SFA to open 'Eats & Treats' exhibition

Mindy Sue Meyers' soft sculpture "Cupcakes" will be included in "Eats & Treats," an exhibition the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Art will open at 6 p.m. Friday, July 17, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. The exhibition will run through Saturday, Aug. 29.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Artists Mindy Sue Meyers and Mark Menjivar will be present for the opening of "Eats & Treats," at 6 p.m. Friday, July 17, in the Ledbetter Gallery of The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. The exhibition of food-related art is presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Art.

Meyers' soft sculptures of sweets and pastries explore themes related to indulgence, temptation, comfort and security. Drawing inspiration from vintage cookbooks, Betty Crocker and Martha Stewart, Meyers uses common materials such as felt, insulation foam, glitter and sponges to create her realistic-looking desserts.

"The sculptures hold a social context to domesticity and parallel the current trend of 'do-it-yourself' home crafting, explained Christian Cutler, director of SFA galleries.

Menjivar's photographs of refrigerator interiors are part of his series "You Are What You Eat." For three years Menjivar traveled around the country, speaking with people from all walks of life and listening to their individual stories.

According to the artist, he began to think about the foods we as Americans consume and the effects they have on us as individuals and communities. He hopes that his work will cause viewers to "think deeply about how we care, how we care for our bodies, how we care for others, and how we care for the land."

In conjunction with the exhibition, the School of Art will also offer an evening seminar, "Eating Out: You Are What You Eat," at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11. Kathie Robinson, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, will give a free, informative lecture on how to make healthy choices when dining at a restaurant. The event will be catered and sponsored by Shelly's Café and Bakery of Nacogdoches.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. Admission to the opening and the exhibition, which will run through Saturday, Aug. 29, is free. The center's summer hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, please call (936) 468-1131.