Everything Nac

To celebrate with current students and past alumni returning for the Homecoming weekend, the construction management program in Stephen F. Austin State University’s James I. Perkins College of Education will host an open house for its new laboratory facility from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 21 at 514 E. Austin St. in Nacogdoches.

Since beginning in 2019, SFA’s Bachelor of Science in construction management program has seen exceptional progress, having tripled its enrollment in the last four years. It has additionally formed partnerships with industry professionals and has partnered with local entities to offer such service projects as the construction of tiny homes at Village Nac, a community for those battling homelessness and chronic mental health issues.

To meet the needs of growing student enrollment, the construction management program acquired a new building to house its laboratory space. The new construction management building, which opened this August for the fall semester, will be used for mechanical, electrical and piping courses; labs for building systems; and more.

“This program was developed as a hands-on program, seeking interaction with products and application of building,” said Sally Swearingen, coordinator of the construction management program. “I look forward to everyone seeing how far we have come.”

Construction management faculty members encourage students, parents, prospective advisory board members and the community to attend the open house. Visitors will be able to see the renovated space and listen to guest speakers, including construction management students and members of the program’s advisory board.

To learn more about SFA’s construction management program, visit sfasu.edu/constructionmgt or call (936) 468-2048.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 36 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By Parastoo Nikravesh, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University

“Invasive Species,” a body of work by Lauren Selden, professor of art (metals/jewelry/sculpture) at Stephen F. Austin State University, has a solo exhibition from Oct. 11 through 19 at the Cora Stafford Galleries at the University of North Texas, Denton.

The body of work was created after Selden attended a residency in Fiskars, Finland, funded by an SFA Creative Activity Grant. The series “Invasive Species” consists of sculptural works that explore the interplay between geometric forms and nature, according to Selden.

“Just as non-native species can disrupt ecosystems, so too can external forces disrupt the delicate balance of human society,” Selden explains.

Selden will work with UNT students in providing artist critiques, and she will give a public presentation and artist talk.

This exhibition is in conjunction with the “Paper Alchemy” exhibition which also showcases work by Selden. “Paper Alchemy,” an exhibition curated by James Thurman, was on display at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, SFA’s historic downtown gallery, in October of 2022 and is now returning “home” to North Texas.

A reception is planned for 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Cora Stafford Galleries.

For more information about Selden’s work, visit https://seldenart.com. For information about the SFA School of Art, call (936) 468-4801 or visit sfasu.edu/art.

The Wind Ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University will present “The Music of Omar Thomas” for its first concert of the 2023-24 academic year. The program will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, in Turner Auditorium inside the newly renovated Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus.

“This will be the first concert for the Wind Ensemble in Turner Auditorium since the spring semester of 2020 before the COVID pandemic,” said Dr. Tamey Anglley, director of bands at SFA and director of the Wind Ensemble. “We have an exciting first program planned featuring the music of highly acclaimed and award-winning jazz and wind band composer Omar Thomas.”

Thomas, assistant professor of composition and jazz studies at The University of Texas at Austin, is guest composer in residency at SFA in early October, working with all three SFA concert bands, Swingin’ Axes jazz band and the SFA composition studio during his time on campus.

The Wind Ensemble will perform three pieces by Thomas as well as the band arrangement of “Summerland” by William Grant Still, which was originally composed for piano. Still was known as the “Dean of African-American Classical Composers,” composing nearly 200 works. “Summerland” is the second movement from “Three Visions” for piano and integrates hints of the blues and gives a nod to his fellow composer Claude Debussy, according to Anglley.

The first piece by Thomas will be “A Mother of a Revolution!” written in 2019. The composer writes, “this piece is a celebration of the bravery of trans women, and in particular, Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson. Marsha is credited with being one of the instigators of the famous Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969 – one of the pivotal events of the LGBTQ liberation movement of the 20th century.” Thomas integrates both a march-like style along with a disco vibe to honor the legacy of the Stonewall revolution.

“The Low-Down Brown Get-Down” was written in 2020, and Thomas describes it as “the soundtrack for a nonexistent blaxploitation film. It pulls from various sounds and styles of African-American folk music, such as funk, R&B, soul, early hip hop, the blues and even film noir.” He also gives a nod to the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, both in the composition and in the title.

The concert finale is Thomas’ most performed piece, “Come Sunday,” written in 2018. Thomas writes that it “is a two-movement tribute to the Hammond organ’s central role in black worship services. The title is a direct nod to Duke Ellington, who held an inspired love for classical music and allowed it to influence his own work in a multitude of ways.” “Come Sunday” is in two movements, including “Testimony” and “Shout!,” and is reminiscent of church services across the nation.

“This concert is not one to miss,” Anglley said.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit sfasu.edu/boxoffice, For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

The Kenari Quartet will present a recital that members state will range in repertoire from “heartfelt to adventurous” when the saxophone ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

The Kenari Quartet includes soprano saxophonist Dr. Bob Eason; alto saxophonist Kyle Baldwin; tenor saxophonist Corey Dundee; and baritone saxophonist Steven Banks.

Their SFA program will feature “They Might Be Gods” by John Leszczynski; “Selections from the Goldberg Variations” by Johann Sebastian Bach; “In Memoriam” by Joel Love; and “Leafless Trees” by David Laganella.

Applauded for their “flat-out amazing” performances and “stunning virtuosity” (Cleveland Classical), the highly acclaimed Kenari Quartet delivers inspiring performances that transform the perception of the saxophone. The quartet aims to highlight the instrument’s remarkable versatility by presenting repertoire from all periods of classical and contemporary, according to kenariquartet.com.

Committed to giving back to their communities, the quartet is regularly involved in community engagement opportunities and educational endeavors. The group was recently awarded a grant by the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association to present their “Stories in Music: S.A.M. I Am” project to the students of Elkhart County’s El Sistema education program, and the Kenari Quartet will be presenting this educational program at a local elementary school during their visit to Nacogdoches.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit sfasu.edu/boxoffice, For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.