16 Public Sculptures Will Be Popping Up in the Quad Cities

Tim Adams, "Window Dressing" at 1705 18th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201

Pete Segar, "The Majestic Honker" at 2021 State Street, Bettendorf, IA

​Quad City Arts has facilitated the leasing and installation of public sculptures in the Quad Cities since 2002. The City of Rock Island has participated in the program, yearly, since 2007 and Bettendorf, since 2008. Seven sculptures have become part of Rock Island’s permanent collection, while Bettendorf has added six. Davenport purchased nine sculptures in the early years of the program. Sculptures are chosen by appointed committees and leased for one year. All the sculptures are for sale and can be purchased by individuals, businesses, or a city for permanent installation after June of the following year. All sculptures currently on exhibit, along with permanent sculptures will be able to be viewed on Quad City Arts’ website www.quadcityarts.com/public-sculpture as well as the websites of the sponsors. All participating sculptors live in the midwest region.
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Terry Karpowicz, "Mercury" at 15th Street & Great River Trail, Moline, IL 61265

Tim Adams, "The Nature of Healing" at 203 West 2nd Street, Davenport, IA

​The most exciting part of the process is watching a Hampton Crane operator use their boom to lift a sculpture from an artist’s vehicle, hoist it high in the air, and skillfully bring it down gently onto a concrete pad, as directed by the artist who created it. The artist will then drill holes into the concrete and secure the sculpture. (Hampton Cranes generously donates their services).

If the press would like to watch and interview artists, the best opportunity is Tuesday, June 8th beginning at 11:15 am in front of the Figge Art Museum. Nicole Beck will install a stainless steel, mosaic, and stained-glass sculpture with solar lighting that was inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. A crane will then move down the street, just past the Redstone Building to install a stainless-steel sculpture suggestive of feathers or leaves twisting and reaching toward the sky, by Michael Young. Next, a 15’ tall, red steel sculpture called “Wending” created by Ted Sitting Crow Gardner, will be installed in front of the parking garage at 2nd, between Ripley and Harrison. All three artists are from Chicago. As part of the Downtown Davenport Partnership’s plan to make downtown Davenport more walkable, the new sculptures provide opportunities to slow down and look at the art. Selfies are encouraged and visitors can tag #QuadCityArts to tag us on Instagram, or @QuadCityArts to tag us on Facebook.  
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Steven Maeck, "Wheels of Fire" at 1300 17th Street, Rock Island, IL

Tim Adams, "Coral" at 2204 Grant Street, Bettendorf, IA

​Over the next two weeks, Quad City Arts is facilitating the replacement of five public sculptures in Bettendorf, sponsored by the City of Bettendorf; four in Moline, sponsored by Moline Center; and three in Rock Island, sponsored by the City of Rock Island. Four new sculptures will be added along 2nd Ave. in Davenport, sponsored by The Downtown Davenport Partnership.

Rock Island has purchased two previously rented sculptures for their permanent collection: “Moon Shadow” by Peter Gray of Chicago will be moved from Five Points to Weber Park and “Growing Up” by Ben Pierce of Cape Girardeau, MO will remain in front of the Centennial Bridge Visitor’s Center. Geneseo Public Library has purchased “Just Visiting” by Donald Horstman, of Fenton, MO to remain in the library entrance area.

Complete list of sculptures with installation location:

Moline:

1.  “High and Dry” by Kyle Fokken (Minneapolis, MN). Bass Street Landing. 1601 River Drive
2. “Gears of Change” by Hilde DeBruyne (Cumming, IA). Mercado on 5th, 421 12th Street
3. “Mercury” by Terry Karpowicz (Chicago) 15th Street & Great River Front Trail (behind the Radisson Parking lot)
4. “Beginnings” by Ben Pierce (Cape Girardeau, MO), Kone Building, 1 Montgomery Drive

Rock Island:

1. “Window Dressing” by Tim Adams (Webster City, IA). Five Points. 18th Ave. and 17th Street
2. “Expand and Grow” by Micki LeMieux (Chicago). Southwest Branch Library: 9010 Ridgewood Rd.
3. “Wheels on Fire” by Steven Maeck (Burr Oak, IA). Longview Park. 1300 17th Street

Bettendorf:

1. “Ora’s Shelf” by Mike Baur (West Chicago). Veteran’s Memorial Park
2. “Mod Pod” by Gail Katz-James (Minneapolis, MN). Faye’s Field. 2850 Learning Campus Dr.
3. “Majestic Honker” by Pete Segar. Waterfront Convention Center
4. “Sweet Dreams Fly Away” by Paul Bobrowitz (Colgate, WI). Build to Suit (River’s Edge Business Park) 1805 State St.
5. “Coral” by Tim Adams (Webster City, IA). Community Center. 2204 Grant Street
6. “Flame of Remembrance” by Peter Gray (Chicago). Ascentra Credit Union. 2019 Grant Street (Re-leasing for second year)

Davenport (The Downtown Davenport Partnership.)

1. “Wending” by Ted Sitting Crow Garner (Chicago). Parking Ramp on W. 2nd Street.
2. “The Nature of Healing” by Tim Adams (Webster City, IA). Outside Current Hotel. 2nd & Main.
3. “Twist” by Michael Young (Chicago). 126 Main St., in front of the RME Courtyard
4.  “King of Prairie Town” by Nicole Beck (Chicago). Figge Art Museum, 225 W. Second St.
   
   

Micki LeMieux, "Expands and Go" at 9010 Ridgewood Road, Rock Island, IL