BY SANDY BERTRAM
The West Volusia Artists are highlighting Elizabeth Zapata as their Artist of the Month for May. Her acrylic piece titled Spring Bike will be on display at the Wayne G. Sanborn Activity Center in DeLand. She hopes her work shows how much she is energized and renewed by cycling.
Zapata was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. At 2 months old, she came to live in New Jersey. In 1985, she came to Florida.
About seven years ago, a co-worker inspired her to take some art workshops and classes. After hearing about our club online about four years ago, she came to a meeting at the Sanborn Center.
Zapata is multitalented. She is a singer of classic rock with Remixx and Classic Jamz, who often perform in Artisan Alley in Downtown DeLand. Playing the ukulele with the Seaside Strummers in Daytona Beach is another pastime. The group likes to entertain young and old.
When it comes to art, Zapata encourages artists to “enjoy it and do what inspires you.”
The West Volusia Artists meet 9 a.m.-noon on the first and third Friday September-May at the Sanborn Center, 815 S. Alabama Ave. Currently, the group is exhibiting their art in DeLand City Hall through June 30.
The club’s next field trip is to New Smyrna Beach, where participants will tour the art galleries on Canal Street.
Recently, the club visited Ponce Inlet for a plein-air event.
The art challenge for May is “water,” which members will share at the second meeting of the month.
In 2024, the club hopes to go to Washington, D.C., to see the art museums and the cherry blossoms.
Come join us for our next meeting. For more information, call club President Melinda Ellis Cummings at 386-846-3330
