Everything Nac

While its purpose may be to preserve history, Stephen F. Austin State University’s 2016-17 Stone Fort yearbook has made history by being honored with a national award.

Balfour Yearbooks, the premier national provider of school spirit and recognition productions, acknowledged SFA’s 2016-17 Stone Fort yearbook staff members for their outstanding contribution to scholastic journalism, making them one of only 4 percent of yearbook staffs nationwide to receive this recognition.

As part of this distinction, the 2016-17 Stone Fort yearbook will be featured in Balfour’s 2018 Yearbook Yearbook, a collection showcasing the best in yearbook theme development, layout, photo content, secondary packages and cover design.

Rachel Clark, SFA coordinator of student publications, serves as the publication’s advisor and said she is proud of the students’ accomplishment.

“This recognition is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication that goes in to creating the publication,” Clark said. “This was my first volume as yearbook advisor, which elevates the honor to a whole new level. It’s exciting to watch the yearbook come together and to see the students take ownership in a publication that becomes part of the university’s history.”

Current graduate student Tyler Fisher served as editor-in-chief and worked on the yearbook with four additional student staff members.

“We worked hard to meet deadlines and produce a book that will be remembered by the SFA community,” Fisher said. “I think we did a great job and worked hard to accomplish our goals.”

The yearbook ties its “The SFA Way” theme into various elements of the book, such as through photographs and articles.

“My favorite part is the content,” Fisher said. “The photos and imagery tell amazing stories and help make the book visually appealing.”

This yearbook is the 92nd volume in the university’s history. The Texas Intercollegiate Press Association also recognized the yearbook for Overall Excellence in Division II Yearbook.

“To some people, it’s just a book they place on a bookshelf, but to the SFA Stone Fort yearbook staff, it represents long hours, event coverage, photos captured, copy created and deadlines met,” Clark said. “Representatives from Balfour see hundreds of yearbooks annually, so it means a lot to have them honor ours and the work of our students.”

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Silent bidding for artwork in the annual 12×12 scholarship fundraiser for the Friends of the Visual Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University gets underway Thursday, June 28, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

The silent auction features 12-by-12-inch pieces of art created by approximately 70 artists from Nacogdoches, Lufkin and other areas of East Texas. Anyone may silently bid on the unique one-of-a-kind pieces, according to Crystal Hicks, event committee chairwoman.

“We’re so excited by the pieces we’ve received, and we’re looking forward to another great event that features local talent,” Hick said.

Silent bidding begins June 28 at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House and will continue up to the day of the art party, which is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at the art center. Minimum bid is $250 from June 28 through 4 p.m. July 14. Beginning at 6 p.m. on the night of the party, the starting bid for art pieces without previous bids will be lowered to $100. The auction closes at 7:15 p.m., and winners for all pieces will be announced at 7:30. Pieces without bids at 7:15 will be awarded in the raffle.

The purpose of 12×12 is to raise funds for the FVA scholarships and grants that are awarded to SFA art students. Between $12,000 and $15,000 is awarded annually in scholarships to deserving students in the School of Art.

The awards help students defray the costs of special projects for art classes or M.B.A./B.A. exhibitions. Some recipients have attended conferences or gone on school trips that will help with their professional development. This has included Maymester trips for art students to go to Big Bend for a special photography project. The organization also awards scholarships for elementary school students to attend the SFA Art Academy each summer.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information about 12×12 or to become a sponsor, call The Cole Art Center at (936) 468-6557.

Stephen F. Austin State University art students recently experienced the many opportunities that an artist residency can offer when they participated in a Maymester trip to Iceland.

Defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields, the Nordic island country also boasts massive glaciers that are protected in its national parks. Ten SFA art students traveled to the Baer Art Center in northern Iceland where they observed and explored the Icelandic landscape and responded by making creative work: drawing, painting, ceramics, photography and installation.

“Artist residencies, which exist all over the world, offer artists a viable way to continue making work beyond a university setting,” explained Wesley Berg, assistant professor in the School of Art. “Residencies provide uninterrupted time for creative work across many disciplines. As a working artist, I have looked to residencies as a way to travel the world while continuing to make art.”

Berg and Lauren Selden, SFA professor of art, accompanied the students on the trip.

By attending the Baer Art Center, the students now have an internationally renowned artist residency on their Curriculum Vitae. While in residency at the center, students had access to studio space, a workshop and ceramics studio.

The students also presented their work in an exhibition at the Baer Art Center, inviting local townspeople. The center is located on a seaside farm north of the capital of Reykjavík. Its setting on the east coast of Skagafjördur, a large fjord facing the Arctic Circle, provides access to the ocean, a freshwater lake, extensive birdlife, outdoor activities and Icelandic farm life. The summer months at Baer offer the midnight sun and sublime light conditions during the long hours of daylight, according to information at http://www.artistcommunities.org.

According to Berg, traveling abroad helps to “build well-informed, curious and adventurous artists.”

“For an artist, exploration can be equally important to the creative process as learning techniques and skills,” he said. “Traveling internationally to an artist residency combines that exploration with the time and resources for creating artistic responses.

“The students took it upon themselves to minimize distractions and explore the unique Icelandic landscape,” he added. “Several students tried new techniques of art-making, letting themselves open up to possibilities in their new environment. Many of the students noticed important things to consider for future residency opportunities, like what to bring and what to leave at home.”

In planning the trip, Berg expressed gratitude for the “help, support and encouragement” he received from Selden and Dr. A.C. “Buddy” Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts; Christopher Talbot, director of the School of Art; Inés Maxit, SFA Office of International Programs, study abroad coordinator; and the Friends of the Visual Arts.

“As the faculty leader, it was wonderful to observe the students experiencing the residency lifestyle,” Berg said. “I was impressed by the professionalism of our SFA students. They were gracious guests at the Baer Art Center, and I am very proud of them.”

Participating students included Ethan Donart, Sugar Land sophomore; Gaby Hijar Soto, Chihuahua, Mexico, graduate student; Sarah Bone, Richmond sophomore; Sarah Jentsch, Etoile senior; Jacob Moffett, Hockley senior; Victoria Gamble, Spring senior; Austin Cullen, Cypress senior; Mason Cullen, Cypress sophomore; Bailey Crow, Pinehurst junior; and John Allen, Cypress sophomore.

During the coming fall semester, the exhibition will be re-installed (date to be determined) in the galleries of the Art Building on the SFA campus.