Stephen F. Austin State University

The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Art will open "John Daniel: works from 1964 - 2007" at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at The Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches.

Daniel, SFA professor emeritus, joined the SFA faculty as an assistant professor of art in 1967 and continued to teach there until his retirement in 2005.

"The exhibition is a celebration of 43 years of Daniel's art making," said Christian Cutler, director of SFA galleries. "Daniel is best known for his work as a sculptor and as a draftsman, and his work is noted for its sensitivity to material and its comment on the human condition."

The exhibition is so large that part of it will be displayed at The Museum of East Texas in Lufkin.

Although Daniel no longer teaches at SFA, he maintains a presence on campus through his art. His monumental, bright red metal sculpture, "Saipan," stands on the lawn outside the Griffith Fine Arts Building. Additionally, his green iron sculpture, "Embrace: En Plein Air," is located in the second floor lobby of the same building. It will be included in the Lufkin show.

A native of Port Arthur, Daniel earned his undergraduate degree from Lamar State College of Technology (now Lamar State University) and his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Arkansas.

Prior to joining the SFA faculty, he served as an assistant professor in the sculpture program at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg from 1964 to 1967.

During the course of his career, Daniel has completed several major public commissions, including a series of relief sculptures of the 14 Stations of the Cross for St. John Brebeuf Church in Winipeg, a large abstract wooden sculpture titled "Kanji" for SFA and "Night Winds" for Kilgore College.

While Daniel's work was being exhibited regularly in Santa Fe, N.M., it was sold to collectors throughout the country. He has also exhibited at the Ruth Wiseman Gallery in Dallas and presented three solo shows there.

"John Daniel: works from 1964 - 2007" will run through Friday, March 7.

Admission to the gallery and opening is free and open to the public. Regular gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The exhibition will be closing for the holidays beginning Friday, Dec. 21. For more information, please call (936) 468-1131.