2021 Ceramics Biennial: Janis Wunderlich to Present Artist Talk
Giertz Gallery Presents Artist Lecture by Janis Mars Wunderlich
Giertz Gallery will be hosting an artist lecture by ceramic artist Janis Mars Wunderlich on November 11 at 10:30 a.m. as part of the 2021 State of the Art Ceramics Biennial.
Participating in the exhibition "The Living World In Clay," Wunderlich's talk will be held in lecture hall L111, down the hall from Giertz Gallery, and also virtually on Zoom. To learn more and register, please visit parkland.edu/2021ceramicsbiennial.
Wunderlich received a BFA from Brigham Young University and an MFA from Ohio State University. One of ten children, she grew up in a devout Mormon family with Amish relatives. She spent many years raising her own five children while balancing a strong dedication to creating and exhibiting her detailed figurative sculptures. Inspired by her Cherokee storyteller/folk-artist grandfather, her evocative, surrealistic imagery captures the dualities and complexities of being human. She is currently an assistant professor of art at Monmouth College in Illinois. She was awarded an individual artist fellowship from the Illinois Arts Council in 2020.
Wunderlich's work, The Embrace (27 x 12 x 6 inches) is multi-fired, underglaze, glaze, and melted glass. "These embracing figures are inspired by our critical current dialogue about anti-racism—about lifting each other up to build a better community, a better world," says Wunderlich. "These figures are literally strengthening each other through their complete embrace. The world revolves around them, and all eyes watch, as this act of embrace is what keeps many elements suspended in balance.
"My art tells stories that acknowledge the immensity of our physical and emotional inadequacies, the burdens we bear, and our many vulnerabilities. It also celebrates the buoyant strength of the human spirit to hope and persevere as we rise above the ashes to overcome obstacles. My intimate interactions as a daughter, mother, nurturer, friend, wife, and teacher inspire universal narratives about our collective human search for resilience and purpose."
Artist and professor of Art and Design Chris Berti curates the 2021 State of the Art Ceramics Biennial "The Living World in Clay." The exhibit opened October 25 and will run through February 5, 2022, and features artists and faculty from across the United States, including Ricky Barnett, Joe Bova, William Brouillard, Lynn Hobaica, Peter Jadoonath, Kirk Lyttle, Jenny Mendes, Tilla Rodemann, Rimas VisGirda, and Janis Wunderlich.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Thursday, and noon–2 p.m. Saturday. The gallery will be closed from 5 p.m. Nov. 24 through 28 for Thanksgiving break; Dec. 18 through Jan. 9 for winter break; and Jan. 17 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In compliance with state pandemic mandates, Parkland College has restricted access entryways and door checkers stationed at entrances. For Giertz Gallery, we suggest using the M1 parking lot on the north corner of campus. Enter through the M1 door and follow the gallery signage. The gallery is located in the north side of the X-wing and overlooks the outdoor fountain area.
Giertz Gallery acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Parkland College is a section 504/ADA-compliant institution; for accommodation, call 217/351-2505.
For more information about the invitational, the fundraiser, or the gallery, please visit parkland.edu/gallery or call the gallery office at 217/351-2485.