Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Faculty development leave can be an essential component of academic growth, allowing professors to pursue in-depth research, refine their artistic practices, and engage with global networks of professionals and scholars.
Lauren Selden, professor of art at Stephen F. Austin State University teaching metalwork and jewelry, completed a successful development leave in the spring 2024 semester by attending artist residencies, learning new technical processes and expanding the content and designs of her artwork. She also exhibited artwork, gave demonstrations and presentations, researched new content and took time for reading, drawing and writing.
Fine arts faculty development leave provides opportunity for professors to dedicate all of their attention to their creative work, according to Chris Talbot, director of SFA’s School of Art. The new ideas, techniques and perspectives that faculty members bring back from their leave help to ensure that SFA remains a leader in arts education.
“The normal balance of teaching, service and creative research is often insufficient to take on a large creative project or exhibition,” Talbot said. “These leave opportunities, though rare, are essential to artistic and career development for our faculty. The benefits of a well-used development leave can be seen for years in the accomplishments, teaching and mentoring that our hardworking professors are able to give back to the institution.”
Only about 6% of the university can be offered development leave at a time, and the award is contingent on the availability of other instructors to teach courses in a professor’s absence. When Selden told students she would not be available in spring 2024, she said her students were initially sad and confused.
“Although I’m grateful that my students want me to serve on their thesis committee or be there to teach their foundation course, I also felt like it was worth explaining how faculty development leave benefits our students,” Selden said. “Due to the unique aspects of academia, students don’t often realize that their professors are still active professionals in their fields. Keeping a current research record is integral in order to bolster the national and international professional stature of the School of Art as well as the university.”
The benefits of faculty development leave extend far beyond the individual professor. Students are direct beneficiaries of this investment, ensuring that students receive a cutting-edge education, preparing them for success in a rapidly evolving creative landscape.
“Most of my creative energy goes into being a teacher,” she said. “When I leave the classroom, I want to be an excellent representative in the arts and crafts community in order to help my students down the line.”
Selden began her leave by attending a two-week residency in January at Penland School of Arts and Crafts in North Carolina. Through an internationally competitive application process, Selden was placed in the Iron Studio where she welded sculptures and practiced blacksmithing. In May, she traveled to the Bær Art Center near Hofsós, Iceland, for two weeks in early June to work as an artist in residence.
“The Nordic countries have had a large impact on my recent work and continue acting as inspiration,” she said. “While in Iceland, I traveled to Eyjafjörður, Siglufjörður, Skagafjörður, the Vatnsnes Peninsula, Þingeyjarsýsla and Grímsey where I crossed the Arctic Circle. These locations include geographic features of basalt, local flora and fauna, and water features that have inspired drawings and sculptural works.”
Selden’s exhibition of work titled Gluggaveður was on display in the gallery at the Bær Art Center. Many of these same works are displayed in the 2024 School of Art Faculty Exhibition currently showing at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, SFA’s downtown Nacogdoches art gallery, and will continue to be exhibited in various national exhibitions.
Her leave experiences were supported by the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts Professional Development Funding, the ORGS Travel Support Grant and the JACKS STARS award.
“Traveling and experiencing new and magical locations has helped me to continue to create new works of art during my 24-year career,” Selden said. “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and constant inspiration and interruption is essential to continue my process of making.”
Other exhibition opportunities this year have included “The Space Between,” Brazosport College Art Gallery, Lake Jackson; “Paper Alchemy,” Emerge Gallery & Art Center, in conjunction with East Carolina University’s Material Topics Symposium, Greenville, North Carolina; Arrowmont 2024 Instructors, Tennessee; Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, North Carolina; Texas Sculpture Group Due South Juried Exhibition, San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum, San Benito; The Big Show, Lawndale Art & Performance Center, Houston; New Texas Talent, Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas. Selden will also conduct a welding workshop at Arrowmont in October.
Among her scheduled future exhibitions are shows at Museum of East Texas, Lufkin, June through September 2025; and at Art Space, Raleigh, North Carolina, in December 2025 and January 2026.
“I’m grateful to the university, to my administrators and to my colleague, Stina Herrera, for taking care of the metalworking and jewelry program in my absence,” Selden said. “I took each moment of leave like it could be the last time I have this experience. I am aware of the privilege it is to be away from my everyday duties and wish that other professions offered this opportunity. It makes me a better professor and a better person. Everyone should have time to check themselves and make improvements in order to better serve others.”