SFA announces 'Texas National 2013' art winners

"Texas National 2013" juror Peter Selz selected Le' Anne Alexander's oil on canvas titled "Unspecified Shape Blue" as the competition's first place award winner.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - During Saturday night's opening reception of "Texas National 2013" in Cole Art Center, juror Dr. Peter Selz announced the winners of the annual competition and exhibition presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University's School of Art, and an SFA graduate student and East Texan took top honors.

Le' Anne Alexander of Lufkin received first place for her oil on canvas "Unspecified Shape Blue." Other winners were Harry Clewans of Oakland, Calif, earning second place for "Myron," ink on paper on wood, and William Stoehr of Boulder, Colo., receiving third place for "Hauna 3," acrylic on canvas.

Honorable mentions went to Anthony Monaco of Denver, Colo., for "Alzheimer's Sucks: Dad's Last Letter #3," digital imagery with acrylic medium on panel; Mark Harris of Santa Fe, N.M., for "Lost," limestone and steel; and Richard Martinez of Walla Walla, Wash., for "Untitled," alkyd, graphite on drafting film.

Now in its 19th year on the national scene, "Texas National" is open to all artists living and working in the United States. This year's exhibition features work by 87 artists from 30 states. Showing in Cole Art Center at the same is "Patrick Graham - Thirty Years: The Silence Becomes the Painting," which includes pieces from Graham's recently critically acclaimed U.S. museum tour curated by Selz.

"Texas National 2013" is being exhibited in Ledbetter Gallery, while the Graham exhibition is on display in Reavley Gallery. Both shows run through Saturday, June 8.

The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House is located at 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches. Gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. For additional information, call (936) 468-1131.