The Giertz Gallery at Parkland College will host the 57th Annual Juried Student Art and Design Exhibition starting Monday, April 14.

The exhibition will feature approximately 180 works selected from over 350 submissions by students enrolled in art classes during the current academic year, beginning in summer 2024. Visitors can expect a diverse range of artwork, including photography, painting, drawing, metals, ceramics, and graphic design.

Matthew Watt, a member of Parkland’s art faculty, highlighted the significance of the event for students and the broader community.

“Our students are people from all walks of life engaging in the experience of creating and perceiving visual art,” Watt said. “Some are just beginning to learn a new craft, and others have been at it for a while.”

“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 and Design program to hold this yearly student exhibition. Students, faculty and the larger community that attends are always a bit more elevated by it.”

A reception on Wednesday, April 17, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., will include an awards ceremony at 6:15 p.m., where students will be recognized for their outstanding achievements. Awards include monetary prizes such as the Parkland President’s Awards for Excellence in Two- and Three-Dimensional Artwork, the Chris Berti Award for Excellence in Ceramics, and several scholarships like the Don Lake Art Scholarship and Juanita Gammon Graphic Design Scholarship.

Additionally, Melissa’s Gift Comrades in Art Award will honor the memory of former Parkland art student Melissa Lynch. Merit awardees and scholarship recipients will retain their artwork, while purchase award winners will have their pieces added to the Parkland College Student Art Collection.

The exhibit will run through Saturday, May 10. Spring gallery hours are Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. Visitors can park in the M6 lot on the north side of campus and follow signs to the gallery.

All events at Giertz Gallery are free and open to the public, with support from the Illinois Arts Council. For accessibility accommodations or more information about the exhibit, contact the gallery office at 217/351-2485 or visit Parkland College’s website.