SFA art faculty exhibition features Nieberding’s unique photographs

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin State University’s Annual School of Art Faculty Exhibition will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Each year, the faculty exhibition features a wide variety of artworks in ceramics, sculpture, photography, painting, prints, metals and mixed media, according to John Handley, director of SFA art galleries.

“I think our faculty looks forward to this exhibition each fall as a way to kick off the school year and showcase their personal work for incoming students and the public at large to see,” Handley said. “Sometimes it’s easy to forget that many of our faculty are also professional working artists whose work is in private collections and museums around the world.”

This year’s featured faculty artist is Bill Nieberding, assistant professor in the School of Art, who will present an exhibition of his photography. “Personae in Places: The Photography of William Nieberding” explores the artist’s fascination with the human form in public spaces over the last two decades, Handley explained.

“Early black and white environmental portraits, recent street photographs, and events, such as Dia De Los Muertos festival in Nacogdoches, are featured,” Handley said. “The images explore complex aspects of identity revealed in the way people present themselves to the public eye and to the unwavering eye of the camera.”

Nieberding’s exhibition will show in Reavley Gallery, and the faculty exhibition will be in Ledbetter Gallery. Both shows will be exhibited through Oct. 21. The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House is located at 329 E. Main St.

Admission to the exhibition and reception, which is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Visual Arts and Nacogdoches Junior Forum, is free. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.