Help Light the Night at Free Figge “Glow Up” Saturday
On Saturday, May 17, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Figge Art Museum (225 W. 2nd St., Davenport) invites the community to light up the night at GLOW UP, a free public party marking the debut of Evanescent Field—the largest public art installation in Iowa.
Designed by internationally acclaimed artist Leo Villareal, the $4-million permanent light installation will transform the Figge and the Quad Cities skyline into a vibrant new Midwest landmark, says a Figge news release. The funding for the long-planned project came from a $1.6-million Destination Iowa grant, and $2.4 million in private donations.
Saturday’s celebration will take place on the Figge’s Bechtel Plaza and features live music, food trucks, interactive artmaking, family activities, and free museum admission. The evening culminates with the grand unveiling of Evanescent Field at 8:45 p.m., followed by a performance from indie rock icon Ben Kweller, fresh off a sold-out Chicago show.
A rendering for the $4-million light project, “Evanescent Field” by Leo Villareal, at the Figge Art Museum in downtown Davenport.
Here are the party deets —
Live Entertainment Schedule:
- 7:00-7:30 p.m. | QCSO Brass Quintet (Quad City Symphony Orchestra)
- 7:30-8:30 p.m. | The Blackstones (local classic rock band)
- 8:45 p.m. | Unveiling of Evanescent Field
- 9:00-10:00 p.m. | Ben Kweller (national headliner)
Activities & Attractions:
- Free admission to the Figge’s galleries
- The Snap Wagon Photo Booth
- Face painting, balloon art, and caricature drawing
- Community Canvas Project: contribute to a collaborative artwork for the Figge’s upcoming Chain Reaction exhibition
- Quad City Botanical Center’s Plant Discovery Bus
- Block-printing activity with Putnam Museum and Science Center
- Family fun project with Quad City Arts
Food Trucks & Drinks on the Plaza:
- Grilled Cheese Bar
- Full Nelson
- Mi Oaxaca
- Here’s the Scoop
- Figge Bar (beverages)
After the lights go up, the celebration continues inside the museum with AfterGLOW at the Figge, a ticketed after-party from 10 p.m. to midnight, featuring DJ Clife, the Lavender Lux glow cocktail, light-up swag, and unbeatable views of Evanescent Field from the Figge’s glass-walled lobby and café. Tickets are available for $25 at the door and include admission to the after-party and a glow cocktail.
The new light sculpture, “Evanescent Field” will premiere Saturday, May 17, at 8:45 p.m. at the Figge Art Museum, Davenport.
Learn more at: https://www.subscribepage.io/FiggeGlowUp.
To learn about more ways to celebrate with our community partners, such as Visit Quad Cities and UP Skybar, visit figgeartmuseum.org or the event landing page above.
Commissioned in honor of the Figge’s Centennial (the museum predecessor, Davenport Municipal Art Gallery, first opened in 1925), Evanescent Field by Leo Villareal is a one-mile-long, four-sided light sculpture that bathes the museum in constantly evolving color.
Inspired by the movement of the Mississippi River, Villareal’s signature sequencing ensures the patterns never repeat. This long-awaited project fulfills Pritzker award-winning architect Sir David Chipperfield’s original vision for the Figge to glow from within, illuminating a bright future for arts and culture in the Midwest.
