You Can Make Ceramics!

This month’s book display in the maker series features ceramics/pottery. Over the past few months we have been featuring many of the “hands on” crafts/maker projects in a series of displays related to this year’s Parkland Reads book, “ShopClass as Soul Craft.” This month’s display case showcases work by Clare Margiotta, a Parkland College ceramics student. Her works are diverse and illustrate a comprehensive pottery skill set including many textures, colors, shapes and glazing techniques. Please check out the Parkland College Spring Catalog for all of the arts courses.

For more examples of ceramics and to support the ceramics program here consider attending one of the following events on campus:

State of the Art: Cermaics Invitational curated by Chris Berti

Saturday, November 21, noon

Giertz Gallery at Parkland College presents Four by One, a group ceramic exhibition curated by art faculty member Chris Berti. The artists include Randy Carlson, Sunshine Cobb, Michael Corney, Paul Eshelman, Meredith Host, Doug Jeppesen, Jan McKeachie Johnston, Randy Johnston, Beth Lo, Joe Pintz, and Luba Sharipan. The exhibition will include two visiting artists from Illinois including Doug Jeppesen and Randy Carlson.

Randy Carlson will also give a lecture and demonstration on Wednesday, January 27 at 1pm in the ceramics studio (room C-191). Carlson worked as a production potter in Minnesota, Maine and Wisconsin before joining the Art faculty of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Coffee and Tea, Cups and Dessert: A Giertz Gallery Benefit

Thursday, December 3, 4-7pm

Enjoy a selection of beautiful handmade cups donated by Parkland faculty and students, live music by Fair Play featuring traditional Irish music, tasty desserts provided by Parkland College Hospitality Program, and coffee and tea. A silent auction of ceramic works—perfect for holiday gifts (or for yourself)—will round out the evening’s festivities. Tickets are $30 (2 for $50) and may be purchased at the Giertz Gallery, or through the art gallery office by calling 217/351-2485 or emailing giertzgallery@parkland.edu. Tickets will also be on sale during the Ceramics Invitational opening reception. The Library has a large collection of maker books, in both physical and digital formats, available to faculty, students, and community members. If you want to become a maker yourself, come on in and Ask A Librarian to help you find your new hobby!

November 13th is World Kindness Day

One kind word can warm three winter months.  -Japanese Proverb

World Kindness Day is a day to focus on doing good in your community, being compassionate, and making the world a better place.  Together we can make this the nicest day of the year!

There are lots of ways to celebrate kindness on Friday, November 13th.  One example is to research some inspirational quotes to share through the Library catalog.  Just go to our website and search for "quotations" under the Books & Media tab.

Want to do more than that?  Try some of these other kind acts...

• Cook a meal for a friend or family.  (Cookbooks are also available through the Library catalog, both as physical books and ebooks.)
• Smile at everyone.
• Be extra friendly to the cashier at the store.  If you want to go the extra mile, buy them a coffee or candy bar to help them get through their work shift.
• Compliment a stranger.
• Hand-write an appreciative note or letter to somebody who has impacted your life in a positive way.
• Send somebody flowers.
• Remember that inspirational quote you looked up?  Share that with a friend or on social media.
• Leave quarters in a vending machine or washing machine for the next person.
• Tell a random parent you see that they're doing a good job.
• Visit a nursing home and chat with anyone who looks lonely.
• Buy dessert for a stranger at a restaurant.  (Ask the server to charge you, but deliver it to a different table.)
• Send a care package to a soldier, missionary, or college student away from home.

If you want an extra challenge, keep quiet about your good deeds.  It's tempting to detail that good deed you did on social media, so all your friends know how thoughtful you are.  But share that inspirational quote you researched instead, or simply say, "I did a kind thing today."  After all, the idea behind doing kind things is to make the recipient feel good, not humblebrag to your friends.

Keep these kind acts in mind throughout the winter months.  Many people struggle with the colder weather and shorter daylight hours, and a kind word or thoughtful gesture can really make a big difference.  More information is available here from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.