Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Art lovers have the opportunity to visit The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches through June 30 to view winning entries in the 28th Texas National Competition and Exhibition.
Greenville, South Carolina, artist Aldo Muzzarelli is the first place winner in Stephen F. Austin State University’s 2023 juried show for his mixed media piece “Extemporaneous Menina Picking Up Prejudices I.”
Second place went to Graham, Washington, artist Kimberly Balla for oil metallic pigment on panel titled “On the Edge of a Dream.”
Eric Sweeney, artist from Garland, earned third place for the digital print “M.E. Moses.”
Georgia Museum of Art director emeritus William Eiland was this year’s juror for Texas National, which annually features an assortment of art from various media. About the jurying process, Eiland said, “In telling you how I reached my conclusions on what work survived the rather grueling vetting process, I remind you that the Texas National is a competition and not an invitational. In this particular year, I studied some 978 entries, with room for only 100 to be included in the exhibition. I am not sure about past years, but it seemed to me that I had an extraordinary number of possible works to be included.” In celebration of SFA’s 100th birthday, works of art selected to be included in this year’s exhibition were limited to 100.
Exhibitions and receptions at The Cole Art Center are free and open to the public. Sponsors are SFA Friends of the Visual Arts and William Arscott.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. Hours of operation are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, call (936) 468-5500.