June 29, 2005 – Sylvia Bierschenk

Kirchner exhibition opens at SFA

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS -The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and Department of Art will open "Teresa Kirchner: Recent Drawings and Paintings" with a reception at 6 p.m. Friday, July 8, in Griffith Gallery, Room 208 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building.

Kirchner, an assistant professor of art, joined the SFA faculty in August. As a part of the opening, she will speak about her work, which includes figure studies and narrative figure pieces in both pencil and oil.

Kirchner said her recent work reflects her fascination with people and their everyday activities such as eating, sleeping, playing games or playing music. "For me the small details of daily life are more telling about the human condition and more intriguing than political, historical or mythical themes."

Kirchner also uses animals in her art, "Recently, many of my images are delving into a world in which animals become as important as my human characters. My hope is that the viewers will enjoy piecing together what my events mean through the filter of their own life."

Kirchner received her bachelor's of fine arts degree in painting from Southwest Missouri Sate University and her master's of fine arts degree in painting from Indiana University-Bloomington. She then taught for two years at Miami University of Ohio before coming to SFA.

Her work was recently displayed at McNeese State University in the Women Painting Women exhibition.

Her exhibition in Griffith Gallery will continue through Sunday, July 31. Regular gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the opening and exhibition is free.

The exhibition is sponsored in part by Nacogdoches Junior Forum and SFA Friends of the Visual Arts.

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