Presently Absent: Paintings by Tom Berenz

Presently Absent: Paintings by Tom Berenz

Monday, February 9 – Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Reception: Thursday, February 12, 6–8 p.m.; Gallery Talk at 7 p.m. by Tom Berenz

Music by The Parkland Guitar Ensemble

Additional Artist Lecture: Thursday, February 12 at 1:15pm in the gallery.

“Presently Absent” solo art exhibit opens Feb. 9

CHAMPAIGN – Starting Feb. 9, Giertz Gallery at Parkland College will host a solo exhibition of paintings by Tom Berenz

An artist reception takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9 with a gallery talk by Berenz at 7 p.m. and music by the Parkland Guitar Ensemble. The artist will provide an additional lecture in The Giertz Gallery at Parkland College on Thursday, February 12 at 1:15pm.

Tom Berenz is an Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Berenz has an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MA from Northern Illinois University, and a BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Berenz blurs the lines between realism and abstraction, beauty and horror, devastation and the sublime. He uses the disaster motif as a metaphor to create conversations about personal, sociopolitical, environmental and ideological issues. The choice of images is always changing, but always returns to a pile. His paintings depict the still after a disaster, the quiet resulting from devastation.

Giertz Gallery’s spring hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday, noon–2 p.m. The gallery will be closed February 26 for Professional Development Day, March 23-28 for Spring Holiday.

To find the gallery when classes are in session, we suggest using the M6 parking lot on the north corner of the campus. Enter through any door and follow the ramps uphill to the highest point of the first floor, where the gallery is located. The gallery windows overlook the outdoor fountain area.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Parkland is a section 504/ADA-compliant institution. For accommodation, call 217/351-2505.