SFA University
October 11, 2016 - Vendor booth spaces are still available for the fourth annual Día de los Muertos Fiesta slated for 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in downtown Nacogdoches in and around The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.
Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead observance, is considered a cheerful celebration of life, honoring the souls of the deceased. Día de los Muertos is a Mexican term derived from the Roman Catholic All Saints’ and All Souls’ days, traditionally observed Nov. 1 and 2. An array of activities, ranging from decorating graves to creating home altars, typically highlight the celebration that can last for days.
The popular Chikawa Aztec Dancers, Martinez Mariachi Duo and musicians Juan Carlos and Jenna Ureña will return to entertain crowds at the Nacogdoches celebration, which grows in popularity each year, according to Lisa Steed, events coordinator for Stephen F. Austin State University art galleries.
A fundraiser for the gallery will feature original art and Day of the Dead vintage items.
Those interested in reserving booth spaces may email sfaartgalleries@sfasu.edu to receive a reservation form, which are also available at the Nacogdoches Public Library and The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.
Among the vendors already committed to participating are SFA Art Metals, SFA Art Alliance, Friends of the Visual Arts, The Old Stone Fort, Nacogdoches Public Library with free children’s activities, SFA School of Theatre with face painting, and several food vendors, including Casa Morales and Birdie’s Bakery, and more.
Sponsors are also being solicited for the event. Confirmed sponsors include SFA Sound Recording Technology, R&K Distributors, the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau and Friends of the Visual Arts.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities or booth reservations, call (936) 468-6557.
October 11, 2016 NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Customarily held in large, metropolitan areas such as Houston, Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth, the 87th annual meeting of the Texas Archeological Society will be held in Nacogdoches this year and hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University Oct. 28 through 30 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center.
This year’s meeting will be the second time the Oldest Town in Texas has hosted the event. The first time was in 1995. Nacogdoches’ selection as the conference host correlates with the city’s celebration of its 300th anniversary.
“The meeting consists of a day and a half of presentations of papers and posters from professionals, students and avocationals,” said Dr. George Avery, director of the SFA anthropology and archeology lab. “All areas of Texas are represented, but there will be special emphasis on the Spanish presence in this area. There also will be meetings of the Council of Texas Archeologists, the Texas Historical Commission’s Stewardship program, and the TAS executive and board meetings.”
On Friday evening, the public is invited to bring artifacts to be identified. Jason Barrett with the Houston division of the Texas Department of Transportation will then speak on the resurgence of public archeology in the Houston area. Both this speaker event and the artifact identification are free to attend.
Dr. Juliana Barr, associate professor in the Duke University Department of History, will speak at a Saturday evening banquet regarding the role of archeology in telling the story of the American Indians prior to European arrival. On Sunday, three field trip opportunities for participants will be offered at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, Nacogdoches County sites and Mission Dolores State Historic Site.
A silent auction also will be held during the weekend conference. Auction donors include Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Kroger and Brookshires in Nacogdoches. In addition, Kiwanas of Nacogdoches, Lions Club of San Augustine and the Deep East Texas Archeological Society of Newton have each sponsored one high school student to attend the conference.
The TAS is a non-profit organization, and the goal of the annual meeting is to fundraise for TAS activities, which include raising awareness that many construction projects impact archeological sites. The TAS hosts workshops year-round on various archeological topics, including ceramics, lithics (stone tools), macrobotanicals, historic archeology and rock-art recording. TAS also has a one-week field school in June each year. See http://www.txarch.org/index.php for more information on the TAS.
The cost of the TAS conference is $60 for adult members and $30 for student members. The cost for adult non-members is $70 and student non-members is $35. For information or to register, contact Avery at (936) 468-2457 or averyg@sfasu.edu.
October 11, 2016 - Tickets are still available for the Big Head Blues Club performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.
The Big Head Blues Club, featuring Big Head Todd and the Monsters with Mud Morganfield, Billy Branch, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Erica Brown, will present “Way Down Inside: Songs of Willie Dixon,” a performance that pays tribute to one of the pillars of modern blues. The show, which is part of the SFA College of Fine Arts’ University Series, is sponsored in part by Lehmann Eye Center.
Prior to the performance, Dr. J.D. Salas, associate professor in the SFA School of Music, will present an informative talk about blues music at 7 p.m. in Griffith Gallery. The gallery is located across the hall from Turner Auditorium, which is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive. The audience is invited back to the gallery for a post-performance reception to meet the performers and to honor the event’s corporate sponsor.
Single event ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for non-SFA students/youth. Tickets for SFA students are $3. For tickets or more information on the 2016-17 University Series, 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.
October 11, 2016 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s Braille and Cane Club will host a White Cane Day parade and activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13th, on the university campus in honor of National White Cane Safety Day.
The day celebrates the growing independence and self-sufficiency of people who are blind in America, and also works to recognize the white cane as the symbol of independence and self-reliance, according to the National Federation of the Blind’s website.
Laura Kiefer, SFA Braille and Cane Club president, is coordinating the event.
“This day is very close to my heart because my mom is visually impaired and uses a cane. I know she often encounters people who believe in the many misconceptions associated with blindness,” said Kiefer, a Fort Worth senior studying rehabilitation and orientation and mobility at SFA.
Open to the public, the festivities will include a parade through campus along Vista Drive, North Street and East College Street. Parade participants are encouraged to wear white and should meet at 9:30 a.m. in the first floor lobby of the Human Services Building on the SFA campus. The parade will end at the SFA fountain.
“This event is incredibly important in providing public awareness to the fact that people who are blind are happy, productive and independent members of the community,” Kiefer said.
In addition to the parade, club members will host a public awareness event beginning at 11 a.m. in front of the Baker Pattillo Student Center and a bake sale near the SFA fountain. Funds raised from the bake sale will support the club’s annual Christmas party for local children with visual impairments.
October 5, 2016 - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present the student-directed, full-length play “Sunset Baby” by Dominique Morisseau at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, in the Downstage Theatre on the SFA campus.
Directed by Dallas senior Dominique Rider, the play is about a former black revolutionary returning to his home to find a daughter he barely knows and a city that has changed in the past 20 years. The play addresses how generational voids affect people and the implications of revolution, according to Rider.
The cast includes Houston junior Terrance Simon as Damon; Dallas senior Jonee´ Lewis as Nina; and San Antonio senior Kevin Holloway-Harris as Kenyatta.
The production staff includes Jessy Valladares, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, junior, stage manager; Rebekah Webb, Dallas junior, assistant stage manager; Alexis Wicks, Mathis senior, scenic designer; Danika Pettyjohn, Fort Worth senior, costume designer; Brian Steele, Houston junior, lighting designer; Lane Davidson, Denton junior, sound designer; Angel Williams, Beaumont senior, hair and makeup designer; and Hope Kidd, Grand Prairie sophomore, properties manager.
Scott Shattuck is faculty production advisor.
“Sunset Baby’ is recommended for mature audiences. Tickets are $6. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit theatre.sfasu.edu. The Downstage Theatre is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.
October 5, 2016 - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House will host the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association’s annual membership and board meeting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at Cole Art Center.
Nacogdoches County Judge Mike Perry and Carl Watson, executive director of the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, will welcome attendees.
Presentations will focus on archaeological research on the trail in East Texas and Louisiana, and the National Park Service will provide an update on the trail. Other activities include a networking luncheon with association representatives and agency officials from the NPS and Texas Historical Commission and a tour of trail sites between Nacogdoches and Geneva, Texas. The tour will include a rare opportunity to visit association property that was purchased with donor support in 2014 and which represents the largest concentration of remnants of the physical road anywhere on the trail, according to a press release from the association.
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association is an advocacy group that seeks to protect the historic integrity of the trail, educate the public about its significance, and promote resource development, interpretation and tourism along its path, according to the association.
Added to the National Trails System by the U.S. Congress in 2004, El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail commemorates nationally significant historic routes extending from the United States-Mexico border at the Rio Grande to the eastern boundary of the Spanish province of Texas in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Among the included trail sites are the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, the Alamo, Mission Tejas State Park, Caddo Mounds State Historic Site and The Old Stone Fort on the SFA campus.
October 4, 2016 - The Children’s Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University offers more than just great national touring shows for young audiences.
The series, hosted by the College of Fine Arts, gives potential future SFA students and their teachers and parents another opportunity to visit campus and learn about the many programs that are offered here.
Each year, CPAS features five shows designed to entertain, educate and engage young 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 2016-2017 series opens Thursday, Oct. 27, with “Pollyanna” presented by Stars Within Reach Productions and targeting children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Based on the best-selling classic by Eleanor H. Porter, the all-new, original musical tells the story of one little girl’s philosophy on life of always finding something to be glad about, no matter the circumstances.
“Celebration USA! America Sings!” comes to SFA on Friday, Dec. 2. Also presented by Stars Within Reach Productions, this high-energy revue takes the audience on a musical journey across the country tracking the cultural and historical moments that helped shape our nation. This show targets students in third through eighth grades.
The popular musical “Seussical,” presented by Theatreworks USA, is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 10. The Cat in the Hat is host as Dr. Seuss’s beloved characters find themselves intertwined in an incredible crazy-quilt adventure in which the power of imagination saves the day. “Seussical” targets students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale of “The Little Mermaid” is brought to life on Tuesday, March 7, in a brand new production by The Panto Company USA. The show, which targets children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, follows the dreams of a young girl who believes there is a better life for her out of the water and features stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and original songs.
The longtime favorite Super Scientific Circus returns to the SFA campus on Thursday, May 11, with Mr. Fish and Trent the Mime once again proving that science can be fun and funny. They use amazing circus skills involving boomerangs, bubbles, beach balls, bullwhips and magic to introduce the principles of friction, inertia, centripetal force, aerodynamics and more. The show targets students in kindergarten through 12th 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.
October 3, 2016 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s online master’s degree program in educational leadership was named the third best and among the most affordable online programs in the nation, according to a recent ranking by Educational Leadership Degree Programs, a website dedicated to helping students select the degree program that best suits their needs.
“It is a terrific honor to be recognized for the excellence and value that we’ve always known our program to have,” said Dr. Barbara Qualls, assistant professor of secondary education and educational leadership and program coordinator at SFA.
Website editors based the rankings on specific criteria, including tuition, accreditation and size of the program. Site editors said SFA’s program “bolsters Texas’ status as the queen of online education leadership degrees.”
SFA’s nationally accredited program offers a 30-hour master’s degree in educational leadership and an 18-hour principal certification. The program is administered completely online through Desire to Learn, the university’s online course-delivery system.
Qualls said it is “essential to personalize the online experience with frequent communication, detailed and timely feedback, and respectful relationship building.”
Additionally, students in the program experience interactive sessions with other students, real-time communication with professors and extensive use of electronic media such as video production through SFA’s online program.
“Our students are the future of Texas’ educational leadership. They deserve and receive the best and most consistent educational experience we can give them,” Qualls said. “Most SFA students are full-time teachers while in the program; therefore, our faculty members allow them to work at their own pace and within their own schedule.”
The program utilizes a scholar-practitioner approach incorporating theory and practice-based learning that focuses on research-based practices, curriculum and instructional leadership.
“The primary function of this program is to assist students in expansion of their self-perception as a leader and to retain the nurturing qualities of a teacher while building flexible and marketable leadership skills that can sustain lifelong learning,” Qualls said. “Our graduates are leading campuses in all parts of Texas. Lumberjack principals are a gold standard for Texas educational leadership.”
For more information, visit www.sfasu.edu/secondaryed/103.asp.
September 27, 2016 - NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will host “State of the Union” exhibition Oct. 4 through Nov. 5 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. An opening reception is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6.
“State of the Union,” which includes painting, drawing, photography, fibers, sculpture, metalworking, ceramics, silk-screening, digital art and video, is designed to showcase how artists today are reacting to the world around them, according to Lauren Selden, associate professor of art and whose students participated in curating the exhibition.
Showing during the final weeks of the 2016 general election season, the exhibition will focus on social and political themes, including political campaigns, environmental concerns, education, immigration, human rights, trade, globalization and other contemporary concerns, Selden explained.
“During election season, it is a nice time to reach out to the art world and find out what contemporary concerns are illustrated through art making,” she said.
Multiple artists were invited to submit work, and students in the Art 492 Professional Practices course curated the exhibition, which includes the work of artists from across the U.S. and Mexico.
Beyond the benefit of bringing contemporary work from artists ranging across media, the exhibition serves as “a high-impact, student-learning experience,” Selden said.
The students will learn the many components of setting up a professional exhibition, including selecting and arranging work, receiving shipped artwork, writing professional documents for the exhibition, building furniture for the exhibition, preparing text panels and labels, placing vinyl letters, installing the exhibition, corresponding with the artists, hosting a reception, taking down the exhibition, and returning the shipped work to individual artists.
“Preparing an exhibition is a valuable experience for these students and will aid them when they exhibit their own BFA exhibitions,” Selden explained. The experience also illustrates future job opportunities available in the arts, she said.
Each work will have a short statement that expresses how the artist arrived at his/her completed works. These statements will also give the viewers a glimpse into the contemporary social and political themes being addressed.
“Although this show addresses contemporary concerns, the work is often subtle and can be viewed by people from all political backgrounds,” Selden said. “There will be one work in which the artist encourages interaction and connection to social media; this work will be showcased especially at the opening reception.
“We are thankful to the Cole Art Center and the participating artists for allowing this great learning opportunity and to be part of the SFA exhibition schedule,” Selden said.
Admission to the exhibition, which is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Visual Arts and Nacogdoches Junior Forum, is free. Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. Gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
Cutline: Dana Younger’s “Legends of the Lone Ranger Part I: Andrew Jackson and the Indian Removal Legislation” is a feature of the exhibition “State of the Union,” showing Oct. 4 though Nov. 5 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.
September 23, 2016 - Networking has proven key for Stephen F. Austin State University senior international business major Kelly Gomez, who, because of her connections, was able to intern at Green Ibérica, a shipping container company in Vigo, Spain.
For three months, the tall pines of East Texas were replaced with the sandy beaches of Spain as Gomez, a Cleburne, Texas, native, gained real-world, corporate experience handling imports, inspections and invoices for Green Ibérica, an agent of the Evergreen Line.
During the 2015 spring semester, Gomez studied abroad in France at La Rochelle Business School, where she met people from around the world. The connections she made in France helped her land the Spain internship.
“Networking is very important, and it helped me a lot,” Gomez said. “I wouldn’t have had this chance if I hadn’t met my friend when studying in France.”
In Spain, Gomez began her training in imports. “That’s what I did most of the time. However, I did a little bit of everything,” Gomez said. She added her responsibilities included inspecting containers for damages and translating shipping and merchandise information into English.
Gomez was a top-point earner in SFA’s Rusche College of Business’ Student Success Passport Program and received a $1,000 scholarship, which she used for her airline ticket to Spain and to enroll in an internship course at SFA. The Student Success Passport Program offers students an opportunity to build their professional skill set through workshops, conferences and online assignments while competing for scholarships.
Megan Sellers, coordinator of career success and corporate engagement in the Rusche College of Business, said the scholarship component of this program offers students unique experiential learning opportunities.
“Experiences, such as Kelly’s internship, can be quite expensive, and participation in the Passport Program gives students the option to have those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities while also building their professional skills and networks,” Sellers said. “I can’t imagine a more rewarding experience.”
As an international business major, Gomez said she loves to travel and experience different cultures. She has already used the skills she learned during her internship to her advantage during a job interview.
“I had an interview recently, and it was for logistics, which was a lot of what I learned in Spain. I explained everything I had done and talked about being in a different culture,” Gomez said. “The internship experience will help me in any interview.”
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