The Parkland Art Collective to Participate in Made Fest

The Parkland Art Collective Will Participate in Made Fest September 22 and 23

Champaign, Ill. --- The Parkland Art Collective (Giertz Gallery and participating Parkland College Art and Design students, faculty, and staff) has participated in this festival for several years. 

Made Fest will take place Friday, September 22, 5–9 p.m. and Saturday, September 23, 1–8 p.m. at the Race Street and Water Street parking lot in downtown Urbana, behind the Rose Bowl Tavern. This maker fair is an offshoot of the Pygmalion Music Festival, which has evolved during its 19-year history.

Among the many booths participating in Made Fest, the Parkland Art Collective booth will include hand-fabricated earrings, necklaces, brooches, ceramic cups, bowls, and many more handmade objects for sale.

Denise Seif, Parkland College's Art and Design program director who teaches metalworking and jewelry, is one of the many faculty who incorporate making multiples of artwork in their class assignments. Students have the option to display their works at the Made Fest booth.

"Facilitating a booth at Made Fest offers provides a great opportunity for Giertz Gallery to serve as a learning lab for our students," said gallery Director Lisa Costello. "This experience allows students to build business skills such as pricing, marketing, and interacting with potential buyers. All of these small business skills are important for artists to be successful. The event helps promote the Art and Design program at Parkland College, functions as a fundraiser for the Giertz Gallery, and allows students to earn some money as well." 

For more information about Pygmalion and Made Fest, visit thisispygmalion.com/schedule. For more information about Giertz Gallery at Parkland College, visit parkland.edu/gallery. To inquire about classes in the Art and Design program and to register for classes, visit parkland.edu/artdesign.