Everything Nac

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.

Typhanie Shepherd, a Stephen F. Austin State University junior from Lufkin, has been selected as this year’s William Arscott Art Scholarship recipient. Shepherd is a studying filmmaking in SFA’s School of Art cinematography program. The Friends of the Visual Arts at SFA presents the award annually.

Jeff Brewer, former assistant professor of sculpture, nominated Shepherd for the scholarship. In his nomination letter, he wrote: “I have had the pleasure of knowing, teaching and mentoring Typhanie for the last three years. She is a talented student, budding young artist and all around wonderful human being.”

Brewer went on to describe Shepherd as “a brilliant student with an inquisitive nature and a drive to succeed.”

“The enthusiasm and wit she brings to the classroom are contagious, and I am grateful to be part of it,” he wrote. “Her desire to learn and try new things is a joy to witness. Her explorations into plastic casting, welding, installation and puppetry, along with her genuine love of film and learning, mixes with her curiosity, sense of humor and painstakingly detail-oriented work ethic to make her a perfect match for the Arscott Scholarship.

“I have seen firsthand the dedication and diligence Typhanie brings to the classroom, and I look forward to watching her grow as an artist, filmmaker and a person,” he said.

The FVA awards 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 55 years of teaching there and is SFA’s longest-tenured faculty member. FVA scholarship committee members unanimously decided they wanted to honor Arscott now, prior to his retirement.

A new partnership between Stephen F. Austin State University’s Lumberjack Express mobile food lab and Jo’s Diner at the Helping Other People Eat Food Pantry will give students in SFA’s hospitality administration and food, nutrition and dietetics programs more opportunities to prepare for their future careers and serve the community. It also will add kitchen space and manpower to HOPE Food Pantry to help serve more Jo’s Diner guests.

Jo’s Diner, a kitchen of HOPE established in honor of the late Martha “Jo” Price, opened July 31. As many as 50 guests, on a first-come basis, are served a free, nutritious lunch by kitchen volunteers on Wednesdays.

The diner is partially funded by a grant from the Moody Foundation and by generous donations from the community. It has limited resources and heavily relies on volunteers and community partners, according to Dr. Sharon Ninness, project director and grant writer for Jo’s Diner and a volunteer for HOPE Food Pantry.

“Bringing Lumberjack Express to Jo’s Diner extends those resources by allowing volunteers to use the mobile kitchen, as well as providing the community served a unique dining experience,” Ninness said.

Though students from the hospitality administration and food, nutrition and dietetics programs have been regularly volunteering at Jo’s Diner since September, the Lumberjack Express and Jo’s Diner partnership officially kicked off the day before Thanksgiving.

The kickoff included volunteers from the SFA men’s basketball team, who served Jo’s Diner guests less than 24 hours after beating then No. 1 Duke University in overtime.

Faculty volunteers included Dr. Donna Fickes, clinical instructor of hospitality administration; Jill Pruett, adjunct instructor of food, nutrition and dietetics; Wilma Cordova, professor of social work, who was named the 2019 Social Worker of the Year by the Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers; Kyle Keller, men’s basketball coach; and Dr. Mark Guidry, associate provost for Academic Affairs, who helped prepare the Cajun Thanksgiving feast for Jo’s Diner guests.

The partnership will continue in the spring semester with SFA students preparing and serving 50 meals to members of the Nacogdoches community at Jo’s Diner on the first, second and fourth Wednesdays of the month beginning Jan. 22. The Lumberjack Express mobile food lab will travel to Jo’s Diner only on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

“This partnership provides students with a venue to apply the skills they have learned while fulfilling the mission of the James I. Perkins College of Education,” Fickes said. “By developing a commitment to service that enriches the community, these students will become competent, successful, caring and enthusiastic professionals dedicated to responsible service, leadership, social justice and continued professional and intellectual development in an interconnected global society.”

Though the partnership is initially focusing on students from the hospitality administration and food, nutrition and dietetics programs in the School of Human Sciences, Fickes said all SFA students, faculty and staff are welcome to join the partnership.

“They can join it individually or by department,” Fickes said. “It would be great to get our administrators, regents and other SFA community members out on a regular basis to interact with our students and our community.”

To learn how to join the partnership, email fickesdj@sfasu.edu.

By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.