Around the Block V: Artists from our Neighborhood

June 9 to July 24, 2025
 

  • Reception: Thursday, June 12, 5:30–7:30 pm; opening remarks with Lisa Costello and Kelly White at 6:15 pm
  • Closing Reception: July 24, 5:30–7 pm
  • High Noon with the Artists, William Staerkel Planetarium, followed by light refreshments in the Giertz Gallery
      • Wednesday, July 9, at noon, with artists to be announced
      • Wednesday, July 16, at noon, with artists to be announced

In collaboration with 40 North: Champaign County Arts Council, the "Around the Block V: Artists from Our Neighborhood" is a juried community exhibition of regional artists, including artists aged 18 and older residing in Champaign County and counties within District 505.

Josh Fairbanks, assistant director of exhibitions at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), is the juror for the fifth Around the Block exhibit. Fairbanks leads undergraduate and new work exhibitions and manages SAIC Galleries. He also teaches practicum courses in exhibition studies.

As a Parkland student, he worked in the Giertz Gallery. He then studied art history and painting at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Outside of his administrative responsibilities, Fairbanks is also a practicing artist.

"It was an honor to take part in this year's exhibition, to listen to the stories, questions, and see the visions these artists are bringing forward," Fairbanks says. "In curating this snapshot, I sought to honor the complexity of their efforts. To present work that captures a community not fixed in a single idea or identity, but that speaks to a broader landscape of making in this moment. I am excited for the public to experience this collection with the same spirit of inquiry and engagement that the artists have so clearly brought to their practices."

"We are delighted to host our fifth 'Around the Block' exhibition," gallery director Lisa Costello said. "It is always a pleasure to host such a community-oriented event where regional artists can exhibit their work, and family, friends, and neighbors can visit the gallery and view the artwork in person. The exhibition includes works by artists from our community and some alumni. It is a survey of artists living in our area, and I was pleased Josh agreed to be our juror."

Costello added: "Having been part of our community, he understands the importance of this exhibition, and I look forward to collaborating with him again. Working with 40 North: Champaign County's Art Council, they are a valuable resource in our community, and we enjoy partnering with them to make this an even larger and more successful exhibition."

Participating artists include Honoka Adachi, Jan Ellyn Adams, Jodi Adams, Naveed Adoni, Nicole Anderson Cobb, Michael Babcock, Judith Baker-Barrows, Ciel Baptiste, Gary Beaumont, Jess Beyler, Jodi Birdwell, Angela Boley, Debra Bolgla, Matias Bontá Clivio, Jennifer Booker-Smith, Thomas Brewer, Yeong Choi, Ann B. Coddington, Cathrine R. Cunningham, Barbara Curtis, Claire Daly, Dawn Dohl, Limin Dong, Josh Doniek, Sabrina Donnelly, Jerry Dusenberry, Sarah Eckstine, EKAH, Mary Emmons, Jeff Evans, Melanie Fisher, Courtney Fleeger, Viktoria

Ford, Allyson Frink, Tina Giamberdino, Shauri Gonzalez, Michael Holtz, Seoin Kang, Jan Kappes, Bruce Kloth, Bailey Knilands, Philip Knox, Betsy Kruger, Donald Lake, Casey Lowry, Ann McDowell, Ingrid Melief, Patricia Monigold, Deb Neumayer, Christina Nordholm, Laura O'Donnell, John Odum, Sheila Parinas, Shannon Batman Percoco, Julie Porcheddu, Olena Povrozina, Claire Pritchard, Annelise Rhoads, Mandy Roeing, Gail Rost-Beberman, Lynne Rudasill, Umeeta Sadarangani, Cindy Sampson, Jule Schatz, Anneke Schweers Miller, Kuhu Shukla, Thomas Skaggs, Lynn Hawkinson Smith, Carol Spindel, Steve Stoerger, Phil Strang, Bonnie Switzer, Billie Theide, Grant Thomas, Mohan Tracy, Jo Urban, Rimas VisGirda, Nathan Westerman, Martha Willi, Charles Wisseman, Sarah Wisseman, Amy Wolfe, Shania Wright, and Zoya Wu.


Calendar

  • April 21 - Online submission deadline
  • May 6 - Acceptance notifications sent
  • May 27 - May 28 - Deliver accepted artworks to Giertz Gallery: 

    • Tuesday, May 27, between 12–7 pm 
    • Wednesday, May 28, 10–5 pm 
  • June 9 - Exhibition opens 
  • June 12 - Reception 5:30–7:30 pm, opening remarks at 6:15 pm by Lisa Costello, Giertz Gallery Director, and Kelly White, Executive Director of 40 North, Champaign County Arts Council.
  • July 24 - Closing Reception 5:30–7 pm. Artists may pick up work at the closing of the exhibit.
  • July 27 - Pick up exhibited artwork from Giertz Gallery between 10 am and 6 pm.

 

Questions?

Contact Giertz Gallery at Parkland College Office by email at giertzgallery@parkland.edu or call 217/351-2485.

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Admission is free. Donations welcome!

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Giertz Gallery acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council. All events in the accessible gallery are free and open to the public. Parkland College is a Section 504/ADA-compliant institution. For accommodation, call 217/353-2338 or email accessibilityservices@parkland.edu.