Everything Nac

Ilko Rusev, principal bassist of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Medellin and professor at the University of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia, will perform a recital at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

The program will include virtuosic compositions by the romantic composer Giovanni Bottesini and will feature the beloved “Arpeggione” sonata by Franz Schubert.

The performance is part of the Cole Performing Arts Series of the SFA 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.

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

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and Friends of the Visual Arts have announced that Julie McSwain, who graduated from Center High School this past May, is this year’s recipient of the East Texas Regional High School Art Scholarship.

The SFA Friends of the Visual Arts Board provides an annual scholarship to one deserving high school senior from East Texas who plans to enroll in the SFA School of Art to help them further their educational and professional goals in the field of art. McSwain is currently attending SFA.

“Julie is the type of student I can easily find many positive things to write about,” Center art teacher Ruby Woodward wrote in nominating her for the award last spring. “The quality of her work is the first thing that comes to mind, as she is not one to settle on the first (or easiest) idea. She really dives into her work and is not content until she produces something beautiful.”

In her artist’s statement describing her work, McSwain wrote: “Creating art is one thing that takes my mind off all of the chaos and stress and responsibilities in my life. It can take you to a different world and make hours fly by, yet it only feels like a few minutes have passed. I often times relate my art to music, another thing that helps me escape reality. While most of my life my art has consisted of pencil and paper, the past couple of years I have been fortunate to digitally create art using Illustrator and other programs, and I’ve recently really enjoyed using charcoal and prismacolors and some painting. However, no matter the materials I use, I enjoy creating art not only because it is something that helps pass the time, but it also makes me feel a million times better and impacts my life in so many ways.”

“There has never been a project I’ve assigned that Julie did not deliver something top of the line,” Woodard wrote. “This student is ready for college level work. I was very pleased to hear of her enrollment at SFA. She will be an asset to your art department.”

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 annual 12 x 12 event each July.

The College of Fine Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University continues its tradition of bringing professional artists to East Texas, opening the 2015-2016 University Series with Sonali Skandan and Company at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance Company presents compelling and dynamic works based on the timeless idiom of Bharatanatyam. Jiva Dance sees the importance of preserving and promoting the traditional arts, yet also understands the need to incorporate innovative techniques to reach diverse audiences, according to John W. Goodall, associate dean for the College of Fine Arts.

“This company is comprised of exceptionally talented dancers all trained in the traditional and classic dance form of South India,” Goodall said. “The company has performed at notable venues to tremendous audience acclaim. The repertoire ranges from highly traditional solo works to more versatile group items that highlight the evolving nature of the dance form.”

Prior to the performance, Heather Samuelson, dance instructor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science at SFA, will present a 7 p.m. informative talk in Griffith Gallery about the company. The gallery is located across the hall from Turner Auditorium, which is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.

The audience is invited back to the gallery for a post-performance reception to meet the performers and to honor the event’s corporate sponsor, Commercial Bank of Texas.

Single event ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for students/youth. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

SFA students may purchase Rush tickets for $3 during regular office hours starting Monday, Sept. 14. Students must present a valid SFA ID for purchase and at the door on event night.

For more information on the 2015-2016 University Series, visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches.

SFA Gardens’ horticulturists Dawn Stover and Greg Grant will present “A Plant Preview of the Upcoming Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale.” Their combined program will provide important information and images of the various special, popular and unusual plants available at the sale.

The annual fall sale will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center. The sale will feature a wide variety of hard-to-find, “Texas-tough” plants, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs, trees and exclusive SFA introductions. Most of the featured plants are produced by staff members and volunteers of the SFA Gardens.

This popular event benefits the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden and Gayla Mize Garden, along with educational programs that are hosted monthly at the gardens.

Parking for the annual fall sale will be available at SFA’s Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center, and visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon for their plants. For more information about the sale, call (936) 468-4404 or visit www.sfagardens.sfasu.edu.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month at SFA’s Pineywoods Native Plant Center. A rare plant raffle will be held after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves lecture series fund are always appreciated.

Parking for the lecture series is available at the nearby Raguet Elementary School, 2428 Raguet St., with continual shuttle service to the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building.

For more information, call (936) 468-1832 or email grantdamon@sfasu.edu.