Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the SFA Galleries will host the exhibition “Collective Transference: Houston Area Clay” Oct. 31 through Dec. 30 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

The ceramics exhibition, curated by Jeff Forster and Michelle Matthews, features clay artists who highlight the quality and diversity of artists working in Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Liberty, Galveston, Chambers, Waller and Brazoria counties.

“Many were born and raised out of state and landed in Texas via job opportunities, relationships and/or education,” explained John Handley, director of SFA Galleries.

The selected artists include George Bowes, Susan Budge, Lauren Clay, Sharon Dennard, Trey Duvall, Kelley Eggert, Carter Ernst, Jeff Forster, Roy Hanscom, Clara Hoag, Jessica Kreutter, Clay Leonard, Michelle Matthews, Anthony Sonnenberg, Kamila Szczesna, Sharon Warrington, Carolyn Watkins and Tracye Wear.

Anna Walker, Windgate Foundation Curatorial Fellow for Contemporary Craft at the The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, stated: “The curators have provided a snapshot, a moment in the trajectory of a field, that captures the energy and range of Houston-based artists.”

A reception and artist talk will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at The Cole Art Center. Among the sponsors are the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, the Nacogdoches Junior Forum and The Flower Shop. Admission is free.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, contact Michelle Matthews at michelle-matthews@att.net.

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

Directed by Travis Rummel and Ben Knight, “DamNation” is a 2014 advocacy documentary about the changing attitudes in the U.S. concerning the nation’s large system of dams.

“DamNation” takes a powerful film odyssey across America to explore the change in national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that the future is bound to the life and health of rivers, according to information at http://damnationfilm.com/the-film. Where obsolete dams come down, rivers bound back to life. “The film’s majestic cinematography and unexpected discoveries move through rivers and landscapes altered by dams, but also through a metamorphosis in values, from conquest of the natural world to knowing ourselves as part of nature,” the website says.

“DamNation” won the Audience Choice Award at Austin’s 2014 South by Southwest and at the 2014 Environmental Film Festival at Yale, where it also won the Grand Jury Prize. The film was named Best Conservation Film at the 2014 International Wildlife Film Festival. It won numerous environmental documentary awards. The film runs 87 minutes.

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, Brad Maule, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and Main Street Nacogdoches.

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

Kirk Phillips, president and CEO of Wintrust Commercial Bank and Stephen F. Austin State University alumnus, recently spoke to students in the Rusche College of Business about the keys to a successful career.

During his “So you want to be a CEO?” discussion, Phillips recalled the various jobs he held before achieving his current position. Phillips has spent more than 25 years in the commercial finance industry beginning with ITT Commercial Finance. He has experience with credit analysis, underwriting, sales and marketing.

“It is exciting to come back to SFA and interact with students. If even one student can benefit from my experiences since graduating from SFA, then I consider it a success,” Phillips said. “The education and experiences I had as a Lumberjack definitely helped me during my career.”

Phillips explained to attendees how he had always wanted to travel, but although his path was not the one he had originally imagined, he was able to reach his goals and be successful by following opportunities.

“Mr. Phillips’ presentation was an exceptional example of our dedicated alumni helping our students learn how to achieve career success,” said Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the Rusche College of Business. “We are grateful for his willingness to help our students launch successful careers and ultimately become leaders in their fields.”

Megan Sellers, academic advisor and coordinator for career success and corporate engagement in the College of Business, helped organize this Student Success Passport Program event. Students in the program compete for scholarships and receive credit for attending sponsored events like this one, which enhances their scholarship opportunities.

“Events like this help students see successful CEOs and presidents of corporate America were once in their shoes. The advice the CEOs share is invaluable for students,” Sellers said. “It gives them courage and drive to know their dreams are attainable with hard work, a positive attitude and the drive to follow their dreams.”

Phillips also advised students on various keys to success, including never stop learning, attitude is everything and always look for opportunities.

“This kind of real-world advice always seems to hit students harder when it comes from someone in the business world where students someday hope to be,” Sellers said.

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

Stephen F. Austin State University’s dance program will showcase senior choreographic works during its production of Danceworks: In Retrospect, which premieres at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 in the HPE Complex Dance Studio, Room 201, on the university’s campus.

Additional showings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 3 p.m. Nov. 11. Tickets cost $5 for students, $8 for faculty and staff members, and $10 for general admission and can be purchased at the door.

The production will feature 11 senior choreographic works focused on the theme “In Retrospect.”

“Each dance is personal to the choreographer, and they all focus on memories,” said Heather Samuelson, assistant professor of dance. “Each piece either recalls a memory or is trying to evoke a memory from the audience.”

Danceworks serves as the capstone course for dance seniors. During the summer, seniors research concepts for their works, and on the first day of the semester, rehearsals begin. SFA senior Maryelle Stephenson, of Fate, Texas, is performing in two pieces.

“It’s cool to learn from two different student choreographer’s perspective because each piece I’m performing in is different and equally as great,” Stephenson said.

Samuelson explained producing the concert teaches students a variety of skills other than choreography. For example, students learn how to cast a show, promote a performance, design lighting, select costumes, edit music and more.

“Whether our students teach dance or work in a dance company in the future, Danceworks gives them the background they need to assist a company in organizing and producing a dance concert,” Samuelson said. “When students leave SFA, they are fully capable of producing a concert in entirety by themselves.”

Jazz and contemporary dance are the main styles that will be featured during this production. Ten pieces are appropriate for all audiences. One piece deals with a sensitive topic and is not recommended for children. The audience will be notified before that piece’s performance.

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

Students enrolled in Stephen F. Austin State University’s natural resources section of SFA 101 removed more than 100 pounds of the invasive species giant salvinia from Lake Naconiche this month.

Dr. Matthew McBroom, associate dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at SFA, said students used canoes to navigate the remote coves along the Telesco Creek arm of the reservoir where the invasive species infestation is most concentrated.

“Giant salvinia is an invasive exotic weed from southern Brazil that was introduced to the southern United States through the aquarium trade,” McBroom said. “This noxious pest can completely choke lakes and reservoirs, eventually killing fish, plants and insects in impacted water bodies.”

Following the collection, students transported the material to the shore for disposal by Bill Plunkett, manager of Lake Naconiche.

Dr. Shiyou Li, director of SFA’s National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops at the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, is developing novel approaches to control giant salvinia and other invasive species. McBroom said in the meantime, control efforts like those conducted by SFA students help to effectively maintain affected aquatic habitats.

“This also gives students an opportunity to learn more about the environmental conservation techniques they will be covering in future coursework,” McBroom said.

Future college students will have the opportunity to experience a taste of campus life during a free, action-packed open-house Saturday, Nov. 11, at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.

Prospective students will have the opportunity to visit with university faculty and staff members, tour the campus and residence halls, and preview academic programs during the SFA Showcase Saturday event.

“There is no better time than Showcase Saturday to visit the beautiful SFA campus and witness firsthand what it’s like to be a Lumberjack,” said Jessica Maynard, assistant director of SFA’s Office of Admissions.

“Guests are encouraged to visit one-on-one with our faculty members to learn more about our quality, personalized academic programs, and our staff members will be available to answer questions about everything from admission requirements to financial aid to residence life,” Maynard added.

SFA is a comprehensive, residential university located in the heart of Texas Forest Country. Approximately 13,000 students attend SFA, which is within a few hours’ drive of Texas’ major metropolitan areas.

Showcase Saturday event registration will begin at 11 a.m. on the first floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center and will remain open until 12:45 p.m. Each person who registers will receive an information packet. The opening program begins at 12:30 p.m. and will provide an overview of the day’s events.

Guests will then be able to visit with representatives of the academic departments until 4 p.m. at the Academic Fair in the Student Recreation Center. A Student Services Fair will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

Campus and residence hall tours will begin at 1 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m. Campus tours will take students on a guided walk of the SFA campus, while the self-guided residence hall tours will showcase several halls on both the north and south ends of campus.

Admissions counselors will be available to discuss admission procedures and requirements from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Rusk Building, Room 206, and at several freshman and transfer admissions sessions held throughout the day.

Financial aid information sessions will be held at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Regents’ Suite A. Residence Life information sessions will be held at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Theater on the second floor.

Participating prospective students will receive a free SFA T-shirt after completing an evaluation form in the tent located in the courtyard area of the Rusk Building.

For more information about SFA’s Showcase Saturday, contact the SFA Office of Admissions at (936) 468-2504, or email admissions@sfasu.edu.