SFA University
October 27, 2016 – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present the student-directed, one-act play “Why Do We Laugh?” by Stephen Gregg at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Downstage Theatre on the SFA campus.
Directed by Houston junior Jason Trevino, “Why Do We Laugh?” is “an endearing one-act play about a lifelong love story and what it means to grow old together,” according to Trevino.
“Eight actors play two characters at four different times in the characters’ lives in this fast-paced comedy,” he said.
The cast features McAllen senior Pedro Dominguez as Andrew, age 5; Porter freshman Delaney Brittingham as Meredith, age 6; Wataugh freshman Nathan Young as Andrew, age 15; Plano junior Cecily Maucieri as Meredith, age 16; Kempton Park, South Africa, senior Hanro Janse van Rensburg as Andrew, age 44; Baytown senior Chelsea Denard as Meredith, age 45; Angleton senior Bobby Britton as Andrew, age 66; and Lufkin senior Amy Miller-Martin as Meredith, age 67.
The production staff includes Maddie Collins, Sunnyvale sophomore, stage manager; Travis Brasher, Wichita Falls junior, scenic designer; Alexa Wicks, Mathis senior, and Danika Pettyjohn, Fort Worth senior, co-costume designers; Brittany Tennis, Hutto junior, lighting designer; Bruce Moran, Lake Jackson senior, sound designer; Brooke McPherson, Leander senior, makeup designer; and Victoria Medrano, Edinburg junior, properties designer.
Stephanie Murphy is faculty production advisor.
Trevino is a Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate with an emphasis in acting and directing. Although he hopes to work as a professional actor and director, his end goal is to work in higher education.
Tickets are $4. 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 24, 2016 NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business will host its inaugural Nelson Rusche Distinguished Lecture Series at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 3, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom on the university’s campus. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will serve as guest speaker.
“We are so pleased to launch the Nelson Rusche Distinguished Lecture Series by featuring as our speaker such a notable and accomplished businessman and politician,” said Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of SFA’s Rusche College of Business.
Through a question-and-answer format, Bush will discuss various topics focusing on leadership and business issues.
“Mr. Bush’s business acumen combined with his extensive policy experience should yield a unique perspective attendees will find both interesting and useful,” Bisping said. “His substantial and varied leadership background will be especially beneficial to SFA students as they work toward achieving their academic and professional goals.”
Prior to the speaker series, the university will host the SFA Leadership Summit from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Theater on the SFA campus. This free event will feature a panel discussion with seven successful alumni about leadership principles and business and corporate issues.
Summit panelists include Greg Arnold, chairman and CEO of the Truman Arnold Companies; Chris Bagley, president and chief operating officer for BancorpSouth; Terry Bonno, senior vice president of marketing and contracts for Transocean; Michael Calbert, chairman of the board for Dollar General Corporation; Stacie Shirley, executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Tuesday Morning Corporation; Steve Stagner, executive chairman and chairman of the board for Mattress Firm; and Michael Taff, executive vice president and CFO for Chicago Bridge & Iron Company.
Bush was elected the 43rd governor of Florida in November 1998 and re-elected in 2002 to become the state’s first two-term Republican governor. He is the son of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush and the brother of the 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush.
Born in Midland, Texas, Bush grew up in Houston. In 1973, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Latin American Studies. Bush moved to Florida in 1981, where he started a small real estate development company, which grew to become the largest, full-service commercial real estate company in South Florida.
In 1987 and 1988, Bush held his first government post, serving as Florida’s secretary of commerce under Bob Martinez, Florida’s 40th governor. As secretary of commerce, Bush promoted Florida’s business climate to the world.
Later, Bush founded the nonprofit Foundation for Florida’s Future, which joined forces with the Urban League of Greater Miami to establish one of the state’s first charter schools. He also co-authored “Profiles in Character,” a book about 14 of Florida’s civic heroes — people making a difference without making news. Additionally, he co-authored “Immigration Wars: Forging an American Solution.”
As governor, Bush focused on reforming education. Under his governance, Florida students made the greatest gains in achievement, and Florida became one of a handful of states to narrow the achievement gap. In addition, Bush cut taxes every year, and Florida led the nation in job growth seven out of eight years.
After serving as governor, Bush led his own successful consulting business, Jeb Bush and Associates. His clients ranged from small technology start-ups to well-known Fortune 500 companies. He also served as the chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, a national foundation focused on education reform, and he was the co-chairman of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and chair of the National Consortium Center.
He authored “Reply All,” in October 2015, which tells the story of his governorship through email exchanges with his staff members, the media and the Floridians he served.
Bush ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2015. He currently lives in Miami with his wife Columba. The couple has three children and four grandchildren.
October 20, 2016 - This year’s Día de los Muertos Fiesta will once again feature the popular Chikawa Aztec Dancers returning to perform at the fourth annual celebration 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.
For the past three years, hundreds of East Texas residents have attended the Nacogdoches festival, and this year’s event will provide the perfect addition to a fun-filled weekend, according to Lisa Steed, events coordinator for Stephen F. Austin State University art galleries.
“This year’s Day of the Dead celebration is on the night of SFA’s homecoming,” Steed said. “We want everyone to come downtown after the game and join us for fun, food and great entertainment.”
Among the entertainers will be the fascinating Chikawa Aztec Dancers, the Martinez Mariachi Duo, Charlie Jones & Friends and musicians Juan Carlos and Jenna Ureña. Based in Conroe, the Chikawa Aztec Dancers with their colorful costumes are always a crowd pleaser, Steed said. This year’s fiesta T-shirt will feature an image of an Aztec dancer.
“We will also have the traditional Day of the Dead procession, and anyone can participate,” she said. “Costumes are highly encouraged, especially Day of the Dead themed costumes.”
The community altar returns this year in the window of Cole Art Center where remembrances or a photo of a loved one who has passed on can be included.
The fiesta is organized by SFA Art Galleries, and a fundraiser for the gallery will feature original art and Day of the Dead vintage items. The Día de los Muertos Fiesta has become an event that brings diverse segments of the East Texas community together to celebrate life and art, Steed said.
“This event has become inclusive of all minority communities, not just those considered ‘art people,’” she said.
Steed said a favorite memory of hers from last year’s event occurred when she observed three Hispanic young men who were studying and discussing a piece of art in the hallway of Cole Art Center. They were talking about their different perceptions of what the work was about, when one of them pointed out the written description mounted on the wall beside the piece.
“Seeing those kids ‘find’ art for the first time is what we have wanted to do with this event and with the gallery,” she said.
Vendor booth spaces are still available. 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.
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.
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, call (936) 468-6557.
October 18, 2016 - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will host two exhibitions – a showcase of alumni art work and an exhibition of artist books from the Booklyn Gallery – Oct. 27 through Jan. 14 in The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
A reception for the double opening with artists in attendance is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Cole Art Center. The exhibitions are a presentation of the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine arts and School of Art.
The mixed media “SFA Alumni Showcase” will be the first of its kind in several decades and will feature a variety of paintings, sculpture and other work, according to Gary Parker, retired SFA School of Art instructor and the curator of the show.
“I left it up to the individual artist to curate their own section,” Parker said. “I gave each artist a certain amount of wall space and all the floor space they wanted, but most will be traditional work.”
Parker has been an advocate of an alumni exhibition for many years. After his retirement, Parker was asked by the School of Art to turn his idea into a show that he would curate.
“I’m glad we’re doing this, and I hope it becomes a biennial event,” Parker said. “I think there are enough SFA art alums out there who are doing good things that we could feature them in this way for years to come.
“I want current students to be aware that there is a future for them in art, if they go get it,” he said. “They need to understand there is life after graduation, and that they can pursue an art career and be successful at it. If you have examples in front of you from previous students who have succeeded, it’s encouraging.”
Artists who now reside in New York, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas have work in the show. Participating artists include Celia Eberle, Greg Elliott, Rachel Gardner, Mike Lanagan, Emily Sloan, Matthew Sontheimer, Sara Sosnowy, Mary Jo Vath and Holly Wilson.
Keeping up with alumni across the country who have had thriving art careers is important for not only recruiting purposes, but also for documenting SFA’s history of generating successful artists, Parker said.
“That’s what current students need to see,” he said. “Not only does this give validity to SFA itself, but it gives students a certain amount of hope for the future.”
“Artist Books from the Booklyn Gallery: High Performance Printmaking,” the second exhibition, addresses the evolution of printmaking in the 21st century. The exhibition proposes that printmaking in the 21st century “will thrive as a social practice moving beyond the pop, decorative and empty abstraction that defines the commodity-driven ‘fine’ print world, and continuing to further the goals of socially engaged and experimental printmakers ranging from Goya to Judy Watson and beyond,” states Marshall Weber, curator of the exhibition.
“I propose that there is room for an urgent, attentive, attached, and ‘awoke’ printmaking practice,” Weber said, “… a practice that engages with the world both passionately and compassionately and has commitments to aesthetic integrity and social and ecological justice. In these artists’ work, aspects of public and private performance, of choreography and gesture, are a crucial conceptual and/or material part of the printmaking process.”
The Booklyn Gallery is an artist-run, nonprofit artist and bookmakers’ organization headquartered in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York.
Exhibitions are sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts and Nacogdoches Junior Forum. Admission is free.
The 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.
October 12, 2016 - Future college students will have the opportunity to experience a taste of campus life during a free, action-packed open-house Saturday, Nov. 12, at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.
Prospective students will have the opportunity to visit with university faculty and staff members, tour the campus and residence halls, and preview academic programs during the SFA Showcase Saturday event.
"There is no better time than Showcase Saturday to visit the beautiful SFA campus and witness firsthand what it's like to be a Lumberjack," said Jessica Maynard, assistant director of SFA's Office of Admissions.
"Guests are encouraged to visit one-on-one with our faculty members to learn more about our quality, personalized academic programs, and our staff members will be available to answer questions about everything from admission requirements to financial aid to residence life,” Maynard added.
SFA is a comprehensive, residential university located in the heart of Texas Forest Country. Approximately 13,000 students attend SFA, which is within a few hours' drive of Texas' major metropolitan areas.
Showcase Saturday event registration will begin at 11:45 a.m. on the first floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center and will remain open until 12:45 p.m. Each person who registers will receive an information packet. The opening program begins at 12:45 p.m. and will provide an overview of the day's events.
Guests will then be able to visit with representatives of the academic departments until 4 p.m. at the Academic Fair in the Student Recreation Center. A Student Services Fair will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.
Campus and residence hall tours will begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m. Campus tours will take students on a guided walk of the SFA campus, while the self-guided residence hall tours will showcase several halls on both the north and south ends of campus.
Admissions counselors will be available to discuss admission procedures and requirements from 1:30 to 5 p.m. in the Rusk Building, Room 206, and at several freshman and transfer admissions sessions held throughout the day.
Financial aid information sessions will be held at 2:30, 3:15 and 4 p.m. in the Baker Pattillo Student Center's Twilight Ballroom. Residence Life information sessions will be held at 2:30, 3:15 and 4 p.m. in the Baker Pattillo Student Center's movie theater on the second floor.
Participating prospective students will receive a free SFA T-shirt after completing an evaluation form in the tent located in the courtyard area of the Rusk Building.
For more information about SFA's Showcase Saturday, contact the SFA Office of Admissions at (936) 468-2504 or email admissions@sfasu.edu.
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.
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