Tennessee artist Mark Mcleod will have his solo exhibition, “I only went out for a walk,” on display through Thursday, Sept. 16 at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery. A reception for the artist will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, and the artist will speak about his work at 5 p.m. Mark Mcleod is an associate professor of art and design at Middle Tennessee State University, with research interests in the fallibility of memory and the use of new technology in the creation of sculptural works. Before moving to MTSU he served for 10 years as the only full-time art... Read More

Have you noticed your child drawing? Help them explore their drawing skills and character development with a new class from Bettendorf’s Bereskin Gallery And Art Academy. It’s a wonderful class with a brilliant illustrator and teacher, Emma Hubner. EH101: Character Design (5th – 12th grades) Wednesdays, Sept. 1 , 8, 15, 22, 29 Oct. 6, 13, 20.(5 – 6:30 p.m.) with Instructor Emma Hubner. Class Fee: $260 Sign up now! https://www.bereskinartgallery.com/…/eh101…/3482…  Read More

In an age of complex environmental challenges, why not look to the ingenuity of nature for solutions? The forms, patterns, and processes found in the natural world—refined by 3.8 billion years of evolution—can inspire our design of everything from clothing to skyscrapers. This approach to innovation, called biomimicry, is becoming increasingly popular. Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design opens Wednesday, Sept. 1 at the Putnam Museum and Science Center (1717 W. 12th St., Davenport), a Smithsonian affiliate. “The Putnam is the first stop on this exhibit’s national tour... Read More

Quad City Arts’ Visiting Artist Series will host a little bit of Ireland during a three-day residency with singer Paddy Homan. Homan, from Cork, Ireland, is a Chicago-based traditional Irish Tenor and professional speaker who since his arrival in Chicago has brought his talented voice and quick-witted Cork humor to hundreds of stages and venues in the Chicago area, the Midwest, New England, California, and Hawaii, as well as in Ireland. Paddy is a frequent keynote speaker in senior living retirement communities where he presents on the role of music in supporting seniors at home and in their... Read More

West Davenport native sisters mix it up with art and photography this month! The West Davenport Arts Council, in conjunction with Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities (MCC QC), is hosting a wine and cheese art exhibition for local artists Camryn Clark and Blaire Doxsee on the evening of Wednesday, August 25th, from 6-8pm . Light refreshments will be served. These artists’ exhibition opens that night and will be on display at MCC QC, located at 2930 Locust St. in Davenport, through the end of September. Camryn says, “I’ve been making art for what feels like my whole life. From... Read More

The following article is part of QuadCities.com’s partnership with local music website The Echo. For more, check out theechoqc.com! The Alternating Currents festival makes a strong return in 2021. For the first day of the Davenport festival, the AC team extended their festival grounds into Rock Island, with events at The Spot, Quad City Arts, Rozz-Tox, Ribco and Daiquiri Factory.  Alternating Currents put a stronghold on downtown Davenport for their fourth annual festival. Different bars, restaurants, venues and outdoor spaces host over 100 artists for the four-day festival. For more, check... Read More

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! Normally, calling someone a “chicken” is an insult. For artist Michael Cook of Davenport, he created Chucky Chicken as an unlikely hero, who triumphs with pluck, humor and a big heart – traits he sees in himself. A friendly 33-year-old native of the Chicago suburb Oswego, Ill., the gifted animator cooked up Chucky in 2008, when Cook was attending the Illinois Institute... Read More

Teachers and principals of all Quad-City area schools are invited to schedule an outreach visit for their students from a professional performing artist during the upcoming school year through Quad City Arts’ Visiting Artist Series. School staff from public and private schools can schedule residency engagements for this fall and next spring by visiting https://www.quadcityarts.com/vas-scheduling.html. The series serves students and community members in Clinton, Scott, and Muscatine counties in Iowa, and Henry, Rock Island, and Mercer counties in Illinois. Residency host sites can sign up for... Read More

Looking for something to do this weekend? Listen to the Weekend in 2 Minutes podcast! Every Thurday, we give you a rundown of some of the cool things happening in and around the Quads over the coming week END! This week? Alternating Currents brings in a HUGE slate of events this weekend, but that’s not all, Whiteside County Fair is going on, LeClaire is having live music, Poopy’s is holding a Country Festival and bike events, and there’s a whole lot more! Get all the details on your latest Weekend in 2 Minutes! LISTEN HERE!  Read More

Crafty Cat is slinking in Friday! It’s Alternating Currents Fest 2021‘s Art Extravaganza!! Crafty Cat Indie Art Fest will take place Friday, August 20, 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, August 21, 10a.m.-4 p.m. at the Great Hall, RiverCenter, Downtown Davenport. It’s FREE to attend! #tagtheqc #craftycat #DowntownDavenportIowa #handmade #makersgonnamake #quadcities  Read More