The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will host the exhibition “Respire” Jan. 25 through March 20 at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, SFA’s historic art gallery located in downtown Nacogdoches.
“Respire” features 16 artists working in a variety of different media. Each artist was invited by a member of the faculty of the SFA School of Art. “Faculty invited contemporary artists whose work they find inspiring and interesting,” explained Erik Ordaz, exhibition coordinator for The Cole Art Center. The result, he said, is an exciting, diverse exhibition of emerging and established artists representing many artistic fields and ideas.
“When reflecting on the past two years and how isolated we have become, the word ‘Respire’ came to mind, as an idea … to regain our spirits and keep on moving,” Ordaz said. “During complicated times we tend to rely on the people closest to us, so we as faculty in the School of Art reached out to some of our favorite artists to be part of this group exhibition.”
Exhibiting artists include: Jorge Alegria, Dornith Doherty, Michael Donahue, Timothy Harding, Katy Heinlein, Benito Huerta, Sarah Lasley, Eric McMaster, Brian Molanphy, Mike Morris, Matthew Rangel, Libby Rowe, Terri Sanders, Seylon Stills, Scottland Stout and Nicole Woodard.
“We are excited to use this exhibition as a means of creating exchanges and relationships with artists for future opportunities,” Ordaz said, “and to bring a broad art experience to our students with a selection of two- and three-dimensional artworks, video and installation.”
A reception is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at the art center.
Admission to the exhibition and reception, which is sponsored in part by William Arscott, the Friends of the Visual Arts and The Flower Shop, is free. Art center hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, call (936) 468-5500.
