Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will host two simultaneous exhibitions starting in January in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

In “Found/Loaded,” artist Sarah Fisher collaborates with fashion designer Rachel Anderson to transform found objects as diverse and seemingly unrelated as dry cleaning identification stickers, sacramental furniture, grocery bags and newspapers. “Electric color, overt and covert use of text, and idiosyncratic patterning wrap, even cocoon, the objects in words to depict psychological aftereffects of life in the human group,” Fisher writes in describing the works. She states that central themes in the exhibition are “the cost of belonging and resilience in the face of trauma.”

The exhibition “taps into a divergent array of emotions” Fisher writes, “from adoration to anxiety, awe to horror, disgust to triumph, fear to fearlessness, forgiveness to peace, and asks the question: how do we reconcile our primal craving for community and belonging with our yearning for authenticity and humanity?”

The work in “Found/Loaded” is primarily text based, mixed media and found object, although it includes some drawing and painting.

In describing her exhibition “Encoded,” artist Karen Eisele writes that Byzantine iconography has “a rich history where the techniques used for each aspect of the painting have symbolic meaning.” These traditions have remained unchanged for centuries.

“I create icons in the tradition of Byzantine orthodox painters – utilizing stylized figuration, areas of interlocking color and radiant gold leaf,” she writes. “I borrow the style as a way to explore the contemporary visual landscape of icons. I find a clear parallel between religious icons of the Byzantine era in today’s dominant consumer culture.”

To begin an icon, a birch or poplar board is prepared with many layers of gesso made from marble dust, chalk dust and rabbit skin glue. Traditionally, 33 layers were used to represent Christ’s life. This mixture is applied over linen that has been soaked in the glue. Then, 24k gold is applied for the halo and, depending on the Greek or Russian tradition, for the background. This precious metal serves as a visual “spiritual doorway” between heaven and earth.

Colors are also important in the icon, Eisele said. For example, Mary’s blue robe stands for faith and humility while the red robe speaks to the mystery of divine life. Mary is often painted with three stars attached to her garments. These represent not only virginity, purity and power, but also the Holy Trinity, and Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Each star is made up of eight rays for the seven days of creation and Christ’s return.

Eisele’s work invites viewers to contemplate the ways in which the past is visually encoded upon the present.

“An artistic examination of these icons offers us a deeper understanding of our current visual culture,” she added.

The shows run Jan. 21 through March 20 and are sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, William Arscott and the Nacogdoches Junior Forum. Admission is free.

The Cole Art Center is SFA’s historic gallery located at 329 E. Main Street. For more information about the School of Art, call (936) 468-4804.

Cutline: Artist Sarah Fisher collaborates with fashion designer Rachel Anderson to present the exhibition “Found/Loaded” Jan. 21 through March 20 at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, SFA’s historic downtown art gallery.

In its continued efforts to seek new avenues for reducing barriers to higher education, Stephen F. Austin State University has unveiled a new program aimed at recognizing high-achieving SFA undergraduates by fast tracking them into a graduate program of their choice.

Created through the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, Axe-celerated Admission allows faculty members to nominate standout students once a year in the spring for VIP admission into a graduate program of their choice at SFA.

“The program is meant to encourage great SFA undergraduate students to continue their advanced education by enrolling in a graduate program at SFA,” said Dr. Pauline M. Sampson, dean of the SFA Office of Research and Graduate Studies. “The program will benefit students by easing their application process and allow them to register earlier. It also will recognize students for their outstanding work as the nomination alone is a prestigious acknowledgment.”

Nomination allows students to bypass proof of a bachelor’s degree as well as offers

early admission to an SFA graduate program of their choice
early registration
and reduction of the required three letters of recommendation to just one, written by the nominator.

The inaugural nomination period will open Feb. 1 and close March 1.

“We want to let students know about their nomination and acceptance prior to spring break each year so they have more time to best prepare for entry into a graduate program,” Sampson said. “We are excited to recognize our great undergraduate students and encourage them to continue their outstanding work for a master’s degree with professors who already know them.”

As of now, there are no limits to the number of students a faculty member can recommend. Coordinators will assess initial reception and use of the program and will consider implementation of a limit in the future.

For more information, visit the Axe-celerated Admission website at sfasu.edu/axe-celerated.

By Christine Broussard, marketing communications coordinator at Stephen F. Austin State University.