New $400,000 Public Art Project for Downtown Moline Coming to City Council
An Australian art and design firm is the recommended choice to create a new $400,000 public art installation at The Q in downtown Moline, at 4th Avenue and 13th Street.
The Moline City Council on Tuesday night will consider the Moline Public Art Commission’s recommendation of Skunk Control as the choice artist and their proposed design for a public art installation at the Q Multimodal Station. The council meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall, 619 16th St., Moline.
The resolution to be considered by aldermen would authorize the mayor to execute a Leading Light Public Art Project Agreement among the City of Moline, the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District, Quad City Arts and Skunk Control, for the design and installation of a large-scale, interactive and illuminated public art installation at Project Area No. 1, pursuant to the Intergovernmental Agreement adopted by Resolution No. 1145-2024; and authorizing City staff to do all things necessary to implement the proposed public art installation at said Project Area No. 1.
Part of the Skunk Control design concepts for the Moline “Tapestry” public art project.
The Leading Light Public Art Project Agreement is for the installation of a large public art project to be located at 1311/1315 4th Avenue in Moline Centre, adjacent to the Q Multimodal Station, and more specifically on the tower leading to the pedestrian sky bridge over the railroad, as well as on the ground adjacent to the tower.
The Intergovernmental Agreement — which was adopted by City Council on October 22, 2024 — forged a joint venture between the City of Moline and MetroLINK (the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District), as well as provided for consulting services by Quad City Arts in assisting the Public Art Commission to solicit proposals from artist(s) and for coordination of the installation of the art to be recommended by the Commission and approved by City Council.
Per the IGA, three finalists were chosen by the Commission to submit full designs. One artist, Gordon Heuther, withdrew prior to submitting a final design. The two remaining artists, Nick Athanasiou/Skunk Control and Joseph O’Connell/Creative Machines, presented designs to the Commission (including representatives from MetroLINK and Quad City Arts).
The Commission voted unanimously (6-0) in October to recommend Athanasiou (based in Victoria, Australia) to the Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council.
The total project cost was allocated at $400,000. MetroLINK has received a grant to fund half of the project cost of $200,000. The City’s half is budgeted as a portion of the Public Art Fund that was approved during the 2025 budgeting process and is not to exceed $200,000.
$12,500 has been committed so far under the IGA for travel and design stipend expenses, and an additional $5,000 is owed to the consultant. The City’s share of these design phase fees amounts to $8,750. The budget for fabrication and installation proposed by the recommended artist is $329,500; the City’s remuneration to the artist is $164,750. Staff recommends retaining the full City IGA funding allocation of $200,000 to cover incidentals and any unforeseen contingencies.
Part of the Skunk Control design concepts for the Moline “Tapestry” public art project.
The site for the Art Installation is a portion of a triangular piece of property located to the east of The Q Multimodal Station and south of the railroad tracks. 4th Avenue / Illinois 92 is a one-way street with traffic heading west, that is located south of the site.
There is a continuous sidewalk along 4th Avenue, that leads to The Q. A 44’-7” tall tower is located in the center of the site, which contains a stair and elevator that provides access to the skybridge over the rail line, and connects to the MetroLINK Centre Station to the north. There is a sidewalk from the tower which heads west to The Q, and a sidewalk that connects to 4th Avenue and a drop-off area, which shall be maintained.
First major Moline public art since 2023
The new art installation would be the first major public art project in Moline since October 2023, when a $30,000 sprawling mural was unveiled on the west-facing wall of 1405 5th Ave., also recommended by the Public Art Commission.
As they have done on downtown streets around the world, Brooklyn, N.Y.-based artists Jari “WERC” Alvarez and Gera “GERALUZ” Lozano created a mural on the wall of the then-Analog Pizza and Arcade building, roughly 120 feet wide by 26 feet tall.
The new Skunk Control “Tapestry” project (which does not have a specific timetable for completion) is comprised of two main elements (The Avenue & the Tower Facade) that are linked to create a work that engages day & night, providing opportunities for discovery & delight, according to the project plan.
A view of the downtown Moline site for a new “Leading Light” installation, at 1315 4th Ave.
The work focuses on local fauna & flora & interplays with light to create vistas under constant color metamorphosis. The work is designed to welcome visitors & locals into the heart of Moline and to create a community crucible that is an integral part of Moline’s community and its memories.
Skunk Control’s website says: “We create visually engaging works and immersive experiences that provide audiences with a sense of wonderment and opportunities to make discoveries. Drawing on technology; design and art and our training in engineering, science and education, our works are interactive and impactful. As well as creating permanent sculptures, ephemeral art installations, bespoke lighting and engaging spaces, we also produce hands on community outreach programs that complement our creative works and engage the community in the artistry and technology that underpins them.
“Luminous Intervention” is a light installation Skunk Control created for its home city of Melbourne, Australia.
“As for our name and its meaning…. we’ll keep you guessing,” the site says.
The elements in Moline that make up the work are strategically placed to not only make best use of light (to provide intense color shadows) but to avoid glare and to consider drivers. Their positioning is also designed to make best use of rain water for self-cleaning. Among other characteristics:
- The work is designed to remain aesthetically pleasing with the passage time and is fabricated with robust materials (including powder coated stainless steel).
- The work will be under constant change and will be observed differently throughout the day, depending on one’s vantage point of the work.
- Included in the work will be small details that provide additional pockets of delightful discovery for visitors and locals alike.
- The complete work across grassy plaza and the façade is designed to act as community crucible, for the community/visitors and yet be a part of the Moline and greater Quad City community; a destination point that becomes integral to the memories of travellers and locals.
- Community outreach/educational programs (associated with the project) are in-kind and can run pre or post installation (for example creating a fluttering and kinetic butterfly and/or flower).
- Skunk Control are more than happy to work with all stakeholders to determine final design elements (inclusions, omissions) and exact site locations.
- Tapestry will not exceed the allotted budget (as mentioned in EOI documentation) and the associated allowance for site preparation.
- The work will illuminate at night and all lights are controllable,
At the Oct. 20, 2025 meeting of the Moline Public Art Commission, Nick Athanasiou’s presentation said the new work is designed to welcome visitors and locals into the heart of Moline and to create a community crucible that is an integral part of Moline’s community and its memories.
On 4th Avenue, a series of 7-9 Wild Geraniums will undergo a color metamorphosis throughout the day, casting color shadows below that will paint passers-by in colors and create lighting effects. The choice of the Wild Geranium is considered one of the showiest of the native geraniums in Illinois. Its petals come in different shapes and colored hues (purples to pinks) that contrast well with pale colors. The 7-9 upstanding geraniums will have a petal span of 5-7 feet wide and have a height of 16-22 feet tall.
The second major element of Tapestry is the tower’s façade and its installation of flowers & butterflies. These flowers and butterflies extend out of the façade (3D) and will be placed on the west, south, and east sides of the tower. A ring LED light will be located on the back of each flower head and butterfly providing night illumination. If it is cloudy during the day, you will still be able to see the illumination of the optic filters (which will be dichroic and/or grating and/or colored) on the flowers. The butterflies will be of local species.
Athanasiou also spoke of a community outreach program that would involve the public to learn how nature can create color through structure and butterfly ecology.
For more information on the city public art plans coming before City Council, click HERE.
A 2019 art display from Skunk Control.
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