Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art, LaNana Creek Press, SFA Press and Department of English will present “My Black Angel, Blues Poems and Portraits” from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Morning Glory Yoga Studio in downtown Nacogdoches.

Poets Kim Addonizio and Peter Kline will be in Nacogdoches for readings on the SFA campus Thursday, Sept. 25, and the public presentation Friday evening at Morning Glory that will feature poetry readings, musical performances and an exhibition of woodcut prints, according to Charles D. Jones, director and master printer for LaNana Creek Press.

“This will be a celebration of the books we have recently published for Ms. Addonizio,” Jones said.

Addonizio will read from her new SFA Press book, “My Black Angel,” which features Jones’ original woodcuts from the LaNana Creek Fine Press edition.

Terrance Hayes, National Book Award winner, said of the book, “The peerless poetry of Kim Addonizio would be reason enough to grab ‘My Black Angel.’ These poems deliver her reliably remarkable clarity, edge and emotion. Add to that the breathtaking woodcuts of Charles D. Jones and you get a collaboration of lines carving light out of darkness, the textures of the blues. The plentiful pleasures of this book will rouse both your eyes and ears.”

Playing the “Mississippi saxophone” (harmonica), Addonizio will perform with accompanists Larry Greer on the national steel, Michael Mandrell on acoustic guitar, Jones on banjo and mandolin and Ruth Beck on vocals. Kline will join the presentation singing and playing guitar.

SFA Press and LaNana Creek Press books will be available for purchase and signing before and after the readings and performance.

The performance and readings are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jones at (936) 468-4240.

The Student Activities Association will present Chris Young with special guest Big Joe Walker in concert beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in the William R. Johnson Coliseum on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Young, a 29-year-old RCA Records country singer, was the 2006 winner of the reality music show “Nashville Star.” His current hit single, “Who I Am With You,” reached number one on the Mediabase Country Singles Chart and claimed the top spot in Rolling Stone’s poll of Best Country Songs of 2014 So Far. The award-winning singer/songwriter also has claimed six additional number-one singles in country music.

Also performing will be SFA alumnus and Dallas singer/songwriter Big Joe Walker. Known for his Texas Country style of singing and playing, Walker’s music embraces every genre from country to gospel, and his recently-released single, “Friday Nights in Texas,” just spent nine weeks on the Texas Music Chart. Aside from touring, Walker also reaches fans through his radio show held every weekday from 9 to 11 a.m. on Texas Red Hot Radio.

Tickets are still available and range from $20 to $30. For tickets or more information, visit the Information Desk in the Baker Pattillo Student Center or online at outhousetickets.com, or call (936) 468-5225.

The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts, School of Music and the Cole Performing Arts Series will present Jeff Loeffert and Jonathan Nichol in a guest saxophone recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Loeffort, assistant professor of saxophone at Oklahoma State University, and Nichol, assistant professor of saxophone at the University of Oklahoma, are active chamber musicians and members of the h2 Quartet, an award-winning, all-saxophone ensemble that performs throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia.

“This concert is a program of new solo and duo works for saxophone,” said Nathan Nabb, professor of saxophone at SFA. “The h2/4 duo is half of the h2 Quartet, and some of this program includes music they have commissioned, while other pieces are established standards in the saxophone solo and duo repertoire.”

According to the quartet’s website, h2 is dedicated to commissioning and performing compelling new works for saxophone quartet and operates as a non-profit organization. h2 has been featured on the nationally syndicated PBS show “Backstage Pass,” which offers viewers a first-hand look at the inner workings of a top-flight chamber ensemble through live in-studio performances and interviews with the ensemble members.

Among the works the duo will perform at SFA are “Tachycardia” and “Farfalle Cotte” by Marc Mellits.

“Mellits has become well-known for his duo writing for saxophone,” Nabb said. “‘Tachycardia’ is his newest work for the instrument, while ‘Farfalle Cotte’ is originally for two ocarinas, but is well-suited for the sax.”

Ryo Noda’s “Maï,” a standard in the contemporary saxophone world borrowing sounds and performance techniques from traditional Japanese flute playing, is also on the program, as are Barry Cockroft’s “Ku Ku” and “Rock Us,” both of which “borrow rhythms and tonality from American popular music, and are very catchy – a joy to hear,” Nabb said.

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.

SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host its annual Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in historic Nacogdoches.

A wide variety of hard-to-find, “Texas tough” plants will be available, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and exclusive Greg Grant and SFA introductions. Most of the plants are extensively trialed in the gardens before being offered to the public, and most are produced by the SFA Gardens staff and volunteers.

This popular event benefits the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, Gayla Mize Garden and educational programs hosted at the gardens. The educational programs at SFA Gardens reach more than 15,000 students ages 1 to 100 on a yearly basis.

The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon. For more information, call (936) 468-4404 or visit sfagardens.sfasu.edu two weeks before the sale for a list of available plants.