SFA to open photography and art metals exhibitions

Frank Dituri's "Light from Above" is one of the photographs included in "Frank Dituri: Of Things Not Seen," which the SFA School of Art will open at 6 p.m. with an artist reception on Thursday, Feb. 2, in Griffith Gallery, Room 208 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Photographs by an internationally acclaimed artist and metalworking and jewelry from around the world are included in the two exhibitions the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will open during the first few days in February.

"Frank Dituri: Of Things Not Seen" will open in Griffith Gallery with a 6 p.m. reception for the artist on Thursday, Feb. 2.

"In his evocative photographs, Dituri presents glimpses of ordinary reality as evidence of things not actually seen," explained David A. Lewis, SFA professor of art history and curator of the exhibition. "Full of mystery, power and fascination, the images capture moments of epiphany. They are hauntingly beautiful."

Dituri's work has been exhibited worldwide, and his images have been reviewed and published in many prestigious international publications. He currently teaches at the Libera Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy.

The exhibition, which is a part of the College of Fine Arts' University Series, will run through Friday, March 9. Griffith Gallery is located in Room 208 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive. Its regular hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

"Refined VII: Inspiration," SFA's biennial juried art metals and jewelry competition and exhibition, will open on Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Reavley Gallery of The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches.

From the approximately 300 submissions, juror Jennifer Crupi, associate professor of art at Kean University in New Jersey, selected 72 works by 44 international artists based on the works' reflection of this year's theme, inspiration.

At 5 p.m., Crupi will give a gallery talk and announce the winners of the $1,500 in prize money. Her talk will be followed by a 6 to 8 p.m. reception.

"Refined VII" will be on view through Saturday, March 24. The Cole Art Center is open 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Both exhibitions are joint presentations of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Art and are sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts and Nacogdoches Junior Forum.

Admission to both galleries is free. For more information, please go to www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-1131.