Everything Nac

Cameron Sweet, a junior from Duncanville, was selected as this year’s Robert Kinsell Art Scholarship recipient at Stephen F. Austin State University. He is studying photography in SFA’s School of Art with a secondary concentration in digital media. The award is presented annually by the Friends of the Visual Arts.

Amanda Breitbach, assistant professor of art, nominated Sweet for the scholarship. In her nomination letter, Breitbach noted: “Cameron is an exceptional student. He has an excellent work ethic and a great attitude. He approaches assignments, critiques and discussions with seriousness, and he is always thinking about how class work can connect to his future career. Cameron puts in time and energy toward learning outside of class, works with more advanced students and finds tutorials to supplement class demonstrations.”

She described him as “consistently positive and supportive” in his interactions with fellow students.

“He is responsible and helpful – willing to help out both during class and outside of class time,” she wrote. “Cameron is a first-generation student and qualifies for financial aid. This scholarship would be a meaningful award that would recognize the caliber of the work he is making as well as his excellent character.”

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 annual 12 x 12 event each July.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of the documentary “Quincy” at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Taking an intimate look into the life of iconic American record producer, singer and film producer Quincy Jones, the documentary looks at Jones as a unique force in music and popular culture for 70 years. The film demonstrates how Jones transcended racial and cultural boundaries, according to imdb.com. It was written and directed by Jones’ daughter, Rashida Jones, and Alan Hicks and also stars Tony Bennett, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Michael Caine, Jay-Z, John Legend, Paul McCartney and other music legends.

“Quincy” is a Grammy Award winner for Best Music Film and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. It garnered top awards from the African-American Film Critics Association, Black Reel Awards, Critics Choice Documentary Awards and Hollywood Music in Media Awards.

This screening is part of the School of Art’s monthly Friday Film Series and is sponsored in part by William Arscott, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Karon Gillespie, Mike Mollot, David Kulhavy, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton and the Nacogdoches Junior Forum.

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

The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, Stephen F. Austin State University’s historic downtown gallery, will be open during regular gallery hours for a portion of the holiday season through Jan. 4.

Regular hours are from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Cole Art Center will be closed Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 23 through 25 and Dec. 30 through Jan. 1.

Currently showing at the downtown gallery is the annual Vintage Christmas Display and “Picturing Books: Illustrations in Print from the 15th to the 20th Centuries,” Vol. I.

The documentary “Quincy,” which takes an intimate look into the life of iconic American record producer, singer and film producer Quincy Jones, will be screened at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, at the art center. Admission is free.

Cole Art Center will be closed beginning Jan. 5 for the installation of Volume II of the “Picturing Books” exhibition, which will open Tuesday, Jan. 21. A reception for Volume II is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30.

Griffith Fine Arts Gallery on the SFA campus is closed for the holiday break and will reopen when classes resume on Jan. 15. A reception for the graduate student exhibition, “Pondering the Moment,” is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. The student show runs through March 3 in Griffith Gallery.

SFA art exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. For additional information about exhibitions, call (936) 468-1131.

Lucille Coleman has been selected as this year’s Charles D. Jones Art Scholarship recipient at Stephen F. Austin State University. A post-baccalaureate student from Yoakum, Coleman’s major concentration is in drawing and her minor concentration is in printmaking in SFA’s School of Art.

Neal Cox, associate professor/printmaking coordinator, nominated Coleman for the scholarship. In his nomination letter, Cox noted: “Though Lucille’s major concentration is drawing, she spends most of her time in the printmaking studio. She would be a printmaking major had she discovered the media earlier in her academic experience. As it is, she graduated in December with 15 credits in printmaking, exceeding the required course load for a minor concentration. She plans on pursing printmaking in her graduate level studies.”

Cox described Coleman as “my hardest working student by far,” adding she gets to class every morning before everyone else, “including myself, and just gets to work.”

“She has grown by leaps and bounds in the year since she enrolled in her first printmaking course,” Cox wrote. “While her skill level continues to grow, her ideas are also developing nicely. She completed much of her B.F.A. final project many months before she was due to have a show.

“While her work ethic, alone, qualifies her for the scholarship, Lucille possesses that rare ability to get along with all her classmates,” he said. “She politely avoids any conversation that degrades anyone, and in some cases, has spoken up when she feels others have gone over the line, as so many students often do. She offers and receives critical feedback with required objectivity.”

The FVA has established 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, 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 Allison Silcox, a senior student in sculpture from Winnie, 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.

Jeff Brewer, a former assistant professor at SFA, nominated Silcox for the award that honors the late SFA art professor. In his recommendation letter, Brewer wrote: “As Art Alliance faculty advisor and sculpture professor, I have had the pleasure of knowing, teaching, working with and mentoring Allison for the past two years. She is a talented student and budding young artist.

“Often, students at the undergraduate level lack the focus or understanding to move forward successfully with a body of work or a consistent work ethic,” he added. “Allison is a wonderful exception to this. She is in the studio, rain or shine, always pushing her creativity as well as her skill sets. From my first memory of her learning to weld to her recent creative successes, I am always impressed with her diligence and drive. Having known Gary Frields and understanding what motivated the requirements for his scholarship, I believe Allison fits the bill.”

Brewer added that Silcox shows versatility in the use of media and techniques with a love of sculpture, metals and printmaking. “Allison puts in the long hours and spurs others into pushing their time in the studio,” he wrote. “Allison is active in entering art competitions at SFA and outside of Nacogdoches, always pushing herself. Gary Frields had a passion for the freedom of expression and laser focus on the creative process, and I believe Allison gets this.”

The FVA established scholarships in the name of retiring SFA 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.

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 annual 12 x 12 event each July.