Everything Nac

The School of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University will host a reception for its annual faculty exhibition at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Each year, the faculty exhibition features a wide variety of artwork in ceramics, sculpture, photography, painting, prints, metal work and mixed media, according to John Handley, director of SFA art galleries. The exhibition runs through Oct. 13.

The reception also marks the opening of the featured faculty show, “Shadow Plane: Works on Paper by Wesley Berg.” Berg is assistant professor of drawing and painting in the School of Art. He will discuss his work at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the gallery.

Also currently showing in the gallery is “The Color of Grief,” an exhibition featuring created works by children ages 4 through 16 while attending a youth grief camp through Hospice in the Pines.

Art exhibitions and receptions are sponsored by William Arscott, the Flower Shop, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and the Friends of the Visual Arts. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

The School of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University will open “The Color of Grief ” exhibition Tuesday, Sept. 3, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

“The Color of Grief” features art created by children attending a youth grief camp through Hospice in the Pines.

“This exhibit showcases the existential and spiritual reality children experience in the loss of a loved one, such as a parent or sibling,” according to John Handley, director of SFA art galleries. “Through the expression of art, the inner truth, layers and stages of grief are revealed.”

These small paintings on canvas were created by children ages 4 through 16.

“Each work of art is a living tribute to and bridge between the land of the living and those who have transitioned beyond this life,” Handley said.

The camp and its program started as a vision and dream of social worker Jacob Thomas, director of social services at Hospice in the Pines.

“It was an idea, a vision, that was manifested so our community can have a creative dialogue about the visceral, vulnerable topic of grief and loss and how such matters lead to the inner transformations of individuals,” according to Thomas. “The expression and inner dialogue of grieving youth can be a difficult process and is not always expressed verbally; yet the dialogue that is inwardly experienced can be accessed in non-verbal ways.”

Utilizing water color paintings – brush strokes, color choices and pallets – each child expressed his/her vision, emotion and story, Thomas explained.

“We utilize methodologies such as art making, and in this case paintings, as a symbol and bridge to connect our older generations with the younger generations,” Thomas said, “and to see how the dialogue regarding topics of grief, joy, awe, wonder and loss are communicated as truths and as an alternative form of creating dialogue within our community.”

A reception for “The Color of Grief” is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Cole Art Center. Art exhibitions and receptions are sponsored by William Arscott, the Flower Shop, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and the Friends of the Visual Arts. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

An exhibition of works by Peter Andrew, professor of graphic design in Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Art, is showing at Kilgore College through Sept. 25.

“Local Color” features 40 paintings, including recent oils and watercolors emphasizing “the colors of East Texas and beyond,” according to Andrew. The artworks were created both en plein air (on location) and in the studio. Andrew is best known for working with landscape subjects using color to evoke specific times, places and moods.

Andrew heads the School of Art’s graphic design program. He has worked in advertising and publishing, as a freelance artist and as a design software trainer for the print industry. He has extensive graphic design experience with Houston area firms. With more than 50 solo exhibitions to his credit, Andrew also owned an art gallery in downtown Nacogdoches for 10 years. His work can be viewed at www.peterandrew.net.

Hosted by the Kilgore College Visual Arts Department, the show can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Gallery. The show is free and open to the public.

The Children’s Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University continues its tradition of offering fun, educational shows that entertain and inform East Texas youngsters.

The series, presented by the College of Fine Arts, features five nationally touring shows designed to engage audiences of all ages. Careful consideration is given to show topics, which always include teachable classroom elements, according to Diane Peterson, Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the series.

“CPAS shows are a great way to supplement class curriculums, and our in-depth study guides provide suggestions for pre- and post-performance activities and discussions,” Peterson said.

CPAS shows bring hundreds of students from schools throughout East Texas to the SFA campus to enjoy the productions.

“Our shows are often sell-outs, so we encourage teachers to book their classrooms early to take advantage of these great field trips that provide fun and educational outings for children,” Peterson said. “We also offer great discounts for large groups.”

“The Velveteen Rabbit,” presented by Virginia Repertory Theatre, opens the series on Friday, Oct. 18, with Margery Williams’ tale of friendship and the passing of time.

“A lovely score and detailed period costumes will transport audiences back to the early 20th century to experience an innocence and wisdom that has much to say about our present culture of instant gratification and disposable friends,” Peterson explained. “The Velveteen Rabbit” is for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

“A Christmas Carol” is perhaps the best-loved holiday story of all time, and Virginia Rep’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale is particularly suited to children. Audiences will watch Mr. Scrooge transform his heart from stone to gold as he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas. All the joy, sentiment and meaning are here, without being too scary for young audiences. The show is slated for Thursday, Dec. 12, and targets children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

TheatreworksUSA presents “We the People” on Friday, Jan. 31. Children will have a blast learning about the three branches of government as this musical revue uses rock and roll, rhythm and blues and more to bring American civics lessons to life.

“Presented in an election year, this show teaches kids how democracy works and inspires them to get involved,” Peterson said. “We the People” targets children in third through eighth grade.

Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry sponsors the all-time favorite CPAS show – Super Scientific Circus. Mr. Fish and Trent the Mime use circus stunts and magic tricks to highlight scientific principles. The program introduces students to curious and amazing phenomena that actually have scientific explanations. Super Scientific Circus comes to SFA on Friday, Feb. 28, and targets students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

The series concludes on Tuesday, April 28, with the beloved story of “Cinderella,” presented by The Panto Company USA. Bullied by her two mean stepsisters, Cinders’ future looks bleak until her Fairy Godmother casts a spell and sends her to the ball. True to the story, “Cinderella” is full of original modern songs, bursting with hilarity and has a happy ending. This show is for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on show dates in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.

To order tickets, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Visit the CPAS website at www.cpas.sfasu.edu for additional information.