World Premiere of Tony Arruza's '15 Surfboards by 15 Shapers'

Next week the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County will be hosting the world premiere of a major new exhibition by West Palm Beach-based photojournalist and fine art photographer Tony Arruza: 15 Surfboards by 15 Shapers.

Opening on Friday, December 2, and running through January 21, 2017 at the Cultural Council's gallery in Lake Worth, this amazing exhibition was the brainchild of Arruza, who traveled the world in search of professional surfboard-handcrafters (or shapers) to create unique works of art. With each one-of-a-kind surfboard, Arruza inlaid a photograph, that he had taken and printed, to aesthetically enhance the shape of the board.

"This exhibition represents a lifetime of work, passion and travels, all embodied in one project," says Arruza. "It's a way to showcase what I've lived over the past 40 years - surfing, photography and travel. I'm not so much a surfboard artist as I am a surf photographer artist, who uses surfboards as a means to display my art."

The 15 colorful, eye-catching and wave-riding surfboards in the exhibition, and the craftsmen that shaped them, include:

· Pipeline, a Firo surfboard shaped by Steve Firogenis of West Palm Beach, FL

· Mullet Chase, a Nomad surfboard shaped by Ron Heavyside of Boynton Beach, FL

· Crystal Lip, an RC surfboard shaped by Ricky Carroll of Rockledge, FL

· Pink Hibiscus, a Chris Birch surfboard shaped by Chris Birch of Rockledge, FL

· Sunrise Lines, a One World surfboard by Juan Rodriguez of Sarasota, FL

· Road to Discovery, a Kechele surfboard shaped by Matt Kechele of Melbourne, FL

· Down the Line, a B.A.T. surfboard shaped by Brain Tudor of Indian Harbour Beach, FL

· The Pelican, a Pelicano surfboard shaped by NestoR Ramirez of Isabela, Puerto Rico

· Legends in the Dark, a WRV surfboard shaped by Jesse Fernandez of Kill Devil Hills, NC

· Mutant, a Spirare surfboard shaped by Kevin Cunningham of Providence, RI

· The Wall, a Rawson surfboard shaped by Pat Rawson of North Shore Beach, Oahu, HI

· Jungle Fall, a Dick Brewer Surfboard shaped by Dick Brewer of Hanalei, Kauai, HI

· The 3 Amigos, a Christenson surfboard shaped by Chris Christenson of San Marcos, CA

· Pismo Pilings, a Jim Phillips surfboard shaped by Jim Phillips of Encinitas, CA

· The Beginning, a McTavish surfboard shaped by Bob McTavish of Byron Bay, Australia

"The decision as to what photograph was used for each surfboard was in most cases a collaborative effort between the shaper and myself," says Arruza. "I made sure that the photographs covered a wide spectrum of subjects and locations, and the final decision was based on factors such as style of board, details within the board and the shaper's identity."

The finished pieces on display in 15 Surfboards x 15 Shapers are in essence functional art where the surfboard could work equally well in the ocean or as stunning wall art. All 15 surfboards in the exhibition are available for purchase, as well as black and white portraits of the shapers, the full framed images used on the surfboards and details of the process."

"It'd be ideal for a collector to keep this original group of surfboards together, being that it's the first time something of this nature has been done," adds Arruza, whose photography has been published in Audubon Magazine, National Geographic, Outside, Surfing, Travel + Leisure and Yachting, and used in advertising for Boeing, Coca-Cola, Exxon, Nikon, Proctor & Gamble, Royal Caribbean and the Smithsonian Institute.

Also on view during this exhibition will be panels from the Surf History Museum in Lake Park that detail the history of surfing as well as its beginnings in Palm Beach County.

The Cultural Council will host a Member's Preview of this exhibition on Thursday, December 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with musical guests Spread the Dub. This Preview is free for members, $20 for non-members. A free reception open to the public will be held on Friday, December 2, 6 to 8:30 p.m., with musical guest Brett Staska. Mr. Arruza's book on the project, 15x15, will be available for purchase at the Council ($30 plus tax) and the artist will sign books both nights.

The Cultural Council's 15 Surfboards by 15 Shapers exhibition is generously sponsored by The Fanjul Family, Mr. & Mrs. G. F. Merck, Anonymous, SSI Petroleum, Sushi Jo, ALLEY MAASS ROGERS & LINDSAY, P.A., House of Frames, Lipari Ribek Group, McCranels Orthodontics, Nomad Surf Shop, S-One Holdings/LexJet, Terrance Riley Irrigation, Tina Fanjul and Associates Realty, Vissla, Diva-Licious Cake House, Saltwater Brewery and Tito's Vodka.

About the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County:

The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, serving non-profit organizations, artists and arts districts. The Cultural Council administers $4.5 million in grants annually, supports arts and cultural education, provides capacity-building training, and advocates for arts funding and arts-friendly policies. The Council promotes Palm Beach County's cultural experiences to visitors and residents through multi-platform marketing and public information programs, including its one-of-a-kind Cultural Concierge service.

The Cultural Council presents exhibitions featuring Palm Beach County artists and provides additional programming at its headquarters in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building, an iconic Streamline Moderne former movie theater in Downtown Lake Worth. Also at the Cultural Council headquarters are the Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store featuring products by Palm Beach County artists and the Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center, a VISIT FLORIDA designated Florida Certified Tourism Information Center.

The Cultural Council galleries, visitor information center and store are open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For a complete calendar of cultural activities in The Palm Beaches, connect with the Council at www.palmbeachculture.com or (561) 471-2901. To plan a personalized cultural itinerary, connect with the Cultural Concierge at www.palmbeachculture.com/concierge.

Photo Credit: RoBert Clark