Exhibit: September 26, 2016 - November 5, 2016

• Reception: Thursday, September 29, 5-7 p.m.; Welcoming remarks by President Tom Ramage and gallery Talk by
• Chris Berti and Joan Stolz, 6 p.m.; music by the Parkland Guitar Ensemble
• Gallery Talk: Wednesday, November 2, 6 p.m. given by Don Lake and Jack Ekstrom
• Closing Reception: Saturday, November 5, 12 - 2 p.m., with gallery talk by Barry Blinderman, 1 p.m.
• Works by Parkland College Art and Design alumni will feature in an exhibition at the college's Giertz Gallery beginning Sept. 26.

Parkland alumni contemporary art juried exhibition 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.

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.

Image: Paula McCarty, Soaps II, oil on canvas, 8" x 10", 2016