Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University Dance Program will present Danceworks, a studio concert featuring student, faculty and guest artist choreography, at 7 p.m. April 23 and April 24, and at 3 p.m. April 25.

Senior choreographic projects by dance majors Caitlin Cano, Elena Conde, Stephanie Laranjeira and Rachel Smith will be presented, as well as an independent choreographic project by Ivoryanna McDonald. Student collaborative choreography by members of the SFA Repertory Dance Company, directed by Elizabeth Rhodes, will be performed, along with excerpts from a score composed by School of Music major Josh Coe.

This will be the final performance of “Creed of Fools” choreographed by guest artist Meredith Robertson-Early of the University of Southern Mississippi. The Repertory Dance Company performed Robertson-Early’s work in an adjudicated concert held in March at the annual conference of the American College Dance Association in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Stan Bobo’s playful work “Secret Elan” will be featured along with adjunct faculty member Heather Samuelson’s “Ka`lei´do`scope.”

The concert will be held in the dance studio located in the Lucille Norton HPE Complex Room 201. The box office is located in the lobby of the HPE building, and tickets go on sale one hour before each performance for that day.

Ticket prices are $5 for students, $8 for SFA faculty, staff and senior citizens, and $10 for general admission.

For more information, email dance@sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-1812.

Join Greg Grant, Stephen F. Austin State University research associate at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, and Cliff Shackelford, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ornithologist, on a bird and nature walk from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 9, in rural Shelby County.

Through annual prescribed burns, regular thinning and standing snags, Grant maintains this 22-year-old, eight acre stand of loblolly pines as a habitat for cavity-dwelling birds and pine savanna wildlife. The sanctuary, “Rebel Eloy Emanis Pine Savanna and Bird Sanctuary,” is named for his outdoor-loving grandfather, who formerly owned the property.

During the hike, attendees can see brown-headed nuthatches, pine warblers, Eastern bluebirds, tufted titmice,

Carolina chickadees, Carolina wrens, Eastern phoebes and an assortment of woodpeckers. Participants should prepare to explore approximately one mile on dirt trails and should wear comfortable shoes.

Transportation is provided and will depart from the SFA Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Center at the university’s Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St., in Nacogdoches. Group size is limited. Cost of the tour is $30 for SFA Gardens members and $35 for non-members.

For reservations or more information, contact sfagardens@sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-1832.

Jacksonville, Fla., artist Jason John won first place in the 2015 Texas National Competition and Exhibition at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Commenting on the high quality of work entered in the 21st Texas National event, Juror Zhi Lin selected an unprecedented 10 works of art as honorable mentions.

“Mr. Lin had a very difficult time choosing the winners this year,” said John Handley, director of art galleries at SFA, “which is why we had an unprecedented number of honorable mentions – 10 in all. Normally there are maybe four honorable mentions, but Mr. Lin could not get the number below 10.”

Lin selected John’s “Carrier,” 2014, for first place honors, calling the painting of a young woman “stunning,” and commenting on the “exceptional rendering of her delicate hands,” Handley said.

Second place went to Cypress, Texas, artist Sherman Finch for “Be Sure of Your Target and What’s Around It,” 2014, and third place went to Lake Charles, La., artist Kenneth Baskin for “Crucible Series #15,” 2013.

An honorable mention went to SFA student Arley Morales of Nacogdoches for “Fearless,” 2014. Another honorable mention went to retired SFA art professor Robert Kinsell of Fort Davis for “Chili Fiction,” 2014.

The other honorable mention entries were by Margaret McCartney, “Refrigerator from Bianca’s House,” 2014, Houston; Jon Mahnke, “Yell,” 2014, Saint Paul, Minn.; Justin Nguyen, “Grandmother from Vietnam,” 2013, Garland; Amanda Sweet, “A History of Water,” 2014, Seattle, Wash.; Kathy Liao, “Red Hat,” 2014, Saint Joseph, Mo.; Karen Ferrer, “Lichen Fade,” 2013, Arlington; Leslie Magdaleno, “One Eyed Monster,” 2014, Houston; Clifford Blanchard, “Sleepwalker,” 2013, Morristown, N.J.

The SFA School of Art’s annual juried competition and exhibition attracts entrants from across the United States, providing artists an opportunity to have their work juried by highly acclaimed artists and critics, such as Lin. The exhibition includes photography, painting, sculpture and mixed media pieces.

Texas National 2015 and an exhibition of Lin’s work, “Chinaman’s Chance: The first transcontinental railroad” run through June 13 at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, located at 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches. These exhibitions are features of the SFA College of Fine Arts’ University Series.

For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts will recognize four students during the presentation of the annual Dean’s Awards at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Megan Eve Henderson, Round Rock junior art major; Amanda J. Sheriff, Houston junior music education major; Kaylea A. Fleming, Kingwood junior music education major; and Shelby K. Gilliland, Frisco junior theatre major, were selected by the faculty of their respective schools on the basis of their potential to further develop their artistic goals and serve as role models, according to Dr. A.C. “Buddy” Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts.

The Dean’s Awards not only recognize the recipients for what they have already accomplished, but the awards are also designed to inspire them to reach deep from within to aspire to a higher level of excellence, Himes explained. The awards were established by the Dean’s Circle, an external support organization of community members founded in 2008 and “dedicated, in part, to nurturing potential young artists within the College of Fine Arts,” Himes said.

Henderson, who will receive the Ed and Gwen Cole Dean’s Award in Art, is working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She came to SFA in the spring of 2013 to study graphic design with a focus on illustration. She has begun exploring the creation of modern, visual interpretations for traditional oral storytelling and folklore. By combining digital illustration with conventional printmaking techniques, she opened up a new arena in the exploration of her voice as an artist. Holding a position in the School of Art office has allowed Henderson to connect with her professors in a more direct way, giving her new mentors in her development as an artist. She also works as a tutor for the art history department, allowing her to help guide incoming art students. Her involvement in the School of Art has been incredibly rewarding, and she hopes to continue the relationships she has begun within the school following graduation.

Sheriff, who will receive the Jack and Naioma Ledbetter Dean’s Award in Music, has been a member of ensembles such as Choral Union, A Cappella Choir and the exclusive Madrigal Singers. She has been cast in SFA opera since 2013 and was given the lead soprano role in the 2014 production of “Gianni Schicchi” and the 2015 production of “The Most Happy Fella.” Throughout her semesters at SFA, Sheriff has competed at the National Association of Teachers of Singing, placing fourth as a sophomore and second as a junior. Sheriff also was a guest soloist for her high school, Cypress Falls High, at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference in 2015. She has been recognized on the Dean’s List since 2013, made the President’s List in fall of 2014, is a third-year recipient of a voice scholarship through SFA and received the Charles Burklin Alumni Scholarship. Sheriff is a choir member at First United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches, under the direction of Dr. Tod Fish since 2013. She was an active member of Student Activities Association in 2014 and will tour Italy with the A Cappella Choir in May.

Fleming, who will receive the Dr. Robert Sidnell Memorial Dean’s Award in Music Education, is a member of the A Cappella Choir, a former member of the Women’s Choir and has participated in graduate choral conducting recitals. She appeared in SFA’s productions of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in 2012, “Street Scene” in 2013, “Suor Angelica” in 2014, and the 2014 Opera Scenes program. She is a member of the School of Honors and has held a place on the President’s List and received an Academic Excellence scholarship every semester while at SFA. She is the recipient of the 2012 Ron Anderson Vocal Scholarship, the 2014 Pi Kappa Lambda sophomore scholarship, and a Vera Dugas Memorial Scholarship. She is also a finalist in the 2015 Undergraduate Research Conference for work in musicology. She is an active member of the Wesley Foundation, serving as worship chair on the student council, leading freshmen groups, serving in the Forge mentorship program, and volunteering at various service and fellowship events. She appeared in SFA’s production of “The Most Happy Fella” in April and will travel to Italy with the A Cappella Choir in May.

Gilliland, who will receive the George and Peggy Schmidbauer Dean’s Award in Theatre, is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in acting and directing and a minor in marketing. Her Mainstage credits include “Stage Door,” “Blood Wedding,” and during SFA’s SummerStage Festival, “To Kill A Mockingbird.” She has appeared in the student-directed productions of “Miracle at Blaise,” “The Interrogation,” “Blood Relations,” and most recently, “God of Carnage.” She is also a member of Improv Strikes Back. Gilliland was the props master for the student-directed production of “Brainpeople” and for the SummerStage production of “To Kill A Mockingbird.” She is currently props assistant for “August: Osage County.” She also served as the publicist for the radio show “Phoenix on the Sword” and was the head of publicity for the 2013-2014 term. In addition, Gilliland is co-historian of the Beta Phi cast of Alpha Psi Omega and will serve as president next year. She received the Service Award from the School of Theatre last year. This summer, she will intern at the Rover Dramawerks Theatre in Plano and at the Circle Arts Theatre in New Braunfels.

Each student will be awarded $2,000 to be used to further artistic endeavors.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art presents an exhibition of the work of artist David Yapp showing April 16 through June 13 in the Reception Gallery at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

“David Yapp: California Landscapes” features plein air (painted outdoors) landscape and seascape paintings.

“This exhibition includes landscape paintings using oils, featuring sweeping views of the California coast in heavy impasto paint with fine brushwork,” said John Handley, director of galleries for SFA. “I personally met this artist five years ago and have been closely watching how his paintings have developed over time.”

Growing up in rural southern England, Yapp spent his youth exploring and observing nature and the changing scenery, seasons and weather patterns in his home county of Wiltshire.

“The landscapes and towns of the county are rich in history and have fed the artistic hearts and minds of artists such as Sir John Constable and J.M.W. Turner and writers such as Thomas Hardy and George Herbert,” Yapp said.

Since moving to California in 2001, Yapp predominantly paints plein air, directly on location, working in oils. He uses a combination of palette knives and brushes. The paint is applied using thin passages of color and thick impasto. Often this is further worked into with a scraffito technique, which means scratching back the paint to reveal the tinted ground of the canvas beneath, Yapp explained. This may then have further paint applied to create a multi-layered relief to the painting.

“The application of the paint in this way enables me to create a sense of depth and movement within the painting and to capture what is to me the essence of a particular landscape and my emotional response to it,” he said.

An artist’s reception for “David Yapp: California Landscapes” is planned for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the art center. The exhibition is sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and Hampton Inn. All exhibitions, gallery talks and receptions are free.

For more information, call (936) 468-1131. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St.