The ability to capture moments through a lens has been explored, practiced and perfected for more than a century, and now assistant professor Barry Stone has made his mark on the world of photography.

Stone’s work history includes his tenure as the Coordinator of the Department of Photography in the School of Art & Design and showcasing at the Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery in New York City. He received the 2012 Artist of the Year honor from the Austin Visual Arts Association and will have an upcoming feature in “Zing Magazine.” However, his most prominent contribution is the founding of the artist collective, “Lakes Were Rivers.”

Originally, Stone set out to form the collective in 2008 as an outlet for supporting and critiquing photography.

Community leaders including Mayor Daniel Guerrero break ground for the LBJ-MLK Crossroads memorial.

People of all ages, races and occupations gathered Monday at the Hays County Courthouse to commemorate and acknowledge Martin Luther King, Jr. and break ground on a memorial to be built in his honor.

Participants marched from the courthouse to the intersection of LBJ Drive and MLK Street, the site where a memorial for King and Lyndon Baines Johnson will soon be placed.

The officers of the Student Association for Campus Activities spend time each semester coming up with ways to entertain students. SACA is best known for its biggest events, Homecoming and Riverfest, but it also produces other programs for students to enjoy and has more planned for this spring. SACA President Ricardo Soliz spoke with The Star about the new semester and the organization’s plans for getting involved on campus.

MAA: What are some things Texas State students can look forward to this semester?

The spotlight is shining on Monroe Hair Salon as voters crowned it the Best Hair Salon in San Marcos.

Monroe Hair Salon was established in 2009 by owner Lanna Welch, achieving her dream after working as a stylist five years prior to its opening.

Welch expressed gratitude in her business being recommended and voted Best Hair Salon.

“We try to cater to Texas State as well as communicate and build friendships with our clients,” she said.

Welch has been working as a stylist for quite some time. She has always wanted to own a hair salon.

Her talent was evident as she placed second in the Redken National Holiday Style competition. For the past three years, Welch has been known for being the sponsor and the personal hairstylist of Miss Texas United States.

ARTheism provided the university with a Common Experience Friday as Texas State alumni Topher Sipes and Samantha Beasley put on “A Global Odyssey of the Arts.”

“ARTheism” is a performance that mixes projected animation, dancing and music into a visually captivating art form.

The contrast of light and dark fell upon performers who used their moves to entice the audience. Sipes provided live animation as dancers performed, trying to create what he called emotional landscapes.

“We hope that this allowed others to perceive the beauty around them,” Sipes said. “For Samantha and me, inspiration is in everything. It is in everything we do. Everything we do inspires us.”

Sipes formed ARTheism in spring 2011 with Beasley. Sipes described their relationship as a “creationship.” Beasley and Sipes have been composing and uniting different media in an effort to create what they call “a religion of art,” which is how the term ARTheism was coined.

Halloween got even spookier Wednesday night when SACA held its third Haunted Maze at George’s.

The Maze opened at 8 p.m. to celebrate what is often called the most frightening night of the year.
SACA member Philip Ramon was in charge of the event.

“I would really like to really freak some people out,” Ramon said. “The way that I can make it different is by adding my own flare of what I feel is a little scary, kooky or cryptic.”

SACA had been recruiting volunteers for the event for the past two months from pools of different organizations, students and close friends, encouraging others to get involved.

Katie Smith, SACA’s vice president of marketing, advertised the event, coming up with ways to get the word out and draw attention to George’s before Halloween night.

Those looking for a little magic in their lives this Halloween season are in luck.

Texas State’s Pagan Student Fellowship has joined The San Marcos Nature Center to put on the annual Creature Crawl Oct. 28 at 3 p.m.

The carnival will feature a wide variety of activities including storytelling, trick-or-treating, a plant sale, tarot card readings and tealeaf readings. Festival volunteers will be in costume and bring out some of the animals in the nature center for an up-close look.

There is a $2 donation to attend, which will go to support the nature center along with any sales made that day. About 200 people are expected to attend.

“All of this is to support the nature center and keep it running,” said Kenneth See, public relations officer for the Pagan Student Fellowship. “We will be asking for tips to help support the nature center.”