News

Brinson hosts senior exhibitions

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:20 GMT

EXHIBITONS: MARCI WILSON, “A JOURNEY HOME”; MARYAM AHSAN BAIG, “SENIOR EXHIBITION”; CHARLENE KIRKPATRICK, “Senior Exhibition”
DATES: May 5-May 9, 2008
OPENING: Tuesday, May 6, 4-5 p.m.
HOURS: 8-4 p.m., Monday-Friday

“A Journey Home” by Marci Wilson

The Brinson Fine Arts Gallery is pleased to present “A Journey Home,” by Marci Wilson, a senior fine art major at Southern Arkansas University. Through the use of photography Marci takes the viewer down a journey that exists along HWY 82.

The photographic documentation has been a semester long process of capturing the weekend road trips that Marci travels. They are 16×20 digital photographs displayed in chronological order.

Marci uses the effects of light to show changes of the mood in nature. Most of the compositions show a fading of light or sunset. This represents not only the end of another day but also a chance at a new start. The composition of each photograph also stands as symbol of life. “No matter the direction of my destination the road never gets old. There are places along the road that have caught my attention and in an odd way parallel with life.” The subject matter are landmarks that sit along HWY 82. However, the landmarks have become symbols of time, human emotion, and a beauty that changes with the seasons. In efforts to bring to life the everyday objects that often go un-noticed, Marci also brings these pieces together to tell an intimate personal story.

“Senior Exhibition” by Maryam Ahsan Baig

The Brinson Fine Arts Gallery is pleased to present “ Senior Exhibition,” a show of recent work by Maryam Ahsan Baig. The basic structural unit behind her work is the use of color, line work, and organic forms. Printing intaglio on fabric and adding acrylic glazes/ watercolor to each piece created these mixed media pieces.

This compilation of work consists of prints with various compositions, each with their own unique image -yet resemble another in the style and execution. One of the most appealing aspects of these works to Baig was the fact that with one intaglio plate, she can create a different piece with every print. Depth was added to these works by adding light glazes washes of acrylic and watercolors. As it is evident in these pieces, Baig’s work is largely figurative. The basic drive behind these works is the beauty and the organic shape the curves of a female figures embody, can be tied to other forms in nature. The images remain rather abstract that result in an organic image of a landscape. The series is more about the technique and the various compositions.

“Senior Exhibition” by Charlene Kirkpatrick

The Brinson Fine Art Gallery at Southern Arkansas University is pleased to present the “Senior Exhibition,” a show of recent work by four separate artists including Charlene Kirkpatrick. The basic structural unit of Charlene Kirkpatrick’s work is focused on the effects of smoking among the human anatomy. Created by gluing, drawing, and painting smoking ads and pictures onto canvas, it exists as the common foundation for a perfect composition depicting how smoking affects the human body.

The painted-drawn pieces that are the basis of these structures are depicting human figures being comforted but yet pulled down by something unrecognizable. The natural elements that are in cigarettes such as: sugar, chocolate, and honey are some of the elements that are applied to each piece. Charlene Kirkpatrick’s motivation comes from the topic of cancer and has been narrowed down due to smoking being one of the number one causes of cancer today. Like others, she holds a personal interest to the subject. Her grandfather died when she was nine from cancer due to smoking. This has led her to the subject of layers among people and nature. She believes a person’s layers are divided by their social standing and their well-being. She believes strongly in speaking her mind as a woman and as a person who also suffers from a health issue.

Charlene Kirkpatrick’s work is increasingly present at Southern Arkansas University. Her work can be seen around Brinson Fine Art Department and at a few businesses in Magnolia Arkansas. Charlene has been selected the past three years to serve as president of Pivot Point; Southern Arkansas University’s art and design organization. Charlene was also selected this year as a recipient of a full performance scholarship at Southern Arkansas University.

For more information, contact Scotland Stout at (870) 235-4241.

SAU hosts first Magnolia Student Film Festival

Fri, 02 May 2008 08:37 GMT

MAGNOLIA—-The first Magnolia Student Video Festival was held Thursday, May 1 in Foundation Hall at the Reynolds Center,

Twelve students participated in the Festival, entering a total of 18 videos in five different categories. The categories were: commercial, motion graphic, narrative, documentary and music video. Students from SAU, John Brown University, and area high schools participated, but in the end, Southern Arkansas University Students rose to the top.

Taking first place at the competition was Melissa Heard of SAU. Her experimental music video titled “Let Go” won the grand prize of $300. Second place, $200, and the McNeill Family prize for best documentary film worth $100 went to Jameson Sheppard of John Brown University for his film, “Rush,” a documentary following the progress of two teens in dirt track racing. Third place and $100 went to Matt Taylor of SAU for his motion graphic “Celestial Prison.” Matt also received the People’s Choice Award for his narrative film, “Unscripted,” an improvisational horror film set in downtown Magnolia. “Yellow Rock,” a documentary by Gina Caylor of Fayetteville High School won Honorable Mention.

Judges for the festival were David Murphy, theater professor, Daehwan Cho, assistant professor of digital media and Aaron Street of the SAU Communications Center.

Plans are already in the works for the festival to take place again next year sometime in April. For more information, contact Daehwan Cho at 870-235-4260.

Dr. Ruby Burgess to speak at Upward Bound Graduation

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:25 GMT

MAGNOLIA —The Upward Bound program of Southern Arkansas University will hold its graduation and awards ceremony at 6 p.m. on May 7. The program will be held in Foundation Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center. Dr. Ruby Burgess will be the guest speaker.

During Burgess’ career, she has served in many capacities in the field of education, but always with the idea of how to best serve the interests of children and youth of African ancestry. She has studied at the College of the Ozarks, Pacific Oaks College and the University of Massachusetts, and now serves as dean of the College of Education at Southern Arkansas University.

Upward Bound is a program that assists selected high school students in developing the academic skills and motivation that will help them to become successful college students. Southern Arkansas University will be honoring the graduates of its division of the program. Students graduating are from Bradley, Camden, El Dorado, Lafayette County, Magnolia, Stephens and Taylor, Ark.

Co-author of best-selling book to be the guest speaker at the Murphy Lecture

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:07 GMT

MAGNOLIA —Dr. William Danko, co-author of the best-selling book The Millionaire Next Door, will be the guest speaker at the annual Murphy Lecture at Southern Arkansas University. The lecture will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 1 at Harton Theatre.

An associate professor of marketing in the School of Business at the University of Albany in New York, Danko has seen his book sell more than 2.5 million copies and be ranked as a bestseller by The New York Times for more than three years.

“We are pleased to have Dr. William Danko serve as our guest speaker for this year’s Murphy Lecture,” said Dr. Lisa Toms, dean of the College of Business at SAU. “Dr. Danko’s work is known worldwide and his research and lecture should prove interesting and enlightening.”

Based on years of research, The Millionaire Next Door demonstrated that millionaires don’t normally live extravagant lifestyles as many might believe. Instead, most reject big-spending lifefsytles and live well below their means. Danko found that most wealthy individuals built their fortune through hard work, diligent savings, and living below their means.

Danko’s research publications have appeared in the Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Advertising Research, and other leading journals.

Danko has received two “outstanding teaching” awards and was inducted into Signum Laudis honor society “in recognition of dedicated service to education and academic excellence.

He served as the founding director of Executive Development Programs and as the MBA Program Director at Albany State University. He currently serves as chair of the marketing department. Danko also serves as a director of the New York Business Development Corporation’s affiliate, Statewide Zone Capital Corporation.

The Murphy Lecture, established in 1980 by Mr. Charles H. Murphy, Jr., is an annual lecture program sponsored by Murphy Oil Corporation and SAU’s College of Business. Past Murphy lecturers have included noted economists, financial analysts, business commentators, and authors.

The Murphy Lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call 870-235-4300.

Summer learning opportunities through Office of Continuing Education

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:23 GMT

MAGNOLIA—-The Office of Continuing Education at Southern Arkansas University will be offering many opportunities to learn new skills during the summer months. Upcoming classes include:

•Adult Swimming: June 2-12, Monday-Thursday at 2:30- 3:30 p.m.
•Youth Swimming: June 2-12 or 16-26, Monday-Thursday at multiple times
•Scuba Diving for Beginners: June 2- July 3, Monday-Thursday at 5:30-7:30 p.m.
•Scuba Refresher: June 2-July 3, Monday-Thursday at 5:30-7:30 p.m.
•Horse Riding for Beginners: June 2- July 26, by appointment only
•Aquacize: June 3-July 31, Tuesday and Thursday at 6-7 p.m.
•Summer Art Workshop: June 9-12 or 16-19, Monday-Thursday at 1-3 p.m.
•Youth Tennis Clinic: June 9-13, Monday-Thursday at 9-10 a.m.
•Youth Fundamentals of Golf: June 23-26, Monday-Thursday at 8 a.m.-noon
•Advanced Golf: June 30-July 3, Monday-Thursday at 8 a.m.-noon
•Lifeguard Course: July 7-10, Monday- Thursday at 12-7 p.m.
•Smart Sitter: July 14-17, Monday-Thursday at 9-11 a.m.
•Children’s Art Workshop: July 14-17, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
•Youth Theater: July 21-31, Monday-Friday at 2-5 p.m.
•Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People: July 23, 6-9:30 p.m.

For more information about registration, class locations, instructors and costs, please contact the Office of Continuing Education at 870-235-4005.