SFA University
Dr. Steve Cooper, Stephen F. Austin State University School of Social Work associate director of research, leads a discussion with Nacogdoches County community members about the recent grant received from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. The $410,000 grant funds an initiative focusing on identifying and improving the mental health conditions of the local community.
July 31, 2018 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work is one of five Texas entities receiving a $410,000 grant from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health to support collaborative approaches to well-being in rural communities.
The grant funds an initiative focusing on identifying and improving the mental health conditions of Nacogdoches County. More than 60 rural counties from around Texas applied for the grant. Other counties receiving the grant are Bastrop, Brooks, Morris and Victoria.
Dr. Steve Cooper, associate director of research for SFA’s School of Social Work, said this grant will help determine the steps that need to be taken to improve the county’s overall mental health.
“The Hogg Foundation looks at rural areas’ need for better mental health,” Cooper said. “This particular initiative allows the community to say what the issue is. This grant funds the facilitation of a community-driven process of identifying the needs related to mental health and deciding how to go about addressing them.”
For the purposes of this initiative, the Hogg Foundation defines well-being as the holistic state of being well and feeling content in life. The concept includes feeling grounded emotionally, mentally, socially and spiritually. Mental health is an essential component of well-being.
“This isn’t just more money to do more of the same things,” Rick Ybarra, program officer for the Hogg Foundation, said. “The hope is that these grantees will pioneer new approaches to resilience, mental health and well-being that we can all learn from.”
According to research conducted by the Hogg Foundation in 2015, 185 Texas counties lacked having a psychiatrist, while 149 of these counties were without a licensed psychologist and 40 lacked having a social worker. The Hogg Foundation’s initiative aims to shift the focus from individual mental illnesses to the conditions that support mental health at the community and systems level.
Cooper said that there has been a push toward recovery within mental health care in the past decade, but rural communities often lack the funds and/or resources to achieve better mental health care.
“People are often looked at as sick forever if they have chronic mental illness, but with help they can become more independent,” Cooper said. “The idea behind this movement is that anyone can get better with support. This means that each member of the community can positively affect an individual’s mental health.”
The Center for Rural Social Work Research and Development within SFA’s School of Social Work is housing the grant. Cooper will be spearheading the work along with Dr. Emmerentie Oliphant, director of the Master of Social Work program at SFA.
Additionally, students within the School of Social Work will have the opportunity to assist with the process and gain real-world experience. Both undergraduate and graduate students will help gather data on the community’s mental well-being, participate in community meetings and more.
The grant will last three years, and the initiative is divided into two stages. The first 12 to 18 months will focus on engaging with the community in an appreciative inquiry model to determine the specific mental health needs. In this stage, various community members and organizations will gather information and begin work to enhance the county’s mental health care.
“This is not just something SFA is doing; instead, it is a community-driven initiative,” Cooper said.
SFA and 15 community partners will periodically meet throughout the initiative. Cooper said that the group comprises a very inclusive community. “This is the first time Nacogdoches County is focusing on community mental health,” Cooper said, “and we anticipate that as word grows, more and more organizations and individuals will want to participate in this initiative.”
The second stage of the grant will involve implementing resources and information within the community on the needs of the county. The results of the first stage will help determine the next steps to be taken. These steps will lead the community toward becoming more conducive to wellness and well-being.
“Our goal with this grant will focus on becoming a trauma-informed community,” Cooper said. “Regardless of an individual’s own mental health, we want every community member to have access to information and resources regarding their well-being. Everyone deserves help with their mental health.”
To learn more about this initiative, contact Dr. Steve Cooper at scooper@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-2845.
By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist for Stephen F. Austin State University.
July 27, 2018 Nacogdoches — The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music is accepting scholarship applications for its fall classes.
The music program features the study of a variety of musical instruments and choral techniques. Upper-level musicians as well as SFA faculty and students teach private lessons and classes. Registration for fall programs also is underway.
Partial scholarships are awarded to music students based on need, according to Pat Barnett, Music Prep director. Scholarship and lesson application forms and other information about the various programs offered are available on the Music Prep website at music.sfasu.edu/prep. Deadline to apply for scholarships is August 1.
A Music Prep open house will be held from 10am to 2pm August 18 at 3028 Raguet St. Participants may register for classes during the open house.
“New and returning students and their parents are invited to attend the open house at the Prep House to speak with faculty and to register for private and group lessons,” Barnett said. “Piney Woods Youth Orchestra auditions are on the same day of the open house, and auditions begin at 10 a.m.”
The orchestra meets from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Mondays.
Current summer FlexLessons will end August 11, and the fall semester, which includes private lessons, will begin the week of August 20.
Students may enroll for 12 or 16 private lessons for the fall semester. In addition to the Piney Woods Youth Orchestra, Music Prep offers an adult piano class, Music Theory Adventures for beginning and intermediate students, the Choristers youth choral ensemble, and the Raguet Strings adult ensemble.
Music Prep offers private music lessons in piano, harp, violin, viola, Suzuki violin, flute, cello, trumpet, trombone, voice, percussion and more.
Private lessons begin the week of August 20 for 16-week, upper-level faculty instruction and the week of Sept. 10 for 12-week SFA music major instruction.
Mail forms to SFA Music Prep, P.O. Box 13043, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962. Call the Music Prep office with credit/debit card information at (936) 468-1291. The Prep office is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Forms may be dropped off at the office, 3028 Raguet Street.
For additional information, contact Barnett at (936) 468-1291 or musicprep@sfasu.edu, or visit the Facebook page SFA Music Prep.
July 26, 2018 Nacogdoches — The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of “Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery” at 7 p.m. Friday, August 3, in The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
The documentary is described at imdb.com as “a mesmerizing, thought-provoking yet surprisingly amusing documentary on the life and times of Wolfgang Beltracchi, who tricked the international art world for nearly 40 years by forging and selling paintings of early 20th-century masters.”
“Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery” earned Best Documentary at the 2014 German Film Awards and winner in Documentary in Fine Art and Photography at the 2016 Master of Art Film Festival. The film is directed by Arne Birkenstock.
The screening is part of the School of Art’s monthly Friday Film Series and is sponsored in part by William Arscott, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Karon Gillespie, Mike Mollot, David Kulhavy, Brad Maule, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and Main Street Nacogdoches.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
July 25, 2018 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University’s Board of Regents approved several leadership changes during its Tuesday meeting.
Dr. Marc Guidry was approved as associate provost for academic affairs. As a member of the SFA faculty since 1999, Guidry is familiar to many on campus. In addition to his teaching responsibilities in the Department of English and Creative Writing, Guidry has served as associate dean of the College of Liberal and Applied Arts since 2012.
He has been a member of several campuswide committees and in 2016 received a Distinguished Grant Award from the SFA Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Guidry holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Loyola University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in English from Louisiana State University.
Erma Nieto Brecht was appointed executive director of enrollment management. Since 2004, Brecht has served as director of admissions at Texas Woman’s University and was responsible for developing, implementing, and managing all aspects of recruiting and admissions counseling. She has 25 years of experience with documented success in increasing retention rates and enrollment.
Brecht holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Houston and is scheduled to complete a doctoral degree in higher education administration in December.
Additionally, regents appointed Ryan Ivey as the director of intercollegiate athletics. Ivey comes to SFA after serving as athletic director at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, where he was responsible for 15 sports and a $12.5 million athletics budget.
Ivey earned a bachelor's degree in sports management and a master's degree in sports commerce from the University of Memphis, where he was a punter for the football team.
From the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, Dr. Joyce Johnston was appointed associate dean of the college. Formerly interim director for the Division of Multidisciplinary Programs and French professor, Johnston has been a member of the SFA faculty since 2007. She has held many roles, including director of the Pre-Law Academy for high school students, coordinator of SFA’s gender studies program and director of multidisciplinary programs. Johnston has taught all levels of French literature, language and culture; instructed graduate-level Hispanic studies; implemented study abroad trips; and served on university, college and departmental committees.
Dr. Troy Davis was named professor and chair of the Department of History. A member of the faculty since 1999, Davis has taught courses including the history of Western civilization, American history and history of Ireland. He received his bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and his master’s and doctoral degrees in modern European history from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Dr. William Bruton, associate dean and professor of physics, engineering and astronomy, was named professor and director of engineering. Bruton teaches a variety of courses and conducts research at the SFA Observatory. With assistance from many students, Bruton has discovered 11 asteroids. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SFA and doctoral degree from Texas A&M University.
Dr. Tamara Harris was approved as associate professor and director of nursing for the DeWitt School of Nursing. For many years, Harris has worked in the medical industry in various capacities. As a nurse practitioner, she gained experience with post-operative care, patient education, and prenatal and postpartum care.
Dr. Deborah Dunn was named professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science. Dunn worked for more than five years in the industry as a programmer/analyst for a major oil company. Prior to joining the SFA faculty, she taught at various universities and colleges while also serving in leadership roles.
Regents approved Dr. Ray Darville as professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology, Geography and Sociology. Darville has served SFA for 30 years in various roles in areas such as sociology, communication, and forestry and agriculture. He was honored as Regents Professor for 2015-16. Darville received his bachelor’s degree from East Texas Baptist University, master’s degree from SFA and doctoral degree from the University of North Texas.
Dr. Dana Cooper was approved as professor of history and SFA 101 coordinator. Cooper has been at SFA since 2007, is a former Faculty Senate chair, and was named a Distinguished Professor in 2016. The SFA 101 program helps first-time college students as they begin their university experience. Taught by faculty and staff members from across campus, SFA 101 is a one-hour course designed to enhance student success.
Tuesday’s meeting also included approvals of three assistant professors: Dr. Sarah Straub, elementary education, James I. Perkins College of Education; James Schaeffer, psychology, College of Liberal and Applied Arts; and Dr. Julie Bloxson, geology, College of Sciences and Mathematics.
Changes of status in Information Technology Services include Michael Coffee, who was named deputy chief information officer; John Parker, who was appointed director of enterprise architecture; and Meredith Baily, who was named manager of the project management office. Brandon Stringfield, security specialist, was approved as information security specialist II, and Jason Wiggins, manager of network services, was approved as assistant director of enterprise infrastructure.
In the Office of Student Affairs Programs, Lacey Folsom was named director of student engagement, Sylvester Harris was appointed assistant director of student engagement, and Emily Jefferson was named coordinator of disability support services.
Staff appointments approved during the quarterly meeting include Christopher Elliott, student athletic success trainer in SFA Athletics; Katherine Ivanic, contracting specialist in procurement and property services; and Madison Dealing, hall director in residence life.
Changes of status approved in the Department of Athletics are Jeffrey Byrd, from assistant head football coach to interim head football coach; and Christa Robinson, from graduate assistant to athletic strength and conditioning assistant.
In the Physical Plant the board approved the following changes of status: Jessica DeWitt, from project coordinator to manager of projects; Alison Ford, from supervisor of physical plant administration to manager of business; Hillary Parrish, from records administrator to manager of staff services; Johnathan Sanchez, from plant operations specialist to plant operations analyst; and Allen Singleton, from assistant manager of building trades and mechanical maintenance to manager of building trades and mechanical maintenance.
In the Controller’s Office, approved changes of status include Jennie Blough, from manager of accounts payable to assistant director of accounting operations; Brittney Goad, from procurement card coordinator to manager of accounts payable; and Tambra Thompson, from Accountant II to Accountant III.
The following changes of status also were approved:
· Brittany Morriss, from graduate assistant to coordinator of campus recreation (aquatics and safety)
· Morgan Russell, from substitute teacher to teacher at the SFA Charter School, and Ginny Watkins, from teacher to master teacher in the Early Childhood Laboratory, in the James I. Perkins College of Education
· Crystal Bays, from development assistant to campaign coordinator in the Office of Development
· Janice Ledet, from physician to interim director in Health Services
· Janie Richardson, from librarian I to librarian II in Steen Library
· Reba Carroll, from hall director to area coordinator; and Carla Chumley, from supervisor of administration to supervisor of staff services in Residence Life.
During the meeting, the board recognized Dr. Treba Marsh as professor emeritus of accounting. A longtime SFA faculty member, Marsh has served in the Rusche College of Business as lecturer, assistant and associate professor, professor, and chair of Schlief School of Accountancy.
The board approved retirements of faculty and staff with more than 80 years of combined service to the university. Retirements include Dr. Janice Hensarling, associate professor of nursing; Robert Hill, director of athletics; and Anne Uhyrek, accountant III.
Dr. John Hendricks, chair and professor of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Mass Communication, second from left, presented research in Madrid, Spain, during the 13th annual Global Communication Association Conference. Hendricks presented research at two other international conferences in Athens, Greece and Prague, Czech Republic.
July 24, 2018 Nacogdoches — Dr. John Hendricks, chair and professor of the Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Mass Communication, recently attended and presented research to international media scholars in Europe at three conferences.
Hendricks attended the 16th annual International Conference on Communication and Mass Media held in Athens, Greece, where he presented “Social Media Strategies and Platforms in 2016: The Trump and Clinton Campaigns.” More than 80 scholars from 20 countries attended and presented 61 research papers.
The mission of the conference, organized by the Athens Institute for Education and Research, was to become a forum where academics and researchers from all over the world could meet, exchange ideas on their research, discuss future developments in their disciplines and engage with professionals from other fields.
Hendricks then traveled to Madrid, Spain, where he presented “Trump vs. Clinton: Social Media Usage and the 2016 Presidential Campaign,” at the 13th annual Global Communication Association Conference.
The objective of the GCA conference was to explore contemporary global issues in the media industry. Rey Juan Carlos University hosted the Madrid conference. Scholars from more than 20 countries attended and presented more than 70 research papers.
On the final stop of the European journey, Hendricks attended the International Communication Association’s 68th annual conference in Prague, Czech Republic. While there, he participated in professional development sessions, interacted with scholars from around the globe and learned about new research. The ICA strives to advance the scholarly study of human communication by encouraging and facilitating excellence in academic research worldwide.
“Having the opportunity to interact with scholars from around the world who study what I study was invaluable and very interesting,” Hendricks said. “At each of the conferences, I was able to learn firsthand about pioneering and innovative research being conducted at other universities around the world.”
To learn more about Hendricks’ presentations, contact him at hendricksj@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-4001.
This past June, Stephen F. Austin State University students from six academic disciplines dedicated about two weeks of their summer break to accomplish a variety of projects in rural Haiti. Pictured, participating SFA students are joined by youth who reside in the mountain village of Quicroif.
July 23, 2018 Nacogdoches — While many view summer break as a time to unwind and relax, others embrace it as an opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture while working long hours to accomplish meaningful projects. This past June, Stephen F. Austin State University students from the academic disciplines of agriculture, early childhood education, environmental science, forestry, nursing and social work did just that — dedicating almost two weeks of their summer break to accomplish a variety of projects in rural Haiti.
This marks the second summer in which SFA has partnered with One Foot Raised, a local mission-based nonprofit organization founded by SFA alumni. While the organization was officially established in 2016, its founders, Becky and Zac Weems, have led outreach teams in the country for a decade. The Weems said they work closely with leadership from a small number of villages to learn the exact needs of residents and then work hand-in-hand with them to achieve these goals.
In partnering with SFA, the Weems said they now have access to a vast amount of knowledge and skills in the form of faculty and staff, as well as students.
This year, Dr. Angela Jones, assistant professor of nursing within SFA’s Richard and Lucille DeWitt School of Nursing, and Dr. Shelby Gull Laird, assistant professor of forestry within SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, led a team of 13 SFA students who completed tasks ranging from human health and wellness to agricultural development in three rural villages.
“The whole goal of the trip for the nursing students was to immerse themselves in health care in the context of another culture, take what they’ve learned here and see how they can adapt it to meet the needs of a community using the services is has,” Jones said. “It was absolutely a priceless experience.”
Jones and the six participating nursing students conducted health clinics and home visits in the villages of Lamonthe, Quicroif and Thomassin where they focused on basic wound care, women’s health and distributed reading glasses after conducting rudimentary vision tests using a vision chart in French Creole, the official language of Haiti.
“We used shards of a broken mirror to show them their reflection wearing the new glasses, and it was amazing,” Jones said. “That was probably our favorite thing we did.”
Students from social work and elementary education assisted in various capacities, including organizing and facilitating the projects.
“They were a tremendous help in providing support and educational games to the children of those seeking medical care," Jones said.
Brennan Morrell, a senior nursing student, said the experience inspired him to seek ways to improve his nursing skills and gave him renewed gratitude for the American health care system.
“I kind of went into the trip with the mindset that I know everything I need to know to be a nurse right now, but in coming back I realized how much more I could do to be a better nurse,” Morrell said.
This introspection and personal growth is precisely what Jones hoped would occur.
“I really saw who they are as nurses,” Jones said. “I saw their hearts and passion.”
While overall emphasis was placed on the bipedal residents of Haiti, the four-legged variety was not neglected.
Drawing on her experience of keeping show rabbits, DeeAnna Berry, a junior studying animal science within SFA’s Department of Agriculture, developed a comprehensive brochure on rabbit husbandry that was translated into French Creole and distributed to a group of women in the mountain-top village of Quicroif.
Berry explained that the rabbits will provide the women, all widows, with a source of food and income, as well as fertilizer for them and local farmers.
In addition to the informational brochure, Berry and Jheri-Lynn McSwain, an SFA doctoral student in forestry and Shelby County extension agent, taught the women how to determine the sex of rabbits and efficiently harvest the animals.
“Being able to travel to different places to see how they care for their crops or their livestock versus how we do it in the U.S. is a real eye opener and can show us how to be more resourceful,” Berry said. “The community was very welcoming and just wanted to help everyone.”
Students also fine-tuned the design of an existing rabbit cage to allow for better ventilation and improved health of the rabbits.
“They had built a good cage, but the limiting factor was the wire mesh for the sides,” Laird said. “They used tin, the only thing they had accessible, and the cages were too hot.”
Following an extensive search of supply stores in Port-au-Prince, Laird and Zac Weems were able to locate the wire mesh needed.
Laird emphasized that the frame of the existing rabbit cage, made of limbs sourced from surrounding trees, was of excellent quality and served as a template for the cage built by the villagers and SFA students.
While on the surface the completed projects seem discipline specific, both Jones and Laird said that SFA students of all majors contributed in a number of ways and, perhaps most importantly, learned from each other. Additionally, Laird stressed that as the needs of the Haitian villagers change, so will the focus of the projects, allowing ample opportunity for more interdisciplinary collaboration.
“While all study abroad trips are important, I think this trip’s focus on service provides something different, and the students find more meaning in what they are doing,” Laird said. “They were able to contribute to other’s learning while also learning themselves.”
Laird explained that although One Foot Raised is a faith-based nonprofit organization, all volunteers from SFA are welcome to participate.
Looking forward, Laird and Jones hope to continue their collaboration with One Foot Raised, allowing SFA Lumberjacks from across disciplines to unite for a common good.
For more information on One Foot Raised, visit www.onefootraised.org. To learn how you can be a part of the SFA summer course, contact Laird at lairdsg@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-2014.
July 18, 2018 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University will hold a public ribbon cutting for the Ed and Gwen Cole STEM Building at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 24th.
Designed to foster collaboration and innovation, the STEM Building boasts a planetarium with a 52-foot dome, makerspaces and multipurpose labs. The facility also features a machine shop, a digital media center, computer labs, research labs, collaborative classrooms and a terrace with telescopes.
“The outside of the building will ‘speak’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics with displays and features that reflect the hands-on and inquiry-based learning opportunities that will take place inside,” said Dr. Kimberly Childs, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics. “SFA students of all majors will benefit from the educational opportunities offered within the STEM Building and will be immersed in a high-tech environment with state-of-the-art instrumentation and equipment.”
The SFA Board of Regents broke ground in 2016 after the 84th Texas Legislature granted the university approximately $46.4 million in tuition revenue bond funding. Named for Ed Cole and his wife, the late Gwen Cole, supporters of numerous SFA programs, the STEM building also houses a three-story glass atrium named for the late regent Barry Nelson, former chair of the Building and Grounds committee, for his integral role in the planning phase of the building.
Responding to a national call for STEM reform, SFA began to implement activities, courses and outreach initiatives with the aim of encouraging students to develop a greater interest in STEM.
“A vibrant science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce is vital to America’s innovative capacity and global competitiveness,” Childs said. “With the addition of the STEM Building, SFA is perfectly positioned to lead this charge across the East Texas region and to have an explosive impact in Texas.”
To learn more about SFA’s STEM program, visit sfasu.edu/academics/colleges/sciences-math.
July 18, 2018 Nacogdoches — Society is aging and, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the nation’s population of those who are 65 years old and older will nearly double in the next 20 years. To help prepare for this population shift, Stephen F. Austin State University will offer a certificate in aging studies and become the only university in Northeast Texas to provide this option.
“This increase presents exciting opportunities and urgent challenges to society. This aging population will be the major social and business issue of the 21st century,” said Dr. Hyunsook Kang, associate professor in SFA’s School of Human Sciences. “It is important to prepare health providers and societies to meet the specific needs of older populations.”
The 18-hour certificate will help prepare students for careers in planning, administering, coordinating and delivering services to older adults. Career opportunities include working as a case manager, consultant, older adult educator, legal aid assistant, program activities director or senior community outreach personnel. Nurses and social workers also can specialize in working with geriatric clients.
With this certificate, students also could pursue employment with entities such as the Department of Health Services, Department of Social Services, senior retirement and adult care centers, and area agencies on aging.
The certificate involves courses from human sciences, sociology and health science disciplines. Course topics include heath issues and aging, family relations, nutrition, independent living, and consumer issues.
The certificate is open to those who successfully complete six elective courses and who meet general admission requirements.
For more information, contact Kang at kangh@sfasu.edu, or visit sfasu.edu/hms.
By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
The winning entry in the 2017 Nacogdoches Photographic Association’s gallery show was by Bruce Lindsay for the photo “Nac at Dawn.” This year’s show opens with a reception at 6 p.m. Friday, July 27, in The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
July 17, 2018 – The Nacogdoches Photographic Association will open its 2018 gallery show with a reception at 6 p.m. Friday, July 27, in The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
Theme for the photo show is “Doors, Windows and Gates,” and juror is John Handley, director of art galleries at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Handley earned his undergraduate degree in studio art and art history from Western Washington University. During that time, he worked as a student intern at the Whactom Museum of History and Art and The Western Art Gallery. While earning his master’s degree in museum studies from John F. Kennedy University, Handley worked at the Judah L. Magnes Museum in Berkeley, during which time he worked on the preparation and delivery of 175 Judaica artifacts for the exhibition “Patterns of Jewish Life in the World” at the Martin Gropius Building in Berlin.
For many years, Handley was the collections manager for the Museum of Vision, Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in San Francisco where he worked with medical history scholars, created history of medicine exhibitions and publications and developed informal science exhibitions and curriculum for school-age children. He also worked with small museums in the Santa Clara Valley developing local history exhibitions.
Handley returned to graduate studies in 2002, first in theology, ultimately completing his doctorate in art history and religion at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He became the director of galleries for the SFA School of Art in 2012.
Awards will include Best of Show, first, second and third places and honorable mention. The 2018 Best of Show recipient will be announced at the opening reception.
The Nacogdoches Photographic Association was organized in 1992. Monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month (except on field-trip nights) in The Cole Art Center. For more information, contact R.G. Dean at dean@sfasu.edu. The NPA website URL is nacogdochesphotoassoc.org, and members’ works can be seen on Facebook.
The NPA show will run through Aug. 26. Gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main Street. For additional information, call (936) 468-1131.
Local artist Gary Broome won first place in last year’s Watercolor East Texas juried exhibition.
July 17, 2018 Nacogdoches – The 34th Watercolor East Texas juried exhibition will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 28, in The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
This year’s juror is Texas artist Bev Boren, who is a signature member of Outdoor Painters Society and Southwestern Watercolor Society. She is also a member of the Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society and American Watercolor Society.
Her work is primarily the result of her “need to paint,” she said.
“Inspiration can come at any time and in any place,” Boren said. Not confined to one subject area, she paints a variety of subject matter and works in various mediums. Her paintings are created with things that capture her eye, whether it's a still life or landscape or a person's personality. She explains that painting is her way of connecting with the world and the people around her and sharing those experiences along the way.
In her words, "Trying to describe or explain my efforts at painting or drawing seems like a futile effort. After all, I want my work to express itself without the necessity of words. My best hope is that my work will stand simply on its own and find a connection with viewers where words fail.”
See her work: http://bevboren.com/collections
The exhibition runs through August 26.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, contact WET member Carol Athey at atheycj@sfasu.edu or call the art center at (936) 468-1131.
Pages
