Artists in Conversation is a weekly column running on QuadCities.com. It features a conversation with a local creator or creators going into their artistic process, projects and more. Get to know your local arts scene and local creators better on QuadCities.com with Artists In Conversation! If you’re a local creator and would like to be featured, please email us at Sean@QuadCities.com or Tristan@QuadCities.com! This week’s artist is KIRA RANGEL, currently featured in Beehive and Elephant & Piggie and the up-coming The Mountaintop, The Rocky Horror Show You’re new to Quad City audiences.... Read More

Quad City Arts on Tuesday announced the full schedule of events for Chalk Art Fest in Schwiebert Park, downtown Rock Island, June 26-27. SATURDAY, JUNE 26 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. — Chalk art competition  Live Music Lineup: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Live DJ Mark Manuel, Alt 104.5/Kiss FM 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Chrash 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. — The Textures 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Doug Brundies Big Acoustic Show SUNDAY, JUNE 27  10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Chalk art competition  Live Music Lineup: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Mo&Co 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. — QC Rock Academy 3:30 p.m. – AWARDS CEREMONY 4 p.m.... Read More

As we previously reported FIRST on QuadCities.com, and then we saw duplicated by WQAD-TV8 (I mean, really, TV8? You’re gonna steal our ideas??? We can’t even!), the Quad-Cities has been buried in the brine of a sour battle royale over the past five days or so — yeah, that’s right, we’re talking about PICKLE WRAP WARS. So here’s the dill… to recap in my own original words (imagine me reading this in Morgan Freeman’s voice, cool as a cucumber): For those unaware, the owner of Cafe Fresh made a lengthy post the other day claiming that her Cafe was in... Read More

Looking for some colorful and vibrant artworks to brighten up your life? Quad City Arts is pleased to present the 5th annual Chalk Art Fest, live and in-person June 26-27!  While last year’s event went virtual with artists chalking up their driveways, porches and sidewalks, we are thrilled to host this year’s event in the beautiful setting of Schwiebert Riverfront Park, in downtown Rock Island, directly across the street from Quad City Arts headquarters and gallery. Inspiring and engaging for people of all ages, this free, two-day street painting festival brings together hundreds of local... Read More

Artist Lesley Dill, a renowned New York-based artist, brings historical and literary figures from America’s past to life in a new exhibition curated by the Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport. Opening this past weekend, Lesley Dill, Wilderness: Light Sizzles Around Me features a collection of hand-painted and sewn textile sculptures and banners created by Dill over the past six years. Her work carefully interweaves imagery, text, and historical visionaries into stunning three-dimensional encounters. Gracefully suspended from the ceiling, the clothing of each figure is delicately... Read More

For a blissful few hours on a sun-kissed Tuesday in downtown Davenport, there was finally no coronavirus, no social distancing, no masks, no worries. There was a heavenly sense of normalcy outside River Music Experience at 2nd and Main streets, as the Quad Cities Cultural Trust (QCCT) presented a free four-hour festival – “Paint the Town” – as it celebrated exceeding its ambitious fundraising goal with its six funded partners. Representatives from those invaluable nonprofit groups – RME, Quad City Botanical Center, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, the Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum &... Read More

Seven public sculptures in Bettendorf and two in Moline will be moving to other locations and replaced with new sculptures over the next 15 days, beginning Monday, June 7th. Moline is adding two more sculptures this year and the Geneseo Public Library will be leasing a sculpture for the first time. Rock Island has elected to re-lease four of the sculptures from last years’ selection and purchase the sculpture titled “Reaching to the Moon” by Tim Frye for its permanent collection. Quad City Arts has facilitated the leasing and installation of public sculpture in the Quad Cities since 2002.... Read More

Artist Lesley Dill, a renowned New York-based artist, brings historical and literary figures from America’s past to life in a new exhibition curated by the Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport. Opening this past weekend, Lesley Dill, Wilderness: Light Sizzles Around Me features a collection of hand-painted and sewn textile sculptures and banners created by Dill over the past six years. Her work carefully interweaves imagery, text, and historical visionaries into stunning three-dimensional encounters. Gracefully suspended from the ceiling, the clothing of each figure is delicately embellished... Read More

Tim Schiffer, former executive director of the Figge Art Museum (2012-2019), will show 15 of his new paintings at Bereskin Gallery & Art Academy, 2967 State St., Bettendorf. The exhibit – “Paintings Within Paintings” – will be on display May 28th through July 28th. An opening reception with the artist (who recently moved to Tucson, Ariz.) will be held Friday, June 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. “Tim Schiffer has been a moving force in the arts here in our area,” says Pat Bereskin, gallery owner, artist and art teacher. “As past director of the Figge, during his tenure, he made great... Read More

Moline-based Living Proof Exhibit hosts Creative Sessions each month with a variety of community partners at various locations in the region and has one coming up in Muscatine, for the first time in a long time. To date, Living Proof Exhibit has provided free Creative Sessions to more than 2,400 participants in the Quad-Cities and Muscatine. The art sessions are free of charge and open to anyone impacted by cancer of any artistic skill level. Two upcoming sessions are: Acrylic Painting, with instructor Gina Kirschbaum, Tuesday, June 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th,... Read More