Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Parkland College 50th: Art and Design Alumni Exhibition

Parkland College Alumni Art, Design Exhibit Opens Sept. 26

Exhibit: Monday, September 26–Saturday, November 5, Giertz Gallery 
Reception: September 29, 5–7 p.m., gallery lounge, with welcoming remarks by President Tom Ramage and gallery talk by Chris Berti and Joan Stolz, 6 p.m.; music by the Parkland Guitar Ensemble
Additional Programming:
Closing Reception: Saturday, November 5, noon–2 p.m., with gallery talk by Barry Blinderman, 1 p.m.
Gallery Talk by Don Lake and Jack Ekstrom: Thursday, October 27, 6 p.m.


CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Works by Parkland College Art and Design alumni will feature in an exhibition at the college's Giertz Gallery beginning Sept. 26.

The contemporary art juried exhibition, "Parkland College 50th: Art and Design Alumni Exhibition", will run through Nov. 5. Curator for the exhibit is Barry Blinderman, director of the University Galleries of Illinois State University. 

Giertz Gallery Director Lisa Costello said the show provides an opportunity to celebrate Parkland's 50th anniversary and share the past with many familiar faces.

"It has been terrific to receive calls and emails about the exhibit from former students and to hear the impact Parkland has made in their lives," she remarked. "I am looking forward to seeing their work in the exhibition, hosting the reception, and attending our additional exhibit programs, including the gallery talk by retired faculty members Jack Ekstrom and Don Lake. Both of them taught in Parkland's Art and Design Program and were critical in the college's formative years."

Participating artists include Jodi Adams, Jenny Barrett, Jason Bentley, Jess Beyler, Jennifer Bonilla-Edgington, Daniel Bornt, Taylor Braasch, Felicia Breen, Cindy Carlson, Marsha Daniels, Sabrina Donnelly, Kyle Dunn, Christopher Evans, Jeff Evans, Bob Fish, Jacob Foran, Viktoria Ford, Todd Frahm, Julio Gaytan, Megan Hinds, Sarah Holt, Michael Hughes, Sandra Hynds, Eric Inskip, Siti Mariah Jackson, Dusten Jenkins, Lauren Jenkins, Judy Jones, Jan Kappes, Lisa Kesler, Bruce Kloth, Patricia Knowles, Rick Larimore, Paula McCarty, Ann McDowell, Lawrence McGown, Michèle Miller, Charlie Mitsdarfer, Patricia Monigold, Georgia Morgan, Amanda Mulcahy, Jason Patterson, Ruta Rauber, Laura Reiss, Rebecca Renwick, Ann Rund, Barbara Ryan, Judy Seyb, Shaheen Shorish, Emily Sur, Bonnie Switzer, Michael Thomas, Yu Wang, Rosalind Faiman Weinberg, Charles Wisseman, Sarah Wisseman, Shania Wright, and Michael Zachay. 

During the closing reception, Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m., Blinderman will speak about his career as a curator of contemporary art, educator, and essayist. As director of University Galleries since 1987, Blinderman curated the first U.S. museum surveys for David Wojnarowicz, Michelle Grabner, Martin Wong, Jane Dickson, Keith Haring, Siebren Versteeg, Jeanne Dunning, Tony Tasset, and others. He has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Lannan Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Illinois Arts Council, and the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation. His most recently curated exhibitions include "Hard Love", at Martos Gallery in New York (2016); "Walter Robinson: Paintings and Other Indulgences", at University Galleries and The Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia (2014-2016); and "Judy Glantzman: Face to Face" (2013), University Galleries.

All events in the handicapped-accessible gallery are free and open to the public. Fall gallery hours are Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday noon–2 p.m.

Giertz Gallery is located at 2400 W. Bradley Ave. in Champaign, Illinois, on the Parkland College campus. To find the gallery when classes are in session, the staff suggests using the M parking lots. Enter through door X7, turn left, and follow the ramps uphill to the highest point on the first floor, where the gallery is located. The gallery windows overlook the outdoor fountain area. 

This exhibit is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, call Lisa Costello, gallery director, at 217/351-2485 or visit online at parkland.edu/gallery.