Upcoming events at Parkland

This spring, Parkland will host a number of new activities and events, catering to both the student body and the public at large. Among them are new planetarium shows, theater productions and art exhibits.

The William M. Staerkel Planetarium is proud to unveil its new, all ages show, "Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity," to Parkland. "The show has national acclaim," planetarium director Dave Leake said. "When it first came out, many planetariums around the country put it out. We are very happy to bring it to Central Illinois."

Originally produced in Denver, Colorado, "Black Holes" features amazing visualizations that were actually created by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois. Narrated by Academy-Award nominated actor Liam Neeson, the full-dome show uses data from computer simulations to deliver stunning visualizations that mimic the science behind black hole phenomena. Among the sights to be seen in this cutting-edge show, are the birth of the universe, the birth and death of stars, a simulated flight to a huge black hole located at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy and more. While the show is open to the public, Leake cautions that younger audiences may not be able to fully appreciate it.

Similarly, Parkland's theater production "Frozen," by Bryony Lavery, is not for young children. In fact, Parkland's website suggests that only mature audiences attend, due to adult subject matter and language. "It's a psychological drama, a Broadway play that won national awards," the show's director, Randi Jennifer Collins Hard said. "People who enjoy mysteries and a good story will really like it."

In "Frozen," ten-year-old Rhona goes missing, which draws together Rhona's mother, a serial killer, and a criminal psychologist. According to Parkland's website, the cast embarks "on a thriller of a journey about grief, revenge, forgiveness and bearing the unbearable." This moving play dares to ask the questions, "What value do we place on life itself? What are the limits of forgiveness? Are there naturally "evil" people and should they be punished for their acts?" Starring Brad Mehrtens, Diane Pritcherd, Jenette Kozak Jurezyk and Zach Brenner, "Frozen" promises to take audiences for quite a ride.

The "State of the Art 2011-2012: National Biennial Ceramics Invitational," which opened at the Parkland Art Gallery in late 2011, is part of a tradition of ceramics showings that occur every two years. According to a press release issued by the Art Gallery, this time around the show was curated by Suze Lindsey, a professional potter with over twenty years of experience. She selected the work of a series of artists, whom she became acquainted with during her formative period. These include colleagues from Penland School of Arts and Crafts, located in Penland, North Carolina, and others whose work she has followed over the past twenty years. Each artist chosen is either a fulltime studio artist, or a member of the faculty of educational institutions. Among those selected for the showing are Margaret Bohls, Jim Brashear, Kathryn Finnerty, Doug Herren, and several more. "These artists all produce work that is significantly different from one another but have overlapping explorations of their medium," gallery director Lisa Costello said. "We have a strong ceramics program here, and it's good for our students to see what contemporary artists are doing in the field. It's also a good opportunity for other students and people in the community to see what's going on in the field, especially if they ordinarily know what's going on in the field." The Biennial Ceramics Invitational will be open to the public until February 4.

For more information on show times, prices, locations and parking, visit http://www.parkland.edu.