Everything Nac

A reception for artist Kymia Nawabi whose work is showing at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House through the end of the year is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at the art center in downtown Nacogdoches.

“Kymia Nawabi: Not for Long, My Forlorn” features a series of large-scale drawings that “acted as meditations on life and death channeled through ravenous, otherworldly beings and animals that inhabit a purgatory-like space,” according to the artist.

Recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Grant and Fellowship in Drawing in 2017, Nawabi has exhibited her work widely in both group and solo exhibitions. This particular exhibition has been shown at The Greenville Museum of Art, Greenville, North Carolina, and The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York.

Nawabi earned first prize on season two of Bravo’s “Work of Art: The Next Great Artist,” taking home $100,000 and earning a solo exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. On the final episode of “Work of Art,” she organized her works for this exhibition.

Admission to the exhibition and reception, which is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Visual Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum, William Arscott and The Flower Shop, is free. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

The Texas Forestry Association presented Dr. Kenneth Farrish, Arnold Distinguished Professor and director of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Division of Environmental Science, with the Project Learning Tree Forestry Innovation Award during the association’s annual convention held in October at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

“Dr. Farrish realized that graduates often lack certain skills that enable them to build successful, satisfying careers,” said Misty Bowie, PLT co-coordinator. “That understanding of his student’s needs and the needs of their future employers led him to develop and continually improve his senior seminar course.”

Noteworthy class activities include attending the Texas Association of Environmental Professionals’ conference, professional networking and a business dining etiquette seminar. Writing résumé and cover letters, interview etiquette, presentation and interpersonal skills, and appropriate business attire also are addressed.

“The course, which is required for seniors in the environmental science program, is experience-based, helping students develop skills that make them more well-rounded in their individual lives and build their self-confidence as they prepare for the transition to the workplace,” Bowie said. “Positive feedback from the course has led administrators in the forestry program, as well as in other colleges on the SFA campus, to take steps to develop and implement similar programs for their respective fields.”

The Texas Forestry Association, the voice for forestry for 100 years, promotes an economic, social and political climate that advances forestry in Texas through education, political action and public relations. The organization also serves the broad needs of forest landowners, producers and consumers, and seeks to enhance and perpetuate the resources of Texas forests.

Stephen F. Austin State University voice students will present a program of musical theatre and opera scenes in a performance that features the Broadway hits of Leonard Bernstein at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

“Bernstein on Broadway … and More!” will showcase students enrolled in the Opera Workshop class taught by Dr. Deborah Dalton, associate professor of voice and director of opera.

The first part of the program features the Opera Ensemble in scenes from selected Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, including “Carousel,” “Oklahoma!” and “The Sound of Music.” Pianist Shirley Watterston will accompany.

“I chose to do an all-Bernstein program with Opera Workshop in honor of the 100th anniversary of his birth,” Dalton said. “This program consists of duets, quartets and quintets as well as full company performances. There are 13 scenes and 25 singers on the program.”

Selections from “West Side Story,” “Candide” and “On the Town” will be performed with piano accompaniment by student pianists Rachel Clark and Parker Dickenson.

“The most well-known scenes are from ‘West Side Story,’ a modern take on ‘Romeo and Juliet,'” Dalton said. “Two rival gangs, the Jets – native New Yorkers led by Riff – and the Sharks – Puerto Rican immigrants led by Bernardo – claim the same turf. Tony, formerly of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, Bernardo’s sister. Unfortunately, the story ends in tragedy.”

The balcony scene features the song “Tonight,” in which Tony searches for Maria and then climbs up the fire escape to talk to her after they met at a dance. In the “Tonight” quintet, the principals are getting ready for an exciting evening. The scene features Tony and Maria, because they planned a meeting; Anita, who has a date with her boyfriend, Bernardo; and Riff and Bernardo, who are getting worked up for a fight between the strongest boys in their respective gangs. In “A Boy Like That,” Anita finds out about Tony and confronts Maria. She makes sure Maria knows “this” kind of boy is bad news.

“There are some lovely surprises to be discovered in scenes from the less well-known shows,” Dalton added.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

The Trombone Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The 32-piece Trombone Choir, under the direction of Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone in the SFA School of Music, and Dr. Danny Chapa, low brass instructor, will play several beautiful chorales.

The program features “Hear the Voice and Prayer” by Thomas Tallis, transcribed by Robert P. Holland, and The Beatle’s “Yesterday,” arranged by Dr. A.C. “Buddy” Himes, dean of the SFA College Fine Arts.

Another highlight of the program is an arrangement of “Rakoczy March” by Hector Berlioz.

Scott will conduct a smaller group of 10 players performing “Concertante Antiphonale” by David Uber.

The program will conclude with David Kneupper’s arrangement of “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin and “Good King Wenceslas” arranged by Tommy Pederson.

Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Drive.

The concert is a joint presentation of the College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

The Children’s Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University will present two performances of the holiday classic “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Tuesday, Nov. 27, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

Inspired by the timeless poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and the real life of its author, Clement Moore, this funny musical introduces Santa Claus in a particularly beneficent light, according to Diane Peterson, SFA Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the children’s series.

“This classic tale has been charming audiences nationwide for many years,” Peterson said.

Presented by Virginia Repertory Theatre with book, music and lyrics by Bruce Craig Miller, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” targets children in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium, which is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.

Presented by the SFA College of Fine Arts, the Children’s Performing Arts Series annually features five shows designed to entertain, educate and engage young audiences of all ages, according to Peterson. Study guides provide suggestions for pre- and post-performance activities and discussions for teachers to use in the classroom. A comprehensive study guide for “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” may be accessed at cpas.sfasu.edu.

Other upcoming CPAS performances include “I Have a Dream” on Friday, Feb. 1; “Madeline and the Bad Hat” Wednesday, March 6; and “The Jungle Book” on Thursday, May 16.

To order tickets, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Visit the CPAS website at cpas.sfasu.edu for additional information.