Giertz Gallery to Host Around the Block IV Exhibition
Giertz Gallery to Host Around the Block IV Local Artists' Exhibition
Around the Block IV
June 5 to July 26, 2023
Giertz Gallery at Parkland College
Reception: Thursday, June 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; opening remarks with Lisa Costello and Kelly White at 6:15 p.m. and musical performance by Cobra Lounge Trio
Closing Gallery Talk: July 26, 6:15 p.m. by Juror Christopher Schneberger; musical performance by Jose' Gobbo
Parkland College's Giertz Gallery in collaboration with 40 North: Champaign County Arts Council presents the Around the Block IV: Artists from Our Neighborhood exhibition June 5 through July 26. This juried art exhibition features works selected by Christopher Schneberger, assistant professor of photography and gallery director at Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana.
The exhibition comprises artworks from our region and reflects the caliber of creative flourish in mid-central Illinois. The juror for this exhibition, Schneberger, is a Chicago-based photographer who has curated several exhibitions and presented at the Society for Photographic Education's Midwest and Southeast conferences.
Lisa Costello, director of Giertz Gallery, says she was delighted by the local response to the call for participation in this fourth annual event.
"There were a large number of entries this year; over one hundred artists submitted work, with only 63 works accepted," Costello said. "Christopher Schneberger had the difficult job of selecting the work and was deliberate in his decisions. We are hoping to announce an artist lecture series including some of the artists from the show. It'll be fascinating to hear what they say about their work."
To close out the exhibit, a reception will be held Wednesday, July 26, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with music by Jose'. Schneberger will give a gallery talk about the show at 6:15 p.m.
"It was a delight jurying the work for Around the Block with such a great array of styles and media," he said. "When I jury a show like this, I look for technically accomplished work that is also creative and original. Technique is important, but I'm always more impressed with an artwork if I sense a concept behind it than if it's merely technical proficiency. I think my final selection represents a broad range of media and practice, as well as themes."
Participating artists include Tim Abel, Jan Adams, Jodi Adams, Adoni Naveed, Carol Alison, Gary Beaumont, Jo Birdwell, Thomas Brewer, Robert Chapman, Jenni Chi, Yeong Choi, Carol-Lynn Camparetto, Miranda Cork, Barbara Curtis, Claire Daly, Sabrina Donnelly, Darin Doty, EKAH, Christy Elamma, Jeff Evans, Viktoria Ford, Lori Fuller, Faith Gabel, Michael Holtz, Maia Huddleston, Sandra Hynds, Sara Jahn, Judith Johnson, Lisa Kesler, Bruce Kloth, Brian Knox, Carolyn Knox, Jill Lagerstam, Donald Lake, Casey Lowry, Karissa Marshall, Ann McDowell, Anne McIntyre, Ingrid Melief, Melissa Mitchell, Deborah Neumayer, Christina Nordholm, Shannon Percoco, Robert Petersen, Christopher Reme, Annelise Rhoads, Mandy Roeing, Ralph Roether, Gail Rost, Jennifer Seas, Lynn Hawkinson Smith, David Smith, David Spears, Bonnie Switzer, Billie Theide, Grant Thomas, Michael O. Thomas, Natalie Troyer, Nathan Westerman, Cindy Westfall, Andrew White, Kelly Hieronymus Whiting, and Martha Willi.
All events in the handicapped-accessible gallery are free and open to the public. Summer gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Giertz Gallery is located on the Parkland College campus at 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign.
Please note: Construction is ongoing this summer to the outdoor area north of the gallery. Therefore, the entrance we usually recommend will not be accessible. Instead, we recommend using the C4 parking lot (C1 entrance) or the B7 parking lot (X2 entrance) to find the gallery. Once inside the building, follow all of the upward ramps and signs to the gallery.
Parkland College is a section 504/ADA-compliant institution. For accommodation, call 217/351-2505.
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 the gallery's website parkland.edu/gallery.