April 4, 2005 – Sylvia Bierschenk

Nacogdoches artists' work to be included in Texas National 2005

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Artwork by five artists associated with Stephen F. Austin State University will be featured in Texas National 2005, an exhibition that opens Friday, April 9, at The Art Center, 329 E. Main Street. The exhibition runs through Sunday, May 15.

Student works include: "Black Hole" by Emily Sloan Alexander, Diboll graduate student; "Untitled 3" by Amanda Chatoney, Austin graduate student; "Bracelet Cutter" by Kira Kalondy, senior from Chihuahua, Mexico; and "Hysteria" by Ashley Whitson, Oakwood senior. "Slip" by assistant professor of art Anita Powell is also among the selected entries.

Texas National is an annual art competition of works by US artists which is juried by an internationally acclaimed artist, according to Shannon Bailey, SFA gallery director.

More than 500 artists from 49 states and the District of Columbia entered this year's competition. Works by 109 artists were selected for the exhibition, and cash prizes totaling $4,500 will be awarded to three artists following the exhibition's opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 9.

James Surls, internationally recognized sculptor and native of Terrell, is serving as juror for this year's event.

Surls taught sculpture at Southern Methodist University from 1970 to 1975 and at the university of Houston from 1975 to 1982. He was named Texas Artist of the Year in 1991, and in 1993, he was given the Living Legend Award by the Dallas Contemporary Art Center.

An exhibition of his work, "James Surls: Recent Works," will be on display at the university's Griffith Gallery April 5 through May 15.

Regular gallery hours for both exhibitions are 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

SFA exhibitions are supported by the College of Fine Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum, SFA Friends of the Arts and SFA Student Government Association.

For more information, please call (936) 468-1131.