Midcoast Fine Arts, one of the most impactful grassroots organizations and arts groups in the region over the past three decades, will close up shop in March 2020, a Midcoast official confirmed today. The demise of the group also means that Bucktown, 225 E. 2nd Street, and all its galleries, will be shuttered. Financial reasons were cited as the main impetus for the shutdown. Bucktown was struck incredibly hard by the flooding of early 2019, and was shut down for several weeks, thus negatively impacting its business and causing it thousands in extra expenses due to damages. There’s no word on... Read More

Apprentices from Quad City Arts Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program are in the final stages of painting four murals on the doors of Davenport’s Freight House. These new panels complement the five panels completed by 2015 Metro Arts apprentices. Lead artist Sarah Robb, one senior apprentice, and seven apprentices painted murals at the Freight House, 421 W. River Drive, Davenport, during the fall session for the 2019 Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program. Apprentices worked on weekends and weeknights after school in September and October. The mural panels are scheduled to be completed on... Read More

Quad City Arts has a new pair of artists exhibiting from October 18th through December 6th — the gallery will be hosting drawings by Emily Newman of DesMoines, and photographs by Randy Richmond of Muscatine. Emily Newman presents “Sky Weave” Newman’s work deals with time and space. She makes contrasts in her art between small woven landscapes and outer space. The artist choses to explore pictorial space and actual space, through various fiber compositions.  She uses the compositions as a metaphor to connect people to a place.   Randy Richmond presents “The Set Table:... Read More

You can experience the beauty of Eden at Rock Island’s Rozz Tox. Eden is the third photography exhibition at Rozz-Tox for Quad City photographer Laura Heath. Having successes with her last two shows she will be showing her third show once again at Rozz-Tox. Eden has assisted her artistic progression to become more focused on improving her composition and lighting.  Named Eden to signify the idea that nudity need not be hidden away. Society often views nudity as shameful; she wants people to see it as beautiful. Laura still finds inspiration in the work of Edward Weston’s 1900s work.... Read More

PaperFest, a new visual arts event in the Quad Cities, will include art demos and family-friendly hands-on art activities, all with paper. Activities planned are paper book folding, foam core sculpture, origami, collage and paper making. Artists involved include: Bucktown multi-media artist Linda Hardin, Carolyn Krueger who teaches ceramics, owns The ARTery and directs MidCoast Gallery West in Rock Island, Illinois, Rose Patton of Seven Orchids Gallery in Bucktown, David Smith who owns Smith Studio and Gallery in Geneseo, Illinois, and DeSoto Studio (Rock Island) artist Amber Williams. There is... Read More

Coming to DeSoto Studio in Rock Island for the month of August 2019 is”QC Icons and Landmarks The Art Of Jon Burns,”A collection of new work from Moline, Illinois native Jon Burns. The opening reception at the gallery, 2324 3rd Ave Rock Island (Enter through alley), is 6-10 p.m. Friday, August 2, and the closing reception will be Friday, August 30. Jon Burns is an artist and musician living and working in the Quad Cities IA/IL region. He has shown art at several galleries around the Q.C. including The Artery, Bucktown, Rozz Tox, Midcoast Gallery West, Peanut Gallery, Mode Art Gallery,... Read More

Coming to DeSoto Studio in Rock Island for the month of August 2019 is”QC Icons and Landmarks The Art Of Jon Burns,”A collection of new work from Moline, Illinois native Jon Burns. The opening reception at the gallery, 2324 3rd Ave Rock Island (Enter through alley), is 6-10 p.m. Friday, August 2, and the closing reception will be Friday, August 30. Jon Burns is an artist and musician living and working in the Quad Cities IA/IL region. He has shown art at several galleries around the Q.C. including The Artery, Bucktown, Rozz Tox, Midcoast Gallery West, Peanut Gallery, Mode Art Gallery,... Read More

It’s summer, and there are plenty of smiling faces around the Quad-Cities now that the weather is gorgeous and the floods have subsided! We here at QuadCities.com, in conjunction with our partners at KWQC-TV6’s “Paula Sands Live,” are always looking for positive news around the area to present in our monthly feature, What’s The Good News? So, what’s the good news for this month? Glad you asked!   Get More Rewards For Reading This Summer! Reading is a reward in and of itself, a generous gift to the imagination, but Rock Island Public Library is making it so that in addition to that... Read More

The Showcase is Back! This is a show for the entire family! If you love Hip Hop Music, Dance and Spoken Word, then this event is for you! Check out the Re-FL3X Showcase 2019, this Saturday Jun 29 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Davenport Junior Theatre (2822 Eastern Avenue Davenport). Bring the kids to this family friendly event presented by Re-FL3X Hip Hop. Re-FL3X Students will be performing pieces from class. Special Guests will also be attendance, that will make this night so much better! Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Purchase your tickets today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/re-fl3x-showcase-2019-tickets-63094373971. For... Read More

The Rock Island Artists’ Market begins its fourth season this Sunday, June 9. The family-friendly market will take place from 12-4 pm in the parking lot of Skeleton Key Art and Antiques at 520 18th Street, Rock Island, and will repeat on the second Sunday of each month through October. Admission to the market is free. Shoppers can expect to find a variety of art, local produce, handcrafted goods and more, all sold by the artists, creators and growers. The first market will feature food and drinks by Kavanaugh’s Hilltop Bar and Grill, coffee creations by Cool Beanz, popcorn by G’s Popcorn,... Read More