Texas National 2015 features esteemed Chinese artist Lin as juror

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Chinese 2D artist Zhi Lin will serve as juror for the 21st Texas National, Stephen F. Austin State University's acclaimed annual art competition and exhibition.

The School of Art's annual juried competition and exhibition attracts entrants from across the United States, providing artists an opportunity to have their work juried by highly acclaimed artists and critics, such as Lin. This year's exhibition, which opens April 11 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, includes 93 pieces of art by 82 different artist from 26 states.

"As in past years, the Texas National will feature an assortment of art from a variety of artists across the nation," said John Handley, director of SFA galleries. "This will include photography, painting, sculpture and mixed media pieces."

A number of Nacogdoches area artists and SFA students and alumni were selected to be in this year's Texas National, according to Handley.

A highlight of the April 11 opening of Texas National 2015 will be the simultaneous opening of an exhibition of Lin's own works - "Chinaman's Chance: The first transcontinental railroad."

Lin is a professor of painting and drawing at the School of Art at the University of Washington, in Seattle, Wash. He is an affiliate professor of the Jackson School of International Studies and holds the Floyd & Delores Jones Endowed Professorship in the Arts. He has had more than 20 solo shows and participated in more than 90 group exhibitions on both sides of the Atlantic and in China. His works are included in many museum collections in the United States, Great Britain and China.

Lin is represented by Koplin Del Rio, Culver City, Calif. His work can be viewed at http://www.koplindelrio.com/content/zhi-lin.

A juror's lecture is scheduled at 5 p.m. followed by a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Winners will be announced during the reception. Both shows run through June 13.

Exhibitions and receptions are sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts and Nacogdoches Junior Forum. Corporate sponsors for Texas National include the Hampton Inn and R&K Distributors, Inc. These exhibitions are features of the SFA College of Fine Arts' University Series.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.