Parkland's Giertz Gallery to Feature Regional Artists in Exhibition
The Giertz Gallery at Parkland College will present "Around the Block V: Artists from Our Neighborhood," a juried community exhibition of regional artists this summer.
The Giertz Gallery at Parkland College will present "Around the Block V: Artists from Our Neighborhood," a juried community exhibition of regional artists this summer.
In collaboration with 40 North: Champaign County Arts Council, the exhibition will feature artists age 18 years and older residing in Champaign County and counties within District 505. Artists submitted their original work earlier this year with selections made by Parkland alumnus Josh Fairbanks.
"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.”
As assistant director of exhibitions at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), 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.
"We are delighted to host our fifth ‘Around the Block’ exhibition," gallery director Lisa Costello said. "It is always a pleasure to be able 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, and Deb Neumayer.
Other artists in the exhibition include 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.
The exhibition is scheduled from Monday, June 9 to Thursday, July 24, 2025. Costello and Kelly White, executive director of 40 North, will give opening remarks at 6:15 p.m. during the reception on Thursday, June 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will also be a closing reception from 5:30–7 p.m. on July 24.
All events in the handicapped-accessible gallery are free and open to the public. Summer gallery hours are Monday–Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The gallery will be closed on July 3 and 4 in honor of the Fourth of July holiday.
To find the gallery, use the M6 parking lot on the north corner of the Parkland College campus. Enter through door X-7, turn left, and follow the ramps uphill to the highest point of the first floor to find the gallery. The gallery windows overlook the outdoor fountain area.
Parkland is a section 504/ADA-compliant institution. For accommodation, call 217/351-2505. Giertz Gallery acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council. For more information, email giertzgallery@parkland.edu, call the gallery office at 217/351-2485, or visit the gallery website at www.parkland.edu/gallery.