NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leslie Gruesbeck (gruesbeckl@nsula.edu)
Coordinator of Gallery Activities
Department of Fine and Graphic Arts
Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear
School of Creative and Performing Arts
Northwestern State University
(318) 357-5476

1/11/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - Exhibits by Michael Elliot-Smith and John Rodriguez are on display through Feb. 3 at Northwestern State University. Elliott-Smith's exhibit, "Michael Elliott-Smith: Recent Works," is on display in the Hanchey Gallery. The exhibit by Rodriguez, "Improving Nature," will be in Gallery 2.

Both artists will be honored with a reception Friday, Jan. 12 from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in the Hanchey Gallery.

Elliott-Smith's exhibit features 20 black and white photographs that explore the natural world. Born in Natchez, Miss., Elliott-Smith grew up on a farm in Monterey, and now lives in Alexandria. Although he has worked as a soil scientist for the U.S. Forest Service for 32 years, he drew on his artistic eye to develop his skills in photography for the past 23 years. His photographs are based on forms in nature.

In 2004, he was awarded the Louisiana State Division of the Arts Visual Arts Fellowship. His works have been shown nationally and are in many private collections. The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, University of South Florida and the State of Louisiana, Claiborne Building at the State Capitol complex have his photographs in their public collections.

"In my early years, I spent many hours exploring the woods and bayous. I loved watching the vast open sky as I worked in the fields; to see cloud formations float over the land changing shapes as they went along on their journey, as the light changed the landscape as the day passed," says Elliott-Smith.

Rodriguez's exhibition is a grouping of large computer illustrations and an animation that Rodriguez has developed to explore the connections between nature and technology.

"As an artist, it is my desire to create visuals that mix both the natural and the technological aspects of our environment," said Rodriguez. "I seek to find a balance in my work between the two; however, I sometimes find it necessary to delve into the absurd."

Rodriguez said the idea behind combining biology and technology plays a large role in his work.

"Even though my main tool is the computer, software, and hardware, my ideas start out as simple sketches that I still create with pencil and paper," he said. "As an artist in the information age, I find that art is all about discovery; discovery of process, discovery of new methods in which to work and discovery of new tools. I am always seeking new ways in which to use technology to create, and by this desire I feel that I am always seeking to better understand myself and my environment."

The galleries are open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Main Menu