Saturday in the Arts is a weekly feature covering a trend, subject, event or personality of local interest. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for the best entertainment and arts coverage in the area, QuadCities.com! The Covid-19 pandemic not only drove many people crazy, but it’s driven them more than ever outdoors – for comfort, relaxation, exercise and simple enjoyment of the natural world. The beautiful, restorative calm of the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island, has been perfectly positioned to welcome those weary pandemic warriors. And with a new executive... Read More

It’s so appropriate that Steinway International Artist Byron “BK” Davis will perform at Joy Avenue Media on Saturday at 7 p.m. for its online “J.A.M.” sessions. Because the super friendly 61-year-old Davenport native – a globally acclaimed pianist, composer, and singer – spreads joy wherever he goes. After his first appearance playing for the Bettendorf Joy Avenue studio session this past November, Davis brings his passionate jazz band back on Facebook for a free show, co-sponsored by Davenport-based River Music Experience. The J.A.M. sessions are intended to present high-quality,... Read More

The Adler Theatre and VenuWorks will present comedian Brian Regan on Wednesday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Adler Theatre in Davenport. Reserved tickets will go on sale Friday, April 16 at 10 a.m. in person at the Adler Theatre Box Office (136 E. 3rd St.) and online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are $39, $49 and $59. Tickets to this socially-distanced show will be sold in pods. Guests must purchase all seats within a selected pod. A face covering is required unless you are actively eating or drinking. Brian Regan is one of the most respected comedians in the country with Vanity Fair calling him,... Read More

Greatly anticipating Quad City Music Guild’s first, long-awaited entry into online entertainment (13 months into the Covid-19 pandemic), I both did and didn’t know what to expect from the new “On With the Show” cabaret. I knew it would be about an hour long; include several originally cast members of “The Secret Garden” (which has yet to be seen on the Guild stage); would be filmed from the Prospect Park theater, and include photos from past Guild productions. What I did not know that it would be so comprehensive (including so much detailed history about the beloved 72-year-old cultural... Read More

Erika Holshoe has traveled from one end of the U.S. to the other, and to Europe, to pursue her passions. The bubbly 25-year-old is now in her dream job as new assistant director of the German American Heritage Center and Museum, 712 W. 2nd St., Davenport. It marries her affection for her own family’s German heritage, German culture, language, and her love of museums. Holshoe has hustled since she began work here in January to conceive, research, assemble and install the latest GAHC exhibit – “Who? What? Wear? German Costume and Culture,” which opens Friday, April 9 and runs through Aug.... Read More

If you visit the Quad City Botanical Center by the end of May – and you certainly should – you’ll see a portrait of an artist as a young man. A very young, talented man indeed. Eight-year-old Levi Folker of Davenport is the youngest artist ever to have his own exhibit in the 23-year-history of the QCBC, with 28 of his deeply colorful, imaginative paintings on the walls in the main hallway. They’re on display for all of April and May. “I like painting because it makes me happy,” Levi, a second-grader at Adams Elementary, who’s been homeschooled this past year, said recently. “I like... Read More

Representatives from Azubuike African American Council for the Arts and St. Ambrose University invite the public Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Grand Lobby of the Figge Art Museum (225 W. 2nd St., Davenport) for a conversation with special guests Jon Veal and Jordan Campbell of the Chicago-based art group alt_ (alt space). They will discuss an upcoming series of Quad-Cities projects aimed at positive disruption through tangible acts of service. There will be a cap of 45 people in the lobby and all typical Covid protocols will be in effect. RSVP is strongly suggested at azubuikeartscouncil@gmail.com. Christopher... Read More

Nearly six years after launching the Q2030 regional action planning process, leaders of Q2030 are creating a new stand-alone nonprofit organization. They’re seeking its first executive director, to start this summer, and raising $400,000 to implement the long-range plan. The new organization – announced Thursday — includes a diverse board representing the business, government, nonprofit and education sectors within the Quad-Cities. The first four champion organizations – Quad Cities Chamber, Quad Cities Community Foundation, United Way Quad Cities and Visit Quad Cities – have strengthened... Read More

The Quad-Cities theater company Genesius Guild was wearing masks in performance for decades before it was fashionable or medically recommended. After it had to cancel its 2020 summer season at Rock Island’s Lincoln Park Classic Theatre due to Covid, Genesius will be back this summer, with three scaled-back productions in June and July, including an ancient Greek tragedy in mask to close the abbreviated season – ensuring it will all be safe for cast, crew and audiences. The 2021 season will consist of: June 19, 20, 26 and 27: William Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” adapted and abridged... Read More

If you get your Covid vaccine at the Rock Island County mass vaccination clinic in Milan between April 14 and May 20, there will be something special that’s literally music to your ears. Taking inspiration from famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s recent impromptu performance during his Covid vaccine observation period, the Rock Island County Health Department and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) are partnering to bring live music to the mass vaccination site at Camden Centre in Milan. “Vaccine Variations” is an initiative that arranges for one-hour performances by QCSO musicians starting April... Read More