Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and SFA Art Galleries will present the exhibition “Picturing Books: Illustrations in Print from the 15th to the 20th Centuries,” Vol. I, opening Thursday, Oct. 31, and running through Jan. 5 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

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, will offer 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. Volume II will be presented in the early spring semester and will run through March 29.

“This exhibition will present a major art form that is often overlooked, even though it is the most familiar of them all,” Handley said. “Book illustration historically has consisted of original prints in such media as woodcut, wood engraving, etching, copperplate engravings, and later, lithography and process printing using photo mechanical techniques. As such, this show links the graphic arts with fine arts, since books are not only illustrated but connect those images to text.”

The printing press with moveable type was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the early 1400s, producing the now famous Gutenberg Bible by the middle of that century. Printed illustrations appeared with greater frequency by the end of the 1400s. One of the most famous of these was the Nuremberg Chronicle (a sweeping history of the world from a Christian perspective) beginning in 1493. By the early 1500s, printed illustrations were common place in both religious works, produced by woodcut blocks and, increasingly, copperplate engravings, according to Handley.

“The exhibition will be organized like a book into volumes and chapters,” Handley explained. “Volume I will include biblical themes and human and natural history. There will also be a section of children’s books dating from the early 1700s onward.”

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.

A reception for Volume I works will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at Cole Art Center. Art exhibitions and receptions are sponsored by the Friends of the Visual Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum, William Arscott and The Flower Shop. Admission is free.

For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

Stephen F. Austin State University student Taryn Surratt, a senior high lyric mezzo-soprano from Houston, has been selected as one of 10 finalists in the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston’s Inaugural Vocal Scholarship Competition.

Surratt will perform “Se Romeo” from “I capuleti e i montecchi” by Vincenzo Bellini, “Must the Winter Come So Soon” from “Vanessa” by Samuel Barber, and Yum-yum’s aria from “The Mikado” by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. The competition is from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Houston.

“I was excited upon hearing that I was one of the finalists for the scholarship competition,” Surratt said. “I performed in the chorus with the Houston Society the summer after graduating high school, and I am a previous recipient of their vocal scholarship. I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces this coming weekend at the competition. The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston has always been a welcoming and caring group of people.”

This past summer, Surratt attended the Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artist Vocal Academy and sang the role of Agnese in Bellini’s “Beatrice di Tenda” at the London Bel Canto Festival. While focusing on her voice studies at SFA, she has maintained a 4.0 grade point average. She plans to pursue a Master of Music in vocal performance after graduating in May.

The Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Houston’s oldest opera company, has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships since 1952. This year, finalists from nine universities in three states will compete for more than $5,000 in prize money. Audience members will also get to vote for their favorite for an additional $500 award. Judges for the event will be Conductor Viswa Subbaraman, Carleen Graham of Houston Grand Opera’s HGOCo, and Jeffery Larson of L2 Artists from New York City.

The mission of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston is to preserve and promote the classic works of Sir William Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan through the production of live musical theater. The organization seeks to entertain and educate the public on the relationship between modern culture and historical works by presenting high-quality performances, while maintaining a strong commitment to the community and fine arts by donating tickets to at-risk children’s organizations and providing scholarships to vocal performance and technical theater students.

Tickets to the competition are $20 and will be available at the door. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is located at 3816 Bellaire Blvd, Houston.