Seattle artist Jean Bradbury and her exhibit Beyond Realities will be featured at the city of Enumclaw’s Gallery 2011 through March 2.

Bradbury’s exhibit includes paintings of surreal gardens inhabited by unusual and unexpected garden creatures. Enumclaw Cultural Programs Manager Gary LaTurner said the creatures look like they might have come from a children’s storybook – not an ordinary storybook, but a book with intrigue, one that lets the mind travel to new places. Her paintings create partnerships; not scary, but maybe strange partnerships. The creatures each have personalities of their own that are expressed somewhat by their size and the gardens in which they live.

“Jean Bradbury’s art is an impressive mix of truth and fiction,” he said.

“I paint gardens inhabited by whimsical and often vulnerable creatures,” Bradbury noted. “Both joyful and sinister, these places celebrate our own gentle natures in a world where anxiety and heartache lurk.

“My paintings remind me to observe nature and to take care of our world and our hearts. There is beauty in the small and strength in intimacy.”

Bradbury was born in the Shetland Islands of the United Kingdom and grew up in New Brunswick, Canada, on her parent’s organic farm where she learned to see plants and animals as a natural part of life.

Gallery 2011 will also feature the soft sculptures of Brenda Treibel in the City Hall entryway display case. Her dry felt or needle felt tableau-style sculptures are friendly concoctions of flora and fauna.

“Brenda’s sculptures are made from all natural wool, fiber and dyed fibers,” LaTurner said.

Gallery 2011 is in the council chambers at Enumclaw City Hall, 1339 Griffin Ave. Hours for the exhibition space are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. City Hall is closed on national holidays. The gallery is closed to the public Tuesdays for court proceedings. For information, call the Enumclaw Cultural Programs office at 360-802-0239.