Everything Nac

Chloe Garrett, a sophomore art student from Orange, is the newest recipient of the Robert Kinsell Art Scholarship awarded by the Friends of the Visual Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Garrett’s primary focus is painting. Assistant art professor Shaun Roberts nominated her for the award.

“Chloe is a highly motivated and gifted student,” Roberts said in his nomination letter. “Although she is still early in her academic artistic career at SFA, Chloe is already producing high-quality results. She continues to enthusiastically absorb what we cover in class and readily accepts and gives constructive comments in critique. She sets the bar for the other students in the classes.”

Roberts also described Garret as “a talented, driven young artist.”

“I look forward to her presence in future classes of mine,” he said.

The SFA Friends of the Visual Arts established the Kinsell scholarship to support the educational goals of students currently enrolled in the School of Art by providing financial assistance to outstanding students in the visual arts program. The scholarship also honors Kinsell as a teacher, as an ardent supporter of the arts in the Nacogdoches community, and as a huge supporter of the FVA and its fundraising activities.

An art professor at SFA for 25 years before retiring in 2013, Kinsell taught courses in painting, drawing, figure drawing and advertising design. The Robert Kinsell Art Scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate or graduate level art student with painting or photography as his or her major study area, according to the criteria developed by Kinsell.

The SFA Friends of the Visual Arts is made up of community members who support the arts in East Texas and provide monetary assistance to students enrolling in the School of Art by conducting fundraisers, such as the upcoming annual 12 x 12 event in July.

Sarah Jentsch has been selected as this year’s Charles D. Jones Art Scholarship recipient at Stephen F. Austin State University. Jentsch , a senior from Etoile, is studying printmaking in SFA’s School of Art.

Neal Cox, associate professor/printmaking coordinator, nominated Jentsch for the scholarship. She has been a student in several of Cox’s classes during the past two years.

“In all cases, she has excelled and has established herself as a leader in the printmaking studio,” Cox wrote in his nomination letter. “I have been thoroughly impressed by her ability to learn readily, her positive attitude, her broad knowledge base and her social aptitude.”

Cox said that printmaking is not an easy discipline by way of technique and workload, explaining that it can be intimidating to even the most talented students. He said Jentsch possesses qualities that help her carry her talent through to successful learning.

“She knows how to pay attention, takes accurate, extensive notes, and later reviews and revises her notes,” he said. “Her attentiveness, her enthusiasm for learning, and her natural ability all help her acquire information quickly and effectively.

“Ms. Jentsch possesses a delightful sense of humor that helps her laugh with others and sets them at ease,” he said. “She comes to class with a smile and engages her fellow students, helping them to feel at ease and to learn along side her. She seems to believe that she can learn despite any apparent obstacle.”

The SFA Friends of the Visual Arts has established scholarships in the name of retiring art professors who were employed in the School of Art for a minimum of 10 years before retirement and who contributed in a significant way to the mission of the FVA board and its fundraising activities, such as consistently donating art for fundraisers, by providing monetary assistance, or by serving on FVA committees or board.

The Jones scholarship is awarded on an annual basis to a junior, senior or graduate level student with drawing or printmaking as his/her major study area. Students must show initiative and a broad appreciation of all of the fine arts with a concentration on printmaking, according to the eligibility criteria established by Jones.

Jones is professor emeritus in the SFA School of Art where he taught printmaking, drawing, Mexican art history and the “Art of The Book” from 1971 to 2011. During that time, he was named a Regents Professor and received a Distinguished Professor Award from the Alumni Association and a Teaching Excellence Award from the university.

The Friends of the Visual Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University have selected Aldo Ornelas, a graduate student in ceramics from Chihuahua City, Mexico, as this year’s recipient of the Gary Q. Frields Art Scholarship.

To be eligible for the Frields’ award, students must “demonstrate an exemplary work ethic, show versatility in the use of media and techniques in two or more areas, and show innovation and quality in their work,” according to the criteria established by Frields.

Piero Fenci, professor of ceramics at SFA, nominated Ornelas for the award that honors the late SFA art professor. Fenci noted, “Aldo is a workhorse and has made himself indispensable in the ceramic studio. He’s devoted, trustworthy, sweet, thoughtful and steady.”

Ornelas’ other concentration is sculpture, and his work in both areas is strong, ranging from functional pottery and decorative vessels to figurative and abstract sculpture and ranging in size from intimate to life size, Fenci wrote.

“He virtually lives in the studio and is always the first to volunteer to lend a hand,” Fenci said.

Ornelas graduated from La Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, the state university in Mexico with which SFA has a special art relationship. Ornelas is the fifth Mexican undergraduate to matriculate in SFA’s M.F.A. program in the past dozen years, “and all of them have been over the top,” Fenci said.

The FVA established scholarships in the name of retiring SFA School of Art professors who were employed in the School of Art for minimum of 10 years before retirement and who contributed in a significant way to the mission of the Friends of the Visual Arts board and its fundraising activities, such as by consistently donating art for fundraisers, by providing monetary assistance, or by serving on FVA committees or board.

Known among his peers as a great advocate for SFA’s art students, Frields taught courses in design, drawing and sculpture and served as graduate program coordinator for the School of Art before his retirement in 2012. He was a recipient of the SFA Fine Arts Teaching Excellence Award and was appointed to the board of directors for the Texas Association of Schools of Art. Frields’ involvement in national juried exhibitions helped in establishing the SFA Texas National, originating the concept, name and designing the logo. The event brings to Nacogdoches some of the most celebrated contemporary artists as jurors. He originated the Art Prom and was a founding member of The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, creating the logo and contributing to concept planning.

The SFA Friends of the Visual Arts is made up of community members who support the arts in East Texas and provide monetary assistance to students enrolling in the School of Art by conducting fundraisers, such as the upcoming annual 12 x 12 event in July.

The Friends of the Visual Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University have selected Samuel Langston, a freshman from Lufkin, as the first William Arscott Art Scholarship recipient at SFA. Langston is a studying filmmaking in SFA’s School of Art.

Jeff Brewer, assistant professor of sculpture, nominated Langston for the scholarship.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing and teaching Sam over the past year. He is a dedicated student and budding young artist,” Brewer wrote in his nomination letter to the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts.

Brewer said Langston has “a passion for filmmaking” that became evident in his SFA 101 class.

“Sam is not only a hard worker, he’s a passionate student, sociable, witty and very level-headed,” Brewer said. “I have enjoyed watching Sam grow as an artist and as a person, gaining confidence in his talents and his direction in life. He always represents SFA in a most professional way. Sam will do great things, and I look forward to seeing it happen. ”

The FVA will award the Arscott Scholarship annually to one SFA art student to aid them in furthering their educational and professional goals in the field of art. Arscott is the senior member of the art faculty and has worked in many artistic fields, including painting, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture and cinematography. In 1980, he established the cinematography program for the School of Art. Distinguished as both an artist and educator, Arscott has been recognized and awarded many honors, including Texas Senate Resolution No. 514, Outstanding Educator of America, Alumni Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor.

The FVA has established several scholarships in the name of retiring SFA School of Art professors who were employed in the School of Art for a minimum of 10 years before retirement and who contributed in a significant way to the mission of the Friends of the Visual Arts board and its fundraising activities. In this instance, Arscott is still working at the university after more than 54 years of teaching there and is SFA’s longest-tenured faculty member. FVA scholarship committee members decided they wanted to honor Arscott now, prior to his retirement.