Everything Nac

After being postponed then canceled more than a year ago as a result of the pandemic, Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will bring back its monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series next month with a presentation by gardens staff members.

Dawn Stover, research associate, and Jordan Cunningham, greenhouse technician, will present “Plant Sale Preview” at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building in the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Each year, Stover and Cunningham are responsible for organizing two successful plant sales, coordinating student workers and volunteers for the events, which provide additional funding for the gardens as well as community outreach.

The presentation will highlight a few of the exciting new selections and old favorites available at the upcoming fall sale, which will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 at the PNPC. After being presented in a socially distanced format since 2020, the plant sale will return to a traditional in-person setting this fall.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at the PNPC and Raguet Elementary School, located at 2428 Raguet St.
For more information, visit sfasu.edu/sfagardens.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s annual School of Art Faculty Exhibition will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Each year, the faculty exhibition features a wide variety of artworks in ceramics, sculpture, photography, painting, prints, metals and mixed media, according to Christopher Talbot, director of the SFA School of Art.

“We look forward to another academic year and will start the semester presenting work from our talented faculty,” Talbot said. “I always enjoy seeing their creativity, and this is our opportunity to share it with the community.”

This year’s featured faculty artist is Eden Collins, assistant professor (sculpture) in the School of Art, who will present an exhibition of her unique body of work with “A Space for Traipsing.” Her work spans sculpture, installation, performance, video and photography. The exhibition will give viewers “a glimpse into the mind of one of my characters – The Bathtub Drag Queen,” she said. “Through installation, performance, sculpture, video and more, I am transforming the gallery into her ballroom – a space where all might traipse with her for just a moment.” The exhibition opening will also feature performances by students in the SFA dance program.

Collins’ exhibition will show in Cole Art Center’s Reavley Gallery, and the faculty exhibition will be in Ledbetter Gallery. The faculty show will be displayed through Sept. 28, and Collins’ works will be exhibited through Oct. 16, which is the night of the Friends of the Visual Arts’ 12 X 12 scholarship benefit. The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, SFA’s historic downtown gallery, is located at 329 E. Main St.

Admission to the exhibition and reception, which is sponsored in part by William Arscott, the Friends of the Visual Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and The Flower Shop, is free. For more information, call (936) 468-5500.

The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music has announced new classes that will appeal to younger musicians and adult hobbyists alike.

“Musical Moments” piano classes for adults begins Sept. 7. “Musical Moments” was written to create a stress-free, enjoyable learning experience for the beginning adult student, according to Alba Madrid, Music Prep director.

“Students will learn to read music, play by chords and create music with other hobbyists,” she said. “Join the growing number of adults across the country who are learning to play piano using this fun and innovative program.” Morning and evening classes are available.

Also new for the fall semester is guitar group instruction beginning Aug. 20 for students ages 9 through 16 who are interested in learning to play guitar. Emphasis is placed on classical technique, fundamentals and ear training using standard repertoire.

“Way Cool Keyboarding 4 Kids” for children ages 6 through 10 will begin Sept. 8. In this class, students will experience the fun of playing in their own piano band, Madrid said.

“This group environment provides many positive musical and non-musical benefits, including the development of concentration and listening skills as they learn to blend together as an ensemble,” she said. “Your child will look forward to each week as they make music with their friends.”

Piloted this past spring, Music Prep’s String Project continues this fall. The initiative includes the nine public school districts within Nacogdoches County and some surrounding districts. String Project students have the opportunity to learn to play a stringed instrument at a low tuition cost as part of an after-school activity. The project is grant and community funded. Lessons begin Sept. 2.

More information, including class times and dates and tuition costs, on each of these offerings is available online at sfamusicprep.com or by calling (936) 468-1291. Madrid can also be reached by email at madrida@sfasu.edu or musicprep@sfasu.edu. Program information is also available on Facebook and Instagram.