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Tag: Stanley Lea

Art is “The Light From A Star”

With the start of the semester around the corner, the LEAP Ambassadors celebrated their favorite professor’s birthday by viewing the SHSU Art Department’s new exhibit, “The Light from a Star” and by enjoying cupcakes from the local bakery, Two Blondes and A Bakery. The exhibit included works from Charles Pebworth, Jimmy H. Barker, Harry Ahysen, Stanley E. Lea, May Schow, and Kenneth Zonker, all of whom taught at SHSU–and, of course, produced some wonderful art.

We were welcomed into the room by a large Stanley E. Lea collage but not nearly as big as the one featured on the north wall of the first floor.

Both of these collages featured orange prominently, perhaps as a nod to Lea’s almost three decades of teaching at SHSU. His work can also be found locally in the GPAC as well as the Wynne Home Arts Center.

The exhibit was a collection of artwork created with different media, but I loved the vibrant watercolors utilized in the 1989 untitled painting of trees by Harry Ahysen, which we had trouble photographing.

This painting was unique since both Professor Yawn and Ms. Stephanie mentioned that it was quite different than anything they had previously seen by Ahysen. Yvette’s favorite was number seven in the exhibit, Lake Travis, by Harry Ahysen in 1984. It was a beautiful painting with a lot of blues and greens to capture the beauty of the lake, sky, the surrounding city, and landscape.

Although it had a darker theme than the prior watercolor painting and the Lake Travis painting, all of the ambassadors found another Ahysen nature art piece interesting.

Ahysen was a quick worker, and his work sold well throughout his lifetime. In 1980, he was designated by the Texas Legislature as the State Artist of Texas, and his work can be found in various campus locations and at City Hall in Huntsville.

Morgan’s attention was drawn to an art piece done by May Schow that resembled colors and techniques used by French symbolist painter Paul Gauguin, albeit with some American Regionalist overtones.

Schow was a real find for us, because even Professor Yawn and Ms. Stephanie were not familiar with her work, but we were all intrigued and wanted to see more.

In the adjacent room, the exhibit continued, and upon entering there were paintings by Jimmy H. Barker. These were done with pencil and or charcoal on paper and therefore had a much darker theme which the ravens within added to. As well as the weather outside since it was cloudy and raining, I did like untitled number 18 in the exhibit by Barker that had not only the birds but also trees around them.

Barker passed away six years ago, after a long career at SHSU and of community involvement.

Outside the exhibit, there was a small lounge area that featured the James Surls Through It All, which is a woodcut print on paper.

It was very different yet like his sculptures since it repeated his motif of blades throughout the print. Surls is one of our favorites, and we were fortunate to meet him at least year’s distinguished alumni gala…

…and to have seen his work across the country…

There was also a Charles Pebworth, like the ones we have seen before, with what appeared to be bronze and copper–or, perhaps, a stainless steel with a bronzish patina. It was not in the exhibit proper, but is on, we presume, permanent display on the first floor.


Pebworth’s work can be found around the country and, locally, it can be found in the First National Bank, the Wynne Home, the Gaertner Performing Arts Center, and the Newton Gresham Library. We also visited this piece in the Hyatt in downtown Houston.

We also enjoyed seeing some of Charles Jones’s works around the first floor, woodcuts done in his usual style of famous individuals from the art and literary worlds.


We visited the gallery the Friday before school begins–move-in day–but the exhibit is up until August 27, so we encourage everyone to stop by next week, enjoy the beautiful art work, and experience part of SHSU’s artistic legacy.

On behalf of the LEAP Ambassadors, we would like to thank the Art Department for letting us view this exhibit today and to wish Professor Yawn a “Happy Birthday!”

Author mikeyawnPosted on August 20, 2022August 20, 2022Format AsideCategories Art, Civic EngagementTags Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Charles Pebworth, Harry Ahysen, James Surls, Jimmy Barker, LEAP Ambassadors, May Schow, Sam Houston State University, SHSU Art Department, Stanley Lea2 Comments on Art is “The Light From A Star”

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

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The The Wynne Home Arts & Visitor Center had another interesting speaker, Michael Strutt, who spoke about the role of Texas Parks and Wildlife in conserving cultural artifacts. Thanks to the Wynne Home for bringing interesting speakers to the community!

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