An elephant never forgets, but Leonardo Feroleto, owner of Six Summit Gallery in Ivoryton, is making sure that we don’t forget the elephant.

The gallery is exhibiting a diverse show of wall art and sculpture titled “Ivoryton to Africa” through May 31. A portion of proceeds of sales will benefit The African Wildlife Foundation, which is leading a global effort to stop the slaughter of African elephants and other species. Proceeds also will benefit the World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading conservation organization that addresses poaching of elephants, as well as habitat loss and degradation.

At least 20,000 elephants were killed worldwide in 2013 by poachers for their ivory tusks, only slightly down from the previous two years, and at the end of 2013, there were an estimated 500,000 African elephants living in the world, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). An astonishing 95 percent of the elephant population has been killed during the last 100 years.

As a resident of Ivoryton (and New York City) Feroleto feels a personal obligation to address this issue. He points out that Ivoryton had the dubious distinction of being ground zero for the manufacturing of piano keys and nearly all ivory products in the U.S. during the early 20th century.

“Ivoryton is named after ivory, so here and Deep River were the two places where all the manufacturing of the ivory happened,” he says. “So we have a responsibility to ourselves and to the public to let everyone know that we don’t make our living off of ivory anymore — that it’s a sensitive issue.”

In addition to his Ivoryton art exhibit, Feroleto is putting on art shows with Faust Harrison Pianos in Fairfield and New York to benefit the plight of elephants. He is also on a committee that is jurying a competition for the commission of a town-funded outdoor art icon in the center of the village that “reflects the history and celebrates the culture of Ivoryton.”

“This is going along with my campaign for anti-poaching and anti-ivory because it would be hard to make a commemorative art piece in Ivoryton without having something to do with pianos or piano keys,” Feroleto says.

“We’re getting a lot of submissions and a lot of excitement for a commemorative piece that will be a permanent part of town,” he adds. 

ELEPHANTS AND MORE

Feroleto, who curated the show, explains that the artwork doesn’t all directly relate to elephants. There is other wildlife represented, as well as abstract work that doesn’t make a direct connection to the theme of the exhibit.

“I’m sticking to my mantra of being a diverse gallery and not doing an overly conventional show,” he says.

The more literal elephant-themed art includes several joyful acrylic paintings by Sunil Howlader of Mystic.

“He’s an obvious fit because he’s one of the best elephant artists around here,” observes Feroleto.

There is also a hyper-realistic fabric piece by Disney artist Lisa Lichtenfels of Massachusetts titled “Elephant Polo,” and “Triumphant Tusks,” a large abstract painted aluminum sculpture in front of the gallery by Derek Riley of Massachusetts.

Essex artist and architect Frances Maravelea has eight contemporary abstract mixed-media works in the show that interpret and connect with the lines in etchings by Salvador Dali, several of which are also on exhibit.

Ailene Fields of New York City, whose subject is eclectic wildlife sculpture, also has numerous pieces in the show, including “African Sunset,” a sculpture that’s internally illuminated and created with translucent orange alabaster. The public can bid on this piece with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the African Wildlife Foundation and World Wildlife Fund.