)Partial scholarships are available by request to info@surelsplace.org.

REGISTER

Watercolor is a vibrant, approachable medium that invites creativity—even if you’ve never picked up a brush before! In this workshop, artist Yidan Guo will guide you through the fundamentals of watercolor, making it easy to start exploring.

You’ll learn essential basics, including:

Key materials (paints, brushes, paper) and how to use them

Core techniques: wet-on-wet (blending colors on damp surface), wet-on-dry (applying color to dry surface), and dry-on-dry (layering crisp, dry brushstrokes)

Brushwork styles and simple composition tips to make your art feel balanced

Yidan will demonstrate each technique step-by-step, and you’ll get plenty of hands-on time to practice. By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with new skills and a finished watercolor piece of your own to take home.

No prior experience needed—just bring curiosity and a willingness to play!All experience levels are welcome. All materials supplied.

BIOGRAPHY

Yidan’s journey as a painter has spanned thousands of miles, from her birthplace in China to her present home in the US. This migratory experience has deeply influenced her choice of subject matter: women who are immigrants and refugees. As an Asian immigrant and a woman artist, there’s a shared bond, a collective experience of navigating new cultures, which forms the core of her creative exploration.

At the age of 15, Yidan began eight years of rigorous training at China Central Academy of Fine Arts – the most prestigious art school in China and earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Chinese Painting. In 2005 she earned a master’s degree in Philosophy from Renmin University of China and a MFA from Idaho State University in 2024.

Art Talk and Exhibition: The Souls of Resilience
2025-11-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
ART TALK AND EXHIBITIONTHE SOULS OF RESILIENCEMonday, November 3rd | 6:30pm – 8:30pm

This residency is a collaboration with Global Lounge who is supporting music by Classical Queens during the reception beginning at 6:30pm. Art Talk at 7:30pm.

free

at Surel’s Place: 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City

During her residency, artist Yidan Guo focused on creating new portraits of immigrant and refugee women—rooted in deep connection: she visited Boise’s local immigrant and refugee communities, conducting heartfelt interviews to infuse her work with their lived experiences.

At this event, you’ll encounter these new, high-quality portraits alongside existing pieces from her ongoing series Women Who Are Immigrants and Refugees. Together, the works weave a richer, more nuanced tapestry of the diverse experiences within our community.

This is your chance to engage deeply: explore the exhibition, hear the stories behind the portraits, and join Yidan for an intimate art talk. She’ll share her creative process, the challenges she navigated, and the profound insights gained through this project—followed by a Q&A where you can dive deeper.

Come connect with art that honors resilience, identity, and the threads that bind our community.

BIOGRAPHY

Yidan’s journey as a painter has spanned thousands of miles, from her birthplace in China to her present home in the US. This migratory experience has deeply influenced her choice of subject matter: women who are immigrants and refugees. As an Asian immigrant and a woman artist, there’s a shared bond, a collective experience of navigating new cultures, which forms the core of her creative exploration.

At the age of 15, Yidan began eight years of rigorous training at China Central Academy of Fine Arts – the most prestigious art school in China and earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Chinese Painting. In 2005 she earned a master’s degree in Philosophy from Renmin University of China and a MFA from Idaho State University in 2024.

This residency is in collaboration with Global Lounge.

Fall Yard Day
2025-11-10 14:00 - 17:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
VOLUNTEERFALL YARD DAY

Monday, November 10th | 2:00pm – 5:00pm

You can be a part of this incredible community of artists and art lovers. Volunteers are crucial to the work we do together to support the arts in Idaho.

We will be hosting a volunteer gardening day on Monday, November, 10th. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Surel’s Place has an assortment of garden tools, but feel free to bring garden gloves and any tools you think might be helpful. See you there!

If you are interested in gardening or other volunteer opportunities please fill out our Volunteer Interest Form.

YOUR CREATIVE VISION: DRAWING WORKSHOP
2025-11-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
WORKSHOPYOUR CREATIVE VISION: DRAWING WORKSHOPSaturday, November 22nd | 1:00pm – 4:00pm

$45 | General Registration

$35 | Surel’s Place Sustaining Membership (with Special Passcode)

Partial scholarships available by request to info@surelsplace.org

at Surel’s Place: 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City

REGISTER

Marshall Toomey will lead a workshop sharing drawing tips to incorporate into your own art practice. The class will be a combination of lecture and observational drawing from still life. Included will be practice studying light and shadows, and, throughout the day, you’ll have plenty of time to experiment, ask questions, and get personalized feedback.

All experience levels are welcome. All materials supplied.

BIOGRAPHY

Marshal Toomey (California) is an accomplished artist with a career spanning over 40 years as a painter, illustrator, and movie animator. He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri but moved to Southern California in the seventies to pursue his artistic career.

He worked for 20 years at the Walt Disney Animation Studio with credits including the supervising character lead in the creation of the animation of Rafiki in the The Lion King and Quasimodo in The Hunchback of the Notre Dame. You can see the many films he has worked on at his IMBD profile here. He has also illustrated many books – one of them being the The Lion King book published after the movie.

Marshall describes his work as autobiographical. “My own style is blended with traditional techniques to create an enriched view of the life I’ve experienced. I placed myself in the scene along with other characters from my life. I am taking a look at the positives in everyday life; the perspectives, traditions, and routines of being outside of the struggles.”

YOUR CREATIVE VISION: DRAWING WORKSHOP
2025-11-30 13:00 - 16:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
WORKSHOPYOUR CREATIVE VISION: DRAWING WORKSHOPSunday, November 30th | 1:00pm – 4:00pm

$45 | General Registration

$35 | Surel’s Place Sustaining Membership (with Special Passcode)

Partial scholarships available by request to info@surelsplace.org

at Surel’s Place: 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City

REGISTER

Marshall Toomey will lead a workshop sharing drawing tips to incorporate into your own art practice. The class will be a combination of lecture and observational drawing from still life. Included will be practice studying light and shadows, and, throughout the day, you’ll have plenty of time to experiment, ask questions, and get personalized feedback.

All experience levels are welcome. All materials supplied.

GIVING TUESDAY
2025-12-02 00:00 - 23:59 | Idaho
GIVE

It’s a heartful day of giving, and WE NEED YOU.

Reflecting on our past, facing our present, and peering into the future, Surel’s Place has a lot to celebrate and a lot more to look forward to.

Help us continue to do the important work of supporting artists by providing them time and space to explore their creative process – cultivating a connected, vibrant, and inspiring community.

Please support our FUTURE by helping bring our upcoming artists-in-residence to the community. Our hardworking artists provide the public with interesting, accessible, inclusive, and professional arts experiences, including performances, readings, exhibitions, and workshops. We would be nowhere without our artists.

ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCEJanuary – May, 2026

SETAREH GHOREISHIVISUAL | MICHIGAN

ANDREA PARSONPERFORMANCE | OREGON

HECTOR MIGUEL BEVENVISUAL | OKLAHOMA

KARL ERICKSONVISUAL | TENNESSEE

KARA WILKESCHOREOGRAPHY | NORTH CAROLINA

GIVE

THANK YOU!

We have a MATCH!The first donors to contribute $1,000 will be matched by the generosity of our neighbors and local Garden City business, Tumbleweed Bicycle Co.

Thank you, Tumbleweed Bicycle Co.!!

First Friday Art & Studio Stroll
2025-12-05 17:30 - 20:30 | Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, Idaho, 83714
Garden City’s Surel L. Mitchell Live-Work-Create District is bustling with artists, artisans, and creative, artisanal businesses. Come to our neighborhood on the river as much as you can, but especially during our First Friday Art & Studio Stroll. You’ll find many locations open during the event, including artist studios, restaurants, and businesses featuring art events. In addition, there will be special events at many locations, including exhibits, readings, and performances.

More information about the next First Friday, is available at The LWC District First Friday Event Page on Facebook.

See below to view an interactive Google map of the First Friday participating venues.

PARTICIPATING VENUES AND ARTISTS

Surel’s Place

212 E. 33rd Street

In the gallery, work by Marshall Toomey. Surel’s Place will also be visited by the Krampus Krawl around 7:15pm.

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The Holdover House

3338 N Carr Street

The Surly Mermaid

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Arcadia Hotel

3433 W Chinden Blvd

ARTcadia- artist installations in hotel rooms!

Room 1: Andrew Groth & Gia Strang

Room 3: Ace Zappa

Room 16: Brie Schettle

Room 17: Sam Archide

Room 18: Becka Schrinsky

Room 29: Susan Lasater, Veiko Valencia, and Rebecca Evans

By Bike Locks: Megan White

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Visual Arts Collective (VAC)(21+)

3638 Osage Street

“Listening to the Last Light or Golfing on the Moon”

Neon Master, Wil Kirkman retrospective

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Oldspeak

3640 W Chinden Blvd

solo show by scientific illustrator Jay Rasgorshek

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Madacsi Studios

*Brittney Gehrig, Verre Boise Stained Glass

*Susan Madacsi, Madacsi Studios, will have a fused glass activity

*Mandy Riley ClayWorks

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Water’s Edge Gallery at The Riverside Hotel

2900 W Chinden Blvd

Main Level

Reception for our Featured Artists Retrospective. Appetizers available and a Scavenger Hunt throughout the gallery.

2nd level

Rena Vandewater as our Artist of the Month

Catwalk

the reception for the artists in our Catwalk Series, Treasures of Time

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The Common Well

110 W 31st Street

Gallery- Matthew Thorley, Anatomy of Fatigue

2nd floor popup- Susan Madacsi, The Incineration Project Opening!

Many of the artists who work at The Common Well will be in their studios so you can meet them and see what they’re working on. Studio artists and writers include Brecken Bird, Kristen Edwards, Lori Fish, Rolland Fletcher, Teal Gardner, Elizabeth Hilton, Mary Kancewick, Matthew Kennedy, Amber Lawless, Aurora Stone Mehlman, Caitria Mir, Clare Remsberg and Katherine Shaughnessy.

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Black Moon New Venue!

3709 W Chinden Blvd

Artist Shelley Jund

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Create Gallery & Frames

3520 W Chinden Blvd

4pm Demo with Richard Serros

5pm Demo with Thomas Van Stein

5pm Talk with Katinka

6:30pm Interview with Randy Rasmussen

BOISE'S BLACK PIONEER: ELVINA MOULTON
2025-12-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Idaho Black History Museum, 508 Julia Davis Dr., Boise, Idaho, 83702, United States
EXHIBITION & ARTIST TALKBOISE’S BLACK PIONEER: ELVINA MOULTONSaturday, December 6th | 7:00pm – 8:30pmfree

at the Idaho Black History Museum: 508 Julia Davis Dr. in Boise

Marshall Toomey’s paintings explore the Black American world through stories and portraits. He wants his colors to add life, not just color to his stories. During his residency, he will work to bring life to a historic event in the black history of Boise. He has chosen Elvina Moulton as his subject, who is recognized as Boise’s only known Black Pioneer. Elvina was born enslaved in Kentucky in 1837, walked the Oregon Trail from Missouri to Boise sometime around 1867, and was a charter member of First Presbyterian Church in Boise in 1878. She will also be featured in an upcoming Women’s Labor History exhibition at the Erma Hayman House in 2026. Join us at the Idaho Black History Museum where Marshall will unveil this new painting.

BIOGRAPHY

Marshal Toomey (California) is an accomplished artist with a career spanning over 40 years as a painter, illustrator, and movie animator. He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri but moved to Southern California in the seventies to pursue his artistic career.

He worked for 20 years at the Walt Disney Animation Studio with credits including the supervising character lead in the creation of the animation of Rafiki in the The Lion King and Quasimodo in The Hunchback of the Notre Dame. You can see the many films he has worked on at his IMBD profile here. He has also illustrated many books – one of them being the The Lion King book published after the movie.

Marshall describes his work as autobiographical. “My own style is blended with traditional techniques to create an enriched view of the life I’ve experienced. I placed myself in the scene along with other characters from my life. I am taking a look at the positives in everyday life; the perspectives, traditions, and routines of being outside of the struggles.”

BINGO!
2025-12-18 18:00 - 20:00 | The Shrine Social Club, 1118 W. Idaho St., Boise, Idaho, 83702, United States
As the holidays draw nigh, join us for an evening of classic bingo in the basement at the Shrine Social Club! All proceeds directly support Surel’s Place, so come purchase a board (or multiple boards) for the chance to win some great prizes. BINGO!

Prizes include:🔵 A limited edition artist book by Artist-in-Residence Alumna Song Lu🔴 A Shrinky Dink throw back (did you know the next Shrinky Dink exhibition is coming June 6th, 2026?)⚪️ Free Surel’s Place workshop admission🟢 An iconic tabletop gum ball machine!🟡 A certificate to The Commons Climbing Gym for 2 starter packages, including day passes, rental harnesses, rental shoes, and belay lessons!🔵 A pair of show tickets to a show at the Shrine Social Club⚫️ and MORE! BINGO!

WORKSHOP: Form & Meaning: Storytelling Through Letters
2026-01-17 13:00 - 16:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
WORKSHOPFORM & MEANING: STORYTELLING THROUGH LETTERSSaturday, January 17th | 1:00pm – 4:00pm

$45 | General Registration (materials included)$35 | Surel’s Place Monthly Donors (with Special Passcode)Partial scholarships available by request to info@surelsplace.org

REGISTER

Setareh Ghoreishi will lead a workshop introducing you to ancient and non-Latin scripts (with visual references to Farsi and Cuneiform). Explore language beyond its literal translation by exploring the visual form. You will be encouraged to create your own abstract letterforms or symbols inspired by your personal stories, identities, or cultural background.

This workshop encourages you to see typography not just as a technical skill, but as a way to engage with visual forms, culture and identity. This community-centered experience will demonstrate that communication is most powerful when it’s inclusive, reflective, and open to reinterpretation.

All experience levels are welcome. All materials supplied. Appropriate for artists, designers, and community members of all backgrounds.

Thank you to Setareh Ghoreishi’s Residency Sponsors:

LETTERS ACROSS TIME: LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND STORYTELLING
2026-01-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
ART TALK AND EXHIBITIONLETTERS ACROSS TIME: LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND STORYTELLINGWednesday, January 28th | 7:00pm – 8:30pm

free

at Surel’s Place: 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City

Setareh Ghoreishi’s work as a designer and visual artist focuses on language, identity, and storytelling through writing systems—particularly non-Latin scripts. This project explores the intersection of ancient and contemporary writing systems through typographic experimentation. During the residency, Setareh Ghoreishi focused on developing a new body of work centered around a self-invented typeface that blends characteristics of Farsi, English, and Cuneiform scripts. This process involves hand sketching and digital font design. The result is a series of typographic compositions that invite viewers to reflect on cultural hybridity and communication. The work investigates how language shapes identity, preserves culture, and visually communicates across boundaries.

BIOGRAPHY

Setareh Ghoreishi (Michigan) is deeply rooted in the relationship between language, culture, and identity—particularly how these forces intersect through typography. She is a graphic designer and multidisciplinary digital media artist. After receiving her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Art in Tehran, Iran, she migrated to the United States where she currently lives. In her work, she investigates cultural disparities, most specifically between the United States and Iran.

“I am fascinated by the way visual language can act as a vessel for memory, a tool for storytelling, and a bridge across cultural and linguistic boundaries,” Setareh elaborates. “Typography, for me, is not just a system of design and letters; it is a living form that carries emotion, history, and context.”

After moving to the United States, Setareh continued her education and acquired an MFA in Graphic Design from Florida Atlantic University and an MFA in Art and Technology from the University of Florida. This led her to make video art installation and use digital technology to explore the role of visual design in the interaction of cultural and social issues. Through the lens of her own experience, each country’s cultural and social relationships are examined.

Thank you to Setareh Ghoreishi’s Residency Sponsors:

SUSTAINING MEMBERS COFFEE KLATSCH
2026-02-21 11:00 - 12:30 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
BECOME A MEMBER

COMMUNITYSUSTAINING MEMBERS COFFEE KLATSCHSaturday, February 21st | 11:00am – 12:30pm

Join us for a warm morning with pastries, good company, and delicious coffee from our friends and neighbors at Push & Pour. Meet fellow art lovers, hear what’s brewing for 2026, and learn how sustaining memberships keep our neighborhood vibrant with art and ideas and help artists thrive.

SPECIAL GIVEAWAY!

Sustaining Members will be entered to win TWO 5-DAY PASSES to Treefort Music Fest (each general admission pass is valued at $378, and pass prices go up on March 1st – if they don’t sell out first!) You can become a Sustaining Member at ANY LEVEL. For instance, if you give $10 a month, you’re entered to win Treefort passes for less than one quarter of the price of your year-long Sustaining Membership – what a treat!

All active Sustaining Members (donors with automated monthly contributions) as of 12:15pm MST on February 21st, 2026 are automatically eligible.

*Bring a friend who signs up as a Sustaining Member for a bonus entry.*

BECOME A MEMBER

THE ONE
2026-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | The Creative Space, 121 E 34th Street, Garden City, 83714
SHOWCASE / Q&ATHE ONEThursday, February 26th | 7:00pm

at The Creative Space: 121 E 34th St. in Garden City

$10 | General Admissionfree | Surel’s Place Sustaining Members (with Special Passcode)

TICKETS

In order to love somebody else, you have to love yourself first. That’s what her mother once told her when she was 8 years old. Thirty years later, Andrea wonders, was she right? The self help gurus affirm it too! In order to find The One, you not only have to love yourself, but fall madly in love with yourself! Oh God…. In The One, multidisciplinary performer Andrea Parson grapples with the notion of self love in an effort to find that special and elusive someone. A romantic partner, herself, something of the spiritual and unseen world, or maybe The One is sitting right in front of her! Or maybe it’s a mangy cat who goes by the name of Couts.

Through evocative movement, storytelling, and a clown sensibility, Andrea juxtaposes her modern day search for love with images of a 14th century medieval anchoress. Who? You know, those radical women who lived enclosed inside a small cell attached to a church as a bride of Christ. For real! Based on feedback and reflection from its initial performance in Portland this past summer, Andrea has used the Surel’s Place residency to reimagine how she can tell her own autobiographical story through the further development of the Anchoress (whom she’s named Anna).

Andrea invites the audience to join her as she weaves through excerpts from the show- in and out of a sacred, comedic and personal reflection about love and loving.

BIOGRAPHY

Andrea Parson is a multidisciplinary theater artist born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. Andrea pursued dance training at the Joffrey Ballet School, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a BA in Dance in 2009. Following graduation, she joined Northwest Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, where she was awarded the Princess Grace Dance Fellowship in 2010. Over 11 years with the company, she performed nationally and internationally, garnering acclaim for her portrayal of dramatic characters such as Hedda Gabler and Carmen.

Now based in Portland, Andrea creates and performs original solo and ensemble work that merges contemporary dance, physical theater, storytelling, and humor. Her recent award-winning solo, You Can’t Be Serious, was presented at BodyVox Dance Center (2023), Oregon Fringe Festival (2024), and Hollywood Fringe Festival (2024). Andrea presented You Can’t Be Serious at the Fall United Solo Festival 2024 in New York City where she received an award for best physical theater.

Thank you to Andrea Parson’s Residency Sponsors:

This programming is supported in part by Creative West and the National Endowment for the Arts:

WORKSHOP: Painting the Essentials
2026-03-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
WORKSHOPPAINTING THE ESSENTIALSSaturday, March 14th | 1:00 – 4:00pm

$45 | General Registration$35 | Surel’s Place Monthly Sustaining Donors (with Special Passcode)Partial scholarships available by request to info@surelsplace.org

REGISTER

Ages 16 & up

This workshop with Hector Beven introduces participants to the power of simplification in painting. We begin with short examples from artists who inspire Hector, showing how complexity can be distilled into clear forms and gestures. Hector will demonstrate his process of breaking down a busy scene into bold, manageable shapes. Participants will practice with provided reference subjects, then choose their own to paint, working alongside Hector to create a small artwork.

All experience levels are welcome. Materials provided.

Thank you to Hector Beven’s Residency Sponsors:

Exhibition & Art Talk: Bold Simplicity
2026-03-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Surel’s Place, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, 83714, United States
EXHIBITION & ART TALKBOLD SIMPLICITYFriday, March 27th | 7:00 – 8:30pm

free

During his residency at Surel’s Place, Hector Beven immersed himself in the parks, riverbanks, and neighborhoods surrounding Garden City and Boise. His practice relies on extended time outdoors, observing light, movement, and the personality of place. He spent long hours sketching and painting along the Boise River Greenbelt and nearby landscapes, returning to the studio to translate these studies into larger, more meditative works.

This series of paintings embodies the character of the local environment–both the beauty of the natural landscape and also the energy and spirit Hector encountered in daily interactions with residents. “By emphasizing bold brushwork and expressive simplification, I want each work to feel alive with the persona of its subject, whether that be a tree, river bend, or overlooked corner of the city.”

This show presents the paintings created during Hector’s stay and sparks conversation about how an “outsider” artist perceives and interprets Garden City. His hope is that you recognize familiar places in new ways, opening dialogue about the unique character of your home environment.

Thank you to Hector Beven’s Residency Sponsors:

First Friday Art & Studio Stroll
2026-04-03 17:30 - 20:30 | Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District, 212 E. 33rd Street, Garden City, Idaho, 83714
Garden City’s Surel L. Mitchell Live-Work-Create District is lively with artists, art studios, and businesses year-round, but especially during free First Friday events. It’s a great way to explore the local art scene, with exhibitions, readings, and performances at various locations.

On April 3rd, The Backyard Artists will be hosting a community collage night at Surel’s Place.

You can tour the event with our program director, Jodi Eichelberger, by bike on a special First Friday artBike tour. Register at https://surelsplace.ludus.com

More information about the next First Friday, is available at The LWC District First Friday Event Page on Facebook.

See below to view an interactive Google map of the First Friday participating venues.

SPONSORED BY:

River Cleanup with Karl Erickson
2026-04-11 12:00 - 14:00 | Idaho River Sports, 601 N Whitewater Park Blvd, Boise, Idaho, 83702, United States
RIVER CLEANUPSaturday, April 11th | 12:00pm – 2:00pmat Idaho River Sports | 601 N Whitewater Park BlvdfreePlease RSVP

During his residency at Surel’s Place, Karl Erickson will be creating a series of puppet-sculptures and experimental animations about waste along the Boise River Greenbelt. Join him and other members of the Surel’s Place community as we participate in the Idaho Rivers United River Cleanup to collect trash on the shores of the river for Karl to use as the source for his creations. He will then assemble these objects into puppet-like figures and digitize them using a 3D scanning processes. These digital “trash-puppets” will sing, dance, and tell stories of their unexpected journeys along the river, personifying the entanglements that bring human-generated material into contact with the more-than-human.
