2016 Parkland College Art and Design Faculty Exhibition

Image Info: Denise Seif, Micro Series, 2015, 2.5” x 2.5”, copper and enamel

Faculty Art Exhibition at Giertz Gallery Sept. 1

Works by 14 artists; gallery talk at 6pm by Denise Seif, music at reception by the Sam Peters Trio, Thursday Sept. 1, 5–7 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Giertz Gallery at Parkland College is proud to present the 2016 Art and Design Faculty Exhibition, opening Monday, Aug. 22.

An annual showcase of art created by faculty, the exhibition runs through Sept. 17 and features sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, video, photography, metals, ceramics, and graphic design. Exhibiting faculty members include Louis Ballard, Chris Berti, Lisa Costello, Bryan Heaton, Melinda McIntosh, Laura O’Donnell, Denise Seif, Peggy Shaw, Sheila Schneider, Joan Stolz, Matthew Watt, Kelly White, Liza Wynette, and Paul Young.

An opening reception for the artists will take place Thursday Sept. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. and will include a gallery talk by Seif and music by the Sam Peters Trio.

During her gallery talk at 6 p.m., Seif, Art History and Metalsmithing Faculty and Program Director for the Art Department at Parkland College, will discuss her work in the exhibition. “The work in this year's faculty exhibition is a continuation of my explorations in metals,” Seif says. “I tend to have a couple of directions in my work, one that is formal, often with inspirations from nature and my observations and a second that is more personal and influenced by family and circumstances. Sometimes these two directions overlap as is true with this year's work. The Micro Series initially started with thinking about growing cultures in petri dishes with my Dad, and then doing this over the summer with my daughter. The petri dish influenced the circle format and the scale for many of the pieces in this series.”

Additionally, Peggy Shaw, 2016 Outstanding Faculty Award recipient and Associate Professor of Photography, will give an Artist Lecture about her work on Wednesday, September 7 at high noon in the gallery. Shaw teaches Digital Photography, Darkroom Photography, Video Production and Photography Portfolio classes in the Art and Design Program. Shaw received her Master of Fine Arts degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her photography has been shown nationally and has won numerous awards in both photography and video, including fellowships from both the Illinois Arts Council and Arts Midwest/National Education Association Regional.

The Art and Design Faculty Exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Fall gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, noon to 2 p.m. The gallery will be closed Monday, Sept. 5 for Labor Day. 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 door X-7, turn left, 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.

[Editor’s note: Photos of exhibit works available; please contact lcostello@parkland.edu.]