Parkland's Giertz Gallery opens still-life show 'Material Affections' Nov. 16

CHAMPAIGN - Parkland College's Donna Hyland Giertz Gallery opens "Material Affections: Explorations in Still Life" on Monday, Nov. 16, the college announced. The show runs through Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027, and all gallery events are free and open to the public.

Curated by Paula McCarty, a Parkland painting and drawing instructor who also oversees exhibitions at the Springer Cultural Center, the show includes work by Christopher Cosnowski, Sara Jahn, Rachel Kalman, Georgie Miller, Michael Pleghaar, Carrie Smith, Bella Wattles and Gwendolyn Zabicki.

A public reception is Thursday, Nov. 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with a gallery talk by Zabicki at 6:15 p.m. Zabicki also gives a lecture that day at 1:15 p.m. in the William M. Staerkel Planetarium, and Cosnowski lectures there Feb. 4, 2027, at 10:45 a.m.

Fall gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, and noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. The gallery is closed Nov. 26-29, Dec. 14-Jan. 9 and Jan. 18. Visitors should park in lot M6 at the north corner of campus and enter through door X-7, the college says.

Source: Parkland College: Giertz Gallery to Showcase "Material Affections: Explorations in Still Life" Exhibition (read Nov. 3, 2026).