43rd Annual High School Art Invitational

There are many questions and concerns about graduation and other requirements for the Class of 2020 during this extended school closure. Seniors have spent their high school years preparing for their senior year. Many of them have been anticipating this year since elementary school. The Class of 2020 has brought a new experience in learning and preparation for their generation. Seniors are looking at the world around them, analyzing and coming up with creative solutions to problems like never before. It is safe to say, this year's senior class will be known for the most adaptable generation we know. With that in mind, we dedicate our first virtual gallery show to them. Hats off to an incredible generation of creatives!

​The 43rd Annual High School Art Invitational would not have been possible without the incredible commitment from the instructors in our area. In a normal year, it is a lot of work to select artwork from students and deliver it to the gallery ready to be hung. This year, we had to change how the show would function four times, ultimately adapting to a digital gallery. These instructors worked with us at every turn. It highlights their incredible passion for their students. Thank you for all that you do. 

The art instructors in our region were invited to choose works by their top five students, plus one film project and one using recycled materials. This year, we have submissions from 12 schools, 97 students, and 13 teachers. Today we have the privilege of presenting over $5000 in awards to art students who have worked hard to develop their techniques while at the same time expressing their unique voice. This ability is important because businesses list creativity as a top three trait for new hires. The students and teachers represented here have much to offer the world and we would like to share it with you.


These awards come from 24 different sponsors and are chosen by twelve artists in our community. We begin by recognizing all the great instructors who dedicate their careers to nurturing young artists. This exhibit gives them a chance to display their own talents.

Instructor Awards:
First Place Teacher Award: Lisa Stisser from Kewanee High School
Second Place Teacher Award: Holly Secker-Brosman from Assumption High School
Third Place Teacher Award: Pat Bereskin from Bereskin Gallery & Art Academy

Rock Island Fine Art Guild Awards:
1. Maggie Borota from Central DeWitt
2. Laila Haley from Sherrard HS
3. Ethan Kopplin from Rock Island HS
4. Daityn Duffy from Moline HS

The Left Bank Art League Awards:
1. Lauryn Ginter from Central Dewitt HS
2. Jacqualyn Richardson from Mercer County HS
3. Schroeder from Davenport Central/Creative Art Academy

Working Artist Awards:
1. Excellence in Clay Award goes to Kyle Knedler from Pleasant Valley High School
2. Cutting Edge Award goes to Laylon Baucom from Pleasant Valley High School
3. Deborah Doehler Studio Award goes to Kade Green from Pleasant Valley High School
4. Excellence in Photography goes to Cameron White from Davenport West High School
5. The Creativity Award goes to LaDella Gallagher from Davenport Central High School / Creative Arts Academy
6. The Award for Whimsey goes to Xu Yeuming from Assumption High School
7. Don Heggen Memorial Award for painting goes to Kailyn Scott from Kewanee High School
8. The Essence of Water Award goes to Noah Eis from Davenport West High School
9. The Life at Night Award goes to Nick Hendley from Davenport West High School
10. “The Natural World Award” goes to Daityn Duffy from Moline High School
11. “The Imagination Award” goes to Austin Hall from Kewanee High School

Hilltop Campus Village Award:
Aenish Porte from Central High School

Our friends at Living Lands & Waters sponsor an award each year for the student who can make the most interesting creation out of recycled materials: Laylon Baucom from Pleasant Valley HS

Dphilms is a full-service video production & photography boutique just down the street from Quad City Arts. Their crew reviewed the student film submissions and awarded: Lucas Teasdale from Bereskin Gallery & Art Academy. In addition to prize money, Lucas will receive a guided tour of Dpilms’ studio.

Juror’s Choice Awards for Exemplary Work:
1. Olivia Hucke from Mercer County High School
2. Thomas Johnson from Bereskin Gallery & Art Academy
3. Maggie Pope from Sherrard High School
4. Emma Hubbard from Bettendorf High School
5. Abigail Butcher from Kewanee High School

Best of Show Award: Michael PK from Central DeWitt High School

Senior Scholarships:
$1500 goes to Liam Haskill from Rock Island High School 2. $1000 goes to Lydia Bloome from Bettendorf High School

Our second scholarship winner, Lydia Bloome from Bettendorf High School received the Best of Show ribbon for our Festival of Trees High School Exhibit last fall. You can see more of Lydia’s work in our storefront window on our Rock Island Gallery Location on 2nd Avenue. Festival of Trees is our largest fundraiser and the proceeds make it possible for Quad City Arts to continue making the arts accessible to everyone in our community. That includes our Visiting Artist program which brings performing artists into the local schools.

Quad City Arts’ Staff Award:
Zakiya Bolar from Bettendorf High School

This concludes our awards. Please check out all of the outstanding artwork in the Virtual Gallery. Quad City Arts where our mission is to improve the quality of life in the Quad Cities region through the arts. We work towards that mission through programs like the Visiting Artist Series, Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship, public sculpture, Chalk Art Fest, and our gallery spaces. Thank you to everyone who supports the arts!