Quad City Arts
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Rock island gallery

Featuring exhibitions by regional Midwest artists 

Gallery Opening Reception
THursday, August 18, 2022  |  6 - 8 pm  |  FREE Admission | Beverages will be Served
​1715 2ND AVE, ROCK ISLAND, IL

Make plans to visit our Rock Island on Thursday, August 18 between 6-8 pm to meet two up-and-coming artists.
​
See: mixed media portrait paintings by Jennifer Bates and color field paintings by John Nelson. 
ROCK ISLAND GALLERY

Jennifer Lynn Bates & John Nelson

August 18-October 7, 2022
From August 18-October 7, 2022, Quad City Arts presents mixed media portrait paintings by Jennifer Bates and color field painting by John Nelson. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on August 18th from 6-8 pm where the artists will be present, and refreshments will be served.


Jennifer Lynn Bates
Bates, of Cedar Falls, is an Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at Hawkeye Community College with an MFA in Painting from Pratt Institute. Her series of work investigates infamy, the ripple effects of power, human rights issues, and dreams of the (seemingly) common person. The mixed media paintings contrast the faces of current or recent absolute rulers of countries around the world with the faces of immigrants, refugees, international students, and asylum seekers now residing in the Cedar Valley. “The Dictator is infamous. Dreamers are often anonymous. Now, they hold equal attention,” says Bates. The compositions use both the figure and background to both harmonize and contrast this dichotomy.


John Nelson,
Nelson, of Quincy, is a color field painter with a graduate degree from Northern Illinois University. His work explores the personal act of seeing in relation to an abstract field of color. Each artwork is the interplay between two panels joined together and created side by side where whatever is done to the right panel is then done to the left in a separate but pleasing proportion. “I want to create overall fields of color that have small variations within them,” says Nelson. He achieves this through the use of impressionist and dot mark making techniques to create his overall compositions.

BROWSE & SHOP THE GALLERY

We offer curbside pick-up or shipping (Shipping starts at $40, call for a shipping estimate).
​For more information contact Visual Arts Director Dawn Wohlford-Metallo.

Jennifer Bates Laura

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John Nelson Hermes

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Jennifer Bates Kim Jong-Il

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Jennifer Bates Kim Jong-Un

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John Nelson Midnight

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John Nelson Lightning

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Jennifer Bates Islam Karimov

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John Nelson Hummer

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Jennifer Bates Aleksandr Lukashenko

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Jennifer Bates Omar al-Bashir

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John Nelson Scent

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Jennifer Bates Haihang

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Jennifer Bates King Mswati III

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John Nelson Foam

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Jennifer Bates King Abdullah

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Jennifer Bates Margaret

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Jennifer Bates José

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Jennifer Bates Doug

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John Nelson Butterfly

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Jennifer Bates Leydi

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Jennifer Bates Umaru

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Jennifer Bates Isaias Afewerki

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Jennifer Bates Joshua

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John Nelson Pathfinder

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Jennifer Bates Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

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John Nelson Cathedral

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Jennifer Bates Khadga

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Jennifer Bates Raül Castro

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John Nelson Secret

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Jennifer Bates Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

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Rock Island Gallery

The Quad City Arts Gallery is home to an exhibition space located on the first floor. The building, which was once a turn-of-the-century department store, features hardwood floors, and a  fourteen foot-high ceiling. The exhibition space is more than 1,500 sq. ft., a perfect space to showcase large paintings, sculptures and enjoy an occasional performance. 
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Address

1715 Second Avenue
Rock Island, IL 61201
Get Directions

Hours

Mon–Fri: 10am–5pm
Sat: 11am–5pm
Closed Sundays
FREE ENTRY

Artist CALL For Entries 

View our latest call for entries and submit your work! Quad City Arts provides a multitude of locations to display and exhibit artwork. Join countless of artists that have exhibited in our galleries in our 50 year history. Most call for entries at Quad City Arts are free and open to midwest artists.
View all
​Calls for Entry

Interested in buying artwork? Don't hesitate to reach out for more details. For artists interested in participating in a gallery show, or selling artwork please contact us.

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DAWN
​WOHLFORD-METALLO

Visual Arts Director
309.793.1213 ext. 108
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​Rock Island Gallery
​& Store Hours

Mon–Fri: 10a–5p
Sat: 11a–5p
Closed Sundays

CONTACT

Phone: 309.793.1213
Fax: 309.793.1265
info@quadcityarts.com
1715 2nd Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201

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Quad City Arts is dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts. The organization’s dual role of presenting the arts and humanities, as well as serving as an arts resource, allows us to serve more than 350,000 people annually in the Arts Center in Rock Island and at over 200 rural and urban community sites.​

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  • About
  • Programs
    • Art Services
    • Visiting Artist Series
    • Public Sculpture Program
    • Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program
    • Arts Dollars Grant Program
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Annual High School Art Invitational
    • Chalk Art Fest
    • Riverssance Festival
    • Performing Arts Signature Series (PASS)
    • Annual Celebration & Lloyd Awards
    • Festival of Trees
  • Galleries
    • Rock Island Gallery
    • Airport Gallery
    • Second Avenue Window
    • Past Exhibits
  • Opportunities
  • Blog
  • Support
  • Artist Index