Everything Nac

The annual Vintage Christmas Display opens Tuesday, Dec.3, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

This display has become a holiday tradition for Stephen F. Austin State University’s historic downtown art gallery, according to John Handley, director of SFA galleries.

“Featuring antique and vintage holiday ornaments, dolls and toys, this display offers a glimpse into Christmas past and provides a perfect treat for the family during the holidays,” Handley said.

Handley will discuss the Christmas exhibition, as well as a toy books display that is part of the exhibition “Picturing Books: Illustrations in Print from the 15th to the 20th Centuries,” in a gallery talk at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the art center.

The Vintage Christmas Display runs through Jan. 3. The “Picturing Books” exhibition runs through Jan. 5.

Art exhibitions and receptions are hosted by the SFA School of Art and sponsored by the Friends of the Visual Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum, William Arscott and The Flower Shop. Admission is free.

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

Ring in the holiday season with Stephen F. Austin State University as the College of Fine Arts presents not one but two stage versions of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” The first event is a musical extravaganza for the entire family, and the second is especially geared toward sharing the holiday classic with younger audiences.

Gather the family and celebrate the spirit of Christmas in spectacular fashion with PerSeverance Productions’ presentation of the holiday tale in a University Series performance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

“This production not only features top-flight professional performances, costumes and effects,” said Scott Shattuck, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and director of the University Series, “it also incorporates dozens of actual Christmas carols! Everyone that attends will leave brimming with holiday cheer.”

Based upon Dickens’ famous classic, “A Christmas Carol” is a heartwarming story of the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from a greedy, heartless miser to a generous, loving friend to everyone. Three ghostly visits – from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future – leave an indelible impression on Scrooge. Filled with kindness and the true spirit of the Christmas season, Scrooge changes his selfish ways and opens his heart to those around him.

“With all the splendor, magic and joy of the holiday season, this fabulous gift of a show overflows with 26 beloved yuletide songs and warm good humor,” Shattuck said.

Prior to the show, Dr. Steven J. Marsden, professor in the Department of English and Creative Writing in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, will present an informative talk about Dickens and “A Christmas Carol” 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 honor the show’s corporate sponsor, Nacogdoches Medical Center.

Single event ticket prices for the University Series are $30 for adults, $24 for seniors and $12 for non-SFA students/youth. Tickets for SFA students are $3.

The Children’s Performing Arts Series at SFA will present two performances of Virginia Repertory Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” on Thursday, Dec. 12, in Turner Auditorium. This version targets children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.

“Students will delight in this classic tale of Scrooge, the ghosts, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim,” Peterson said. “Virginia Repertory Theatre brings all the characters to life on stage in this lively and heartwarming musical performance that brings all the joy, sentiment and meaning of Dickens’ story without being too scary for young audiences.”

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.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a garden seminar, “Deck the Halls: Using Evergreens to Decorate for the Holidays,” from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 7 at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St.

Evergreen branches and garlands once served as symbols of enduring life and a fruitful year to come. Dawn Stover, SFA Gardens research associate, will teach participants how to create elegant wreaths and garlands using these and other materials from the garden.

The principles of wreath, garland and centerpiece construction will be discussed, and seminar-goers will make a wreath to take home for the holidays.

In addition to the traditional wreaths and garlands, Stover will introduce new crafts using natural items from the garden and forest. All materials will be provided.

The cost is $30 for SFA Garden members and $40 for nonmembers. Class size is limited. To register in advance, call (936) 468-4129 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

The Steel Band at Stephen F. Austin State University will present its fall concert at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Directed by Dr. Ben Tomlinson, adjunct professor of percussion in the School of Music, the student ensemble will perform a number of traditional calypso selections from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago and additional tunes from around the world.

Among the works on the program is “Chunk,” a funk tune composed by Oklahoma City-based composer Jamie Wind Whitmarsh. This rendition will include an extended percussion solo to feature the band’s “Engine Room,” which includes drumset and a percussionist playing hand drums and other auxiliary percussion within the Steel Band.

“‘Chunk’ is an upbeat tune with colorful harmonies and rhythms that really challenge the ensemble’s timing and ability to fit in the pocket,” Tomlinson said.

Also on the program is Ray Holman’s “Pan in My System,” which Tomlinson describes as fast and upbeat and “a challenging soca chart that is sure to be a crowd favorite.”

The Steel Band will perform “The Peanut Vendor” by Moisés Simons. The tune has been recorded more than 160 times and has been included in the United States Recording Registry by the National Recording Preservation Board.

“Arranged by ensemble member Ethan Ainsworth, ‘The Peanut Vendor’ is arguably one of the most famous pieces of music to come out of Cuba,” Tomlinson said. “Released in the 1930s, this tune was responsible for ‘rhumbamania’ in the United States, introducing U.S. listeners to Cuban music.” Ainsworth is a senior music major from Hallsville.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. The competition provides an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents.

The artwork submitted for the competition by high school students residing or attending school within U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert’s congressional district will be displayed in Griffith Fine Arts Gallery on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

“Historically, art and its expression have always been vital to our culture,” Gohmert said. “One of my own daughters is a very gifted artist with her pieces showcased in the U.S., China and Germany, so art has certainly played a substantial role in my family’s life.

“Fine art needs to be a part of our children’s lives and can be instrumental in our children’s developmental capacities for so many aspects of a fulfilling life,” he added. “It seems that every year we have even more students with incredible talent and creativity that makes me shake my head in awe. Our congressional district is extraordinarily blessed with very talented art teachers who have nurtured superbly talented students, and the way the Griffith Fine Arts Gallery at Stephen F. Austin State University showcases each piece of art while being so incredibly hospitable to our students should make every East Texan proud.”

The entries will be exhibited beginning Tuesday, Dec. 3, and will be displayed through Saturday, Dec. 7, when an awards ceremony will be held, and an open house/reception will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The exhibition will close following the reception.

Griffith Gallery is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive, and is open this fall from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday. The exhibition will open at 9:30 a.m. prior to the awards ceremony on Dec. 7.

First place winner will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Since it began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of local artists in each district select the winning entries.

First place winning entry from this congressional district will be displayed in the hallway of the U.S. Capitol; the second-place winning entry will be displayed in Gohmert’s office in Washington; and the third-place winning entry will be displayed in Gohmert’s district office in Tyler.

The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, Stephen F. Austin State University’s historic downtown gallery, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, but open during regular gallery hours during the rest of the Thanksgiving holiday week.

The art center will also be open from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, for the Main Street Nacogdoches Jingle and Mingle holiday event, featuring extended shopping hours for downtown retail stores, live entertainment, food trucks and more.

Currently showing at Cole Art Center is “Picturing Books: Illustrations in Print from the 15th to the 20th Centuries,” Vol. I. Curated by Dr. John Handley, director of SFA’s art galleries, and Dr. David A. Lewis, professor of art history, the exhibition, presented in two volumes, offers a series of “chapters” that explore the evolution of the printed illustration, beginning with the Incunabulum (meaning the first 50 years of the printed book), including the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493, and continuing up to the 20th century.

Because the exhibition contains books and other printed items that are hundreds of years old, the materials will be displayed under protective glass. Viewers will be able to “see” additional pages in the books by scanning codes on mobile devices, including phones.

Volume 1 runs through Jan. 5. Volume II will be presented in the early spring semester and will run through March 29.

A vintage Christmas display featuring antique ornaments, decorations, dolls and toys of bygone eras will be added Dec. 3 through Jan. 3.

Regular gallery hours are from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The exhibitions are free and open to the public and are sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, William Arscott, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and The Flower Shop. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For additional information, call (936) 468-1131.