“I have known Arlene for over 25 years as a creative and talented interior designer peer, and thus was intrigued when I ascended the stairs in the library a few months ago and saw a poster on the bulletin board announcing her debut art show upstairs. When I opened the door to the upper room displaying her Secret Garden pieces, it was like opening the door to an enchanting new world in her artistry. 

As a decorator and interior designer, one is always creating spaces that express the client's taste...somewhat like an artist who takes on commissioned pieces. These Secret Garden pieces were totally free and flowing without boundaries or preconceived outcomes. To pour paint, let it drip down a canvas allowing it to flow and mix freely with other colours, and be able to see a picture of what is evolving quickly enough to then mold and manipulate areas of the canvas to fashion a work of art takes creative visualization, skill, and the ability to go with the flow.

There were several pieces I loved in the Secret Garden collection, but I was intuitively drawn to 'Fireflies' which was created on a shimmering black background with brilliant, dripping colours birthing leaves, flowers, fairies, butterflies, caterpillars, fireflies and myriads of yet to be discovered magical beings hidden from view...for the moment. I was enthralled with it when I first laid eyes on this piece, and each time I find some newly discovered 'being', I am enchanted like a 5 year old child with the same joy and wonder I feel every time I see fireflies flitting to and fro in the garden after dusk.”

— Gwendolyn Lee, Stratford