Everything Nac

Members of the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts Dean’s Circle will recognize former Nacogdoches Mayor Dr. Roger Van Horn for his contributions to the community at the annual Winners’ Circle reception and fundraiser planned for 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, in The Old Tobacco Warehouse in downtown Nacogdoches.

Van Horn will be honored for his service to the City of Nacogdoches, SFA, the College of Fine Arts and the Dean’s Circle, according to Dr. A.C. “Buddy” Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts.

“Former Mayor Van Horn has continually promoted and supported the activities of the Dean’s Circle and has served as emcee at our annual programs,” Himes said. “We hope the community joins us at our Winners’ Circle reception to publicly thank him for his service to Nacogdoches and SFA.”

The “Fall Festival of SFA Artists” also recognizes the 2017 Dean’s Circle student award recipients. Sarah Jentsch, art major from Etoile, received the Cole Dean’s Award in Art; Tyler Thormählen, music performance major from Kyle, received the Ledbetter Dean’s Award in Music; Arjang Abrarpour, music education major from Katy, received the Sidnell Memorial Dean’s Award in Music Education; and Margaret “Maggie” Strain, theatre major from Port Aransas, received the Schmidbauer Dean’s Award in Theatre. The students were selected by the faculty of their respective schools on the basis of their potential to further develop their artistic goals and serve as role models, according to Himes. Student award recipients will perform and exhibit their work.

The awards were established by the Dean’s Circle, an external support organization of community members founded in 2008 and “dedicated, in part, to nurturing potential young artists within the College of Fine Arts,” Himes said.

The Dean’s Circle will also recognize Dr. Charles Gavin, professor of horn and chamber music in the School of Music, and Dr. Gene H. Moon, director of orchestras at SFA, who have been awarded endowed professorships.

A faculty showcase will highlight the artistic work of Neil Cox, printmaker and photographer in the School of Art; swordsmanship and stage combat techniques of Slade Billew, assistant professor in the School of Theatre; and Moon with SFA’s Orchestra of the Pines.

An auction featuring contributed items from local businesses will raise funds for Dean’s Circle projects, including student awards and expanding endowed professorship opportunities. Among the auction items are a membership to Meadow Ridge Archery and Gun, tickets to the upcoming performance of Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, and a studio recording session with the CFA’s newly renovated recording studio.

Event sponsors include Cal-Tex Lumber Company, Nacogdoches Medical Center, First Bank & Trust East Texas, The Daily Sentinel, Suzanne Warlick, Regions Bank, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Meadow Ridge Archery and Gun and CBH Insurance.

Tickets for the event, which includes entertainment and hors d’oeuvres, are $100 per person/couple. Participation includes membership in the Dean’s Circle. Responses are requested by Sept. 15. To RSVP by phone, call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

As if attending the opening performance of the 2017-18 University Series at Stephen F. Austin State University isn’t exciting enough, there are other events before and after the dance program to whet an appetite for good food and great entertainment.

New York City-based dance company Taylor 2 opens the season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Taylor 2’s performance is sponsored in part by Cataract, Glaucoma & Retina Consultants of East Texas/Benchmark Optical/Medical Arts Surgery Center.

“This is dance for everyone: accessible, athletic, emotionally powerful and sexy – with a sense of humor, too,” said Scott Shattuck, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and director of the University Series.

“Today’s audiences want choices that allow them to create their own unique night out,” Shattuck continued. “We’re inviting series-goers to ‘choreograph’ the rest of the evening with options for dining, enrichment and additional entertainment to design a stimulating, richly social multi-arts experience.”

The possibilities start with attending the opening reception of the annual SFA School of Art Faculty Exhibition at 6 p.m. in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. Sponsored in part by the Friends of the Visual Arts and the Nacogdoches Junior Forum as well as the Texas Commission on the Arts, SFA art openings are free and typically feature hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

“Be sure to leave the art reception in plenty of time to park and be comfortably seated for the dance performance in Turner Auditorium at 7:30,” Shattuck said.

As an “informance” prior to the Taylor 2 performance, Heather Samuelson, assistant professor and co-coordinator of dance in the SFA Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, will present an informative talk at 7 p.m. in Griffith Gallery. The gallery is located across the hall from Turner Auditorium, which is inside the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive. The audience is invited back to the gallery for a post-performance reception to meet the dancers and to honor the event’s corporate sponsor.

Showing in Griffith Gallery will be the new exhibition “Fragmentation: The Lithographs of Wayne Kimball.”

“During intermission, enjoy a refreshing glass of lemonade, compliments of the SFA College of Fine Arts,” Shattuck said. “We’re still working on another surprise treat for University Series patrons at the show.”

An additional pre-show option is dinner at Maklemore’s Ale House and Bistro, where showing a Taylor 2 ticket to a server will get patrons a 10-percent discount on food only.

After the Taylor 2 performance, audience members may also consider heading downtown to the newly renovated Nine Flags Bar and Grille for “Jazz on the Patio” until 10 p.m. at The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center. Show your Taylor 2 ticket to get half off the price of an appetizer.

Alternatively, Chilly Fillmore’s in Nacogdoches will also offer 20 percent off the price of a frozen yogurt to customers showing a Taylor 2 ticket before they close at 10 p.m.

“Make a night of it,” Shattuck said. The discounts are valid only on the date of the show.

Single event ticket prices for the University Series are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for non-SFA students/youth. Tickets for SFA students are $3. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit finearts.sfasu.edu, stop by the Box Office in Room 211 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.