LAKELAND, Fla. (Sept. 27, 2010) -- Florida Southern College's Melvin Gallery will showcase a collection of works by Vilas Tonape, a local artist and professor at Polk State College. The exhibition, titled "Kruti," runs Oct. 1-29, with a free reception beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1. The public is invited.

Tonape, a native of India, has been creating art for more than two decades. His work has been displayed internationally to critical acclaim. Working in both figurative and non-representational modes, Tonape focuses on nature. His paintings are "melodies" orchestrated by the artist, rooted in the visual rhythms of gesture and color, and recorded in the subject matter. "Kruti" is the Sanskrit word for "creation."

The Melvin Art Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and during intermissions of many performances of the FSC Festival of Fine Arts series. For more information, please contact the gallery at 863.680.4743.

About Florida Southern College Founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive United Methodist-affiliated college. The College maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 50 undergraduate programs and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 12:1 student/faculty ratio; is a national leader in engaged learning; and boasts 27 NCAA Division II national championships. It is ranked in the Top 10 "Best Regional Colleges in the South" by U.S. News & World Report and is included in The Princeton Review's "373 Best Colleges" guide and The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011. The College is committed to the development of the whole student through vibrant student life programs that prepare graduates to make a positive, consequential impact on society. Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is home to the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.