MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake 2018 Cover Artist Announced

The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College announced the cover artist for MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire-by-the-Lake 2018 on Thursday.

Long-time Mayfaire participant and past Best of Show winner Ummarid "Tony" Eitharong will produce the cover art for the 47h annual fine art show.

The artwork that Eitharong, who lives in Orlando, created for this year’s Mayfaire by-the-Lake is titled “Green River.” Its water element reminds him of Lake Morton, he said, adding that he was flattered to have his work used for Mayfaire publicity.

His art will be featured on Mayfaire T-shirts, posters and other materials used to promote the event that attracts more than 60,000 people to the shores of Lake Morton annually, as well as on the T-shirts for the MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire 5K Road Race presented by the Lakeland Runners Club.

“It's very fitting to have Tony's work represent Mayfaire this year,” Executive Director Claire Orologas said. “He has won awards in art fairs throughout the state for many years, he is an anchor at Mayfaire, his work is in private collections throughout the region, and he is in the museum's permanent collection.”

Eitharong was trained in superrealism, in which art resembles a high-resolution photograph. He transitioned into abstracts and mixed media collages, and for about the last decade, Eitharong has worked primarily in abstracts using acrylics on watercolor paper.

“I always have a good soft spot for abstract,” Eitharong said. “People say it’s easy to do. I’ve found abstract is one of the hardest things to do.”

MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake is presented on Mother’s Day weekend each year by the Polk Museum of Art. This year’s event is May 12-13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free to attend. For more information, visit the event’s website: https://www.mayfairebythelake.org.