Reception for 57th Annual Juried Student Art and Design Exhibition

Description

Parkland College's annual juried Student Art and Design Exhibition for 2025 will be held in the Giertz Gallery from April 14 through May 10. Audiences will enjoy this impressive body of student work, which includes photography, painting, drawing, figure drawing, metals, three-dimensional design, two-dimensional design, color theory, graphic design, and ceramics. Parkland Art and Design faculty will select approximately 180 works from 350+ entries for this year's exhibit. Students taking art classes in the current academic year, beginning with summer 2024, submitted artwork.? The opening reception on Thursday, April 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the gallery lounge will include an awards ceremony at 6:15 pm. Art faculty member Matthew Watt elaborates on the importance of the exhibition, “Our students are people from all walks of life engaging in the experience of creating and perceiving visual art. Some are just beginning to learn a new craft, and others have been at it for a while.” He continues, “All of them are part of a community that forms in our studio classrooms every semester to reshape their raw experiences into something communicable and engaging. It is an essential part of the art & design program to hold this yearly student exhibition. Students, Faculty and the larger community that attends are always a bit more elevated by it.” According to gallery director Lisa Costello, students planning on a profession in the arts begin their career path at Parkland College, and this exhibition allows them to showcase their extensive talent, and the exploration processes they have experienced throughout their studies in art and design. Costello adds, "It introduces them to professional practices they will encounter in their field, such as working with a gallery, preparing their work for exhibition, and engaging in the jurying process – all essential for an emerging artist," Costello said. "This is necessary for resume building and establishing themselves as practicing artists once they graduate in their career program or transfer to a four-year college."? Spring gallery hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 am to 5 pm; Thursday, 10 am to 7 pm; and Saturday, 12 pm to 2 pm.? We suggest using the M6 parking lot on the north side of campus. Enter through Door X-7, turn left, and follow the ramps uphill to the highest point on the first floor to find the gallery.? ? ? 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