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Tag: Stanley Lea

Exploring Art in the heART of Huntsville: Session One

Driven to learn more about the community, LEAP Ambassadors are participating in the heART of Huntsville program, which promotes local arts in the Huntsville area. The program consists of four meetings, each with a different artistic theme, tour guides, and participatory activities.

As Ambassadors, we were excited to once again learn more about our campus and community.  This excitement, however, was dampened–literally–when, just minutes before the program began, it began to rain heavily.  Ambassadors President Megan Chapa, in charge of driving one of the golf carts, arrived from across campus a bit worse for the wear.  Professor Yawn, also driving a cart, arrived with one leg completely drenched.  It occurred to us that the program’s participants would probably find the campus’s art much more appealing if they weren’t having to stand in the rain to view it.  Fortunately, the rain calmed eventually and we all managed to arrive at the Art Department to kick off our first meeting with staff, locals, and faculty, albeit a bit belated and somewhat damp.

We began at the Gaddis Geeslin Gallery, where Professor Henderson, the chair of the art department, kindly welcomed us and gave us some background of the art department.

Gaddis_Geeslin_Gallery_Talk_Web

At that time, Dr. Melissa L. Mednicov introduced us to the “Still Summer” exhibit, with work by Debra Barrera and Kelly O’Connor, and gave us a closer insight at the background of the exhibit.

Gaddis_Geeslin_Gallery_Talk_2_Web

While O’Connor’s work emphasizes memory, fantasy, and fiction; Barrera’s work emphasizes personal memories, specifically relating to her childhood participation  in sports such as swimming, seen in most of the art in the exhibit, such as “Pool Rules” or “Bottom of the Pool”. Another piece of work we found fun and interesting was “Selfies on Mars/Selfies on Earth”, where we of course could not miss our group selfie with Mrs. Woodward, Mrs. Pease, and Dean Shields.

Selfie_On_Mars

Before heading out to the Lowman Student Center Art Gallery, we all took a survey to test our knowledge of Huntsville community art so far. By the end of the program we should be able to see an improvement in knowing and recognizing artwork locally. Next, we arrived at the LSC Art Gallery where we enjoyed an exhibit offered by Professor Trish Ramsay, whose Family and Consumer Science class produced scarves and other textiles.  The pieces were beautiful and creative.

LSC_Art_Gallery_Textiles_Web

As a bonus, we learned a bit about the large piece of art outside the LSC art gallery.  Turns out, it is a piece by James Surls, who graduated from SHSU.  The piece, unlike almost any of his other work, was done when he was a student at SHSU in the 1960s.

Surls_Art_LSC_Web

Following the scarves exhibit, we moved to the Gaertner Performing Arts Center where we enjoyed a walking art tour. Craig Brossman, the Facilities Manager of the GPAC, gave us a tour of the Concert Hall, Dance Theater, and Recital Hall. Turns out, an acoustician (!) was hired to design the rooms in such a manner as to make the sound optimal, while also providing state-of-the-art technology. This tour was filled with interesting information (Recital Hall fits 790 people!) and provided rich information about a building that was named among the twenty-five most impressive University Art Centers in the United States.

Professor Henderson was also on hand to discuss many of the pieces of art, such as the “Around the Flower Wall” by James Surls, the previously mentioned internationally known sculptor and a former undergraduate SHSU student;

Surls_Around_The_Flower_Wall_Web“Elemental Mandela,” by Kathleen Ash;

Ash_Elemental_Mandela_Web

“Diamond Waves Column” by Jesus Moroles, an internationally known granite sculptor whose work the LEAP Ambassadors have had the pleasure to see in Fayetteville, Houston, New Orleans, Norman, Austin, and Birmingham; “Firedance” by Jason Lawson;

Lawson_Firedance_Web

and various pieces by Stanley Lea.

Stanley_Lea_Pieces_Web

To end our educational evening, we had dinner at Austin hall, the oldest educational building in continuous use west of the Mississippi and the most notable landmark on campus. We are so thankful to Dean Shields and the College of Mass Communication and Fine Arts for sponsoring such a wonderful evening. We left stuffed with food and knowledge, eagerly awaiting the coming weeks of fun and surprises. Next week we will focus our attention on the outdoor art of Huntsville, Texas and the artwork of David Adickes.

 

 

 

 

 

Author mikeyawnPosted on September 16, 2015Categories Art, Civic EngagementTags COFAMC SHSU, Gaddis Geeslin Gallery, Gaertner Performing Arts Center, James Surls, Jason Lawson, Jesus Moroles, Kathleen Ash, LEAP Center, Michael Henderson, Stanley LeaLeave a comment on Exploring Art in the heART of Huntsville: Session One

LEAP Center Helps Promote the Arts in Huntsville at the Wynne Home Arts Center

Students associated with Sam Houston’s LEAP Center volunteered at the Wynne Home’s newest art exhibit featuring the work of Charles Jones. The exhibit, “The Art of Woodcut, Artist Books, and Portraits,” features large pieces that highlight Jones’s inspirations, including Kurt Vonnegut, Eudora Welty, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as the art work he has done for books including the award-winning “Chopper Blues.”

Charles Jones and His Work
             Charles Jones and His Work

Jones, who is an SHSU  alum, was on hand to deliver remarks describing his career and his work.

Charles Jones Speaking at the Wynne Home
Charles Jones Speaking at the Wynne Home

Stanley Lea was also featured at the opening. Lea’s works are featured in the sales gallery and include works that date back to the 1970s.  Lea’s works can be found in museums across the United States (including the Smithsonian) and many SHSU students and faculty have seen the works in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center.

Stanley Lea Art in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center
            Stanley Lea Art in the Gaertner PAC

The Wynne Home Arts Center promotes arts in Huntsville, Texas and in East Texas, showcasing four major exhibits each year in the Lela Mae Brown Gallery, work from local artists in the Sales Gallery, and provides 40-45 art classes annually.

The LEAP Center at Sam Houston State University promotes Law, Engagement, And Politics. As part of the Center’s engagement function, students volunteer for government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other worthy causes.

Brian King Helps At Opening
               Brian King Helps At Opening

Nancy Gaertner from the Friends of the Wynne led the volunteer event, with five students from the LEAP Center assisting.

 

Author mikeyawnPosted on October 18, 2013Categories Art, Civic Engagement, VolunteeringTags Art, Charles D. Jones, Stanley Lea, Wynne Home Arts CenterLeave a comment on LEAP Center Helps Promote the Arts in Huntsville at the Wynne Home Arts Center

LEAP Ambassadors Are Involved!

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