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NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Center for Regional Heritage Research at Stephen F. Austin State University will display "The Art of the Railroad" exhibit starting Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot.

The Industrial Revolution brought about the development of the railroad in the 19th century. This invention had a profound impact on society and the art world. This exhibit focuses on the interpretation of the railroad in different periods of art history.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of the Fine Arts and its Children's Performing Arts Series will present "Wizard of Oz" in two performances on Friday, Jan. 31, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ campus.

Presented by American Family Theater, this classic tale of Dorothy's adventures over the rainbow targets children in kindergarten through sixth grade, according to Diane J. Peterson, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the Children's Performing Arts Series.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Schmidbauer Young Artist Competition at Stephen F. Austin State University has undergone significant changes since last year. The focus is now on gaining the attention of a younger generation of musicians who are beginning to plan their future careers and are looking at schools that may be best suited toward helping them reach their goals. And, hopefully Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ will be that institution.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present Dr. Andrew Parr, professor of piano, in a faculty recital performing "A Retrospective, Past and Present" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, in Cole Concert Hall on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ campus.

"This recital is a new look at works learned over three decades ago, but were either never performed or not performed since that time," Parr said. "It has been an interesting process to revisit these 'old friends' and reconnect with the past."

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Acclaimed pianist Dr. Krassimira Jordan will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Presented by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ College of Fine Arts and School of Music, Jordan's performance will feature the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt and Claude Debussy, according to Dr. Andrew Parr, professor of piano at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Art will host "Refined VIII: Maker's Choice" exhibition Jan. 24 through March 29 in the Reavley Gallery of The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

"Refined" is a biennial exhibition of jewelry and metalwork hosted by the art metals program in the School of Art at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ since 1998, according to John Handley, director of art galleries at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Dr. Peter Raven, renowned conservationist and president emeritus of the St. Louis Botanical Garden, will discuss "Conservation in a Rapidly Changing World" at the inaugural lecture in the new Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The event, hosted by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Gardens, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the new facility located in Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - An exhibition that runs Jan. 16 through March 7 in Griffith Gallery on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University will feature works of contemporary artist Mauro Manetti.

Presented by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ College of Fine Arts and School of Art, "Mauro Manetti, Harmonium, Selected Works" will include prints, opaque watercolors, drawings and digital images of the artist's sculptures and mosaics. The exhibition is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Visual Arts and the Nacogdoches Junior Forum.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Art will present the exhibition "Texas Art Quilts 1993-2011," showing Jan. 14 through March 29 in Ledbetter Gallery in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, in Room 110 of the Agriculture Building, 1924 Wilson Drive.

Jason McKenzie, horticulturist at The Arbor Gate Nursery in Tomball, will present "A Native Texas Cottage Garden the Arbor Gate Way."