CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The Giertz Gallery at Parkland College will open its latest exhibition, “The Great Outdoors: A Group Exhibition,” on Monday, October 6, showcasing the work of five nationally recognized artists who explore the relationship between humans and the natural world.
The exhibition features a range of media — including ceramics, printmaking, mixed media, watercolor, and oil painting — with artists depicting outdoor spaces such as parks, campgrounds, and rural landscapes as places for recreation, reflection, and connection.
Participating artists include Hannah Buchanan (Rockville, IN), Pattie Chalmers (Carbondale, IL), Travis Head (Blacksburg, VA), Beth Shadur (Highland Park, IL), and Amanda Smith (Bloomington, IN). Their work reflects themes of leisure, travel, and cultural interaction with outdoor environments.
A highlight of the exhibition will be a lecture by Amanda Smith, a senior lecturer at Indiana University, on Thursday, October 9 at 1:15 p.m. in the William Staerkel Planetarium. Smith, whose painting “Unless we close our eyes, we can’t see where we used to be anywhere” is featured in the show, has exhibited her work across the U.S. and internationally. She will also give a gallery talk at 6:15 p.m. during a public reception that evening from 5:30–7 p.m.
The exhibition runs through Saturday, November 8, and all events are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Thursday, and noon–3 p.m. Saturday. The gallery is located on the Parkland College campus; visitors are advised to park in the M6 lot, enter through door X-7, and follow signs to the gallery.
For more information or accommodations, call 217/353-2338, email accessibilityservices@parkland.edu, or visit parkland.edu/greatoutdoors.