Art Exhibit Features Contrasting Styles

publication date: Jul 3, 2008

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author/source: John Breech / STAFF

By John Breech / STAFF

June may be over, but the newest exhibition at the Timothy Michael Art Gallery in Roswell is still going on strong. Late last month, artists Leann Zafuto and David Eldreth unveiled some of their exceptional works as part of an exhibition at the gallery that will run through August.

Friends, family and art aficionados all gathered at the gallery to admire the work of the two experts. Guests were treated to wine and light hors d’oeuvres as they perused through over 40 paintings that the duo had produced.

Eldreth, a 1967 graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, has spent most of his life doing pottery. However, it was his illustrious paintings that were on display at the gallery.

“Most of my paintings are suggestions of landscapes. They are simplified of subjective clutter and release the viewer from a world of objects,” says Eldreth. “I try to speak to the viewer by what is not said, using the paint as a language of mood and feeling rather than subjective description.”

Eldreth’s paintings could seemingly confuse an onlooker when viewed from up close. Although, when viewed from a distance, the once murky image has a tendency to clear up and produce a landscape. However, like a Rorschach ink blotch test, each of the night’s onlookers seemed to have a different take as to what Eldreth’s paintings actually showed.

Zafuto on the other hand, produces work quite different from that of Eldreth. Her pieces consist of brighter tones and are generally more colorful then Eldreth’s. The self-taught Zafuto has taken a diverse array of courses at Emory and the Atlanta College of Art that have taught her new techniques and helped her refine old ones.

According to her biography, Zafuto’s specialties include acrylic, oil, charcoal, ink, resin and mixed media. The diversity of Zafuto’s work can be attributed to the diversity of her inspirations. Zafuto includes works by Andy Warhol, Dexter Dallwood and the recently deceased Robert Rauschenberg among her inspirations. She also attributes some of her dexterity to the “energy and art of the Miami Design District.”

Another artist on hand was China native Zheng Li. Although the renowned Li wasn’t necessarily part of that night’s exhibition, he did have two pieces showing at the gallery. Li spent most of the night mingling with the diverse crowd and answering questions about his work.

People interested in checking out the works of Eldreth, Zafuto or Li in person can go to the Timothy Michael Art Gallery. The gallery is located on Oak Street, and the exhibition featuring the works of Zafuto and Eldreth will be going on until Aug. 7.