SFA to open 'Art of the Pacific Rim'

"Raven," a mask from the Kwakiutl tribe of the northwest Pacific coast, will be included in "Art from the Pacific Rim," which the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will open at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in Griffith Gallery.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Art will open "Art of the Pacific Rim: Artifacts and Art from Northwest America, Oceania, Melanesia, Asia and Central America" with a 6 p.m. reception Wednesday, Sept. 14, in Griffith Gallery on the SFA campus.

The exhibition comprises over 30 pieces from the private collection of Nacogdoches residents Dr. Robert Gruebel and Jo Ellen H. Carlson.

Included are masks from New Guinea, Yucatan, the northwest Pacific coast, Indonesia and Fiji; an Indonesian cricket cage and Chinese bird cage; food bowl and shields from New Guinea; weapons from the Phillippines; and dolls and artwork from Japan.

During the opening on Sept. 14, Gruebel will give a gallery talk about the collection.

"We are grateful to Dr. Gruebel and Ms. Carlson for allowing us to exhibit a portion of their extraordinary collection," said Charlene Rathburn, SFA director of galleries. "This is a fascinating show for East Texans to come see."

"Art of the Pacific Rim," which will run through Saturday, Dec. 16, is sponsored in part by Nacogdoches Junior Forum and SFA Friends of the Visual Arts.

Griffith Gallery is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Dr. The gallery's regular hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and admission is free. For more information, please call (936) 468-1131.