A RECORD BREAKING YEAR FOR THE PUBLIC SCULPTURE PROGRAM

Quad City Arts has facilitated the leasing and installation of public sculptures in the Quad Cities since 2002. This year, we are facilitating the installation of a record number of 22 sculptures. Sculptures are chosen by committees representing each city or venue and are leased for one year from sculptors living in the Midwest. 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 newly installed sculptures, along with permanent sculptures purchased from past exhibits, can be viewed on Quad City Arts’ website www.quadcityarts.com/public-sculpture, with a map and driving directions.

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).

Selfies are encouraged and visitors can tag #QuadCityArts on Instagram, or @QuadCityArts to tag us on Facebook.  

View the map and driving directions

​Below is a little insight into what the sculptures are about from the artists who created them:
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Newly retired Tim Adams has five sculptures in this year's program. His piece "Concentric" can be found at the Downtown Rock Island Public Library. Speaking on this piece, Adams states "The viewer should be able to feel a connection based on their own personal experiences. I attempt to achieve this connection with my audience by utilizing universal visual details."

In Bettendorf, Adams has two sculptures.
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Located at the Bettendorf Community Center is "Set Sail", which "​is a nod to beginning a voyage or embarking on a journey.  The whimsical green 'sails' help to catch the wind and begin the movement, while the lilac and raspberry colored 'tails' help with stability and moving in the right direction. "

Northern Prairie Oats can be found at the Waterfront Convention Center. It is inspired by a plant of the same name. "They make an impact quietly in the midst of other plants competing for the sun.  Like many of us, they do not require the spotlight or in this case the sun, to thrive."

At Bass Street Landing in Moline, is Adams' piece "Prairie Tussocks". "The beauty of the seed head is even more impressive when you consider it’s been the food source that allowed the evolution of man!" says Adams.

In downtown Davenport, Tim Adam's final piece "Hoopla" is installed at the River Center. "​Hoopla reminds us not to let the irritations of the day get us down. It can feel at times we are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, and other days we are ready to take on the world! Remember to strike a balance and find joy in every day."

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"High Steppin'" by Andrew Arvanetes is installed at Five Points in Rock Island on 18th Avenue. This sculpture is one that "celebrates the lighter side of life. The name comes from the composition of shapes that, if we think of the overall piece as figurative, imply motion in an exaggerated gait."

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Installed at Build to Suit in Bettendorf is Dale Compton's "What the Future Holds".  Compton says, "With so much going on in our world today people may be too focused on changing the past or worrying about the future...So as this girl tries to look into the ball to see what the future holds, she should just enjoy the moment and leave the future up to wherever life leads her.​

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Belgium born Hilde DeBruyne has two sculptures in this year's program.

​"Bloom" is on the Figge Plaza in Davenport. Inspired by flowers, "Bloom is a contemporary, organic sculpture in metal. It is part of the 'Botanical Series' the artist started exploring during Covid."

"Metamorphosis in Blue and Yellow" on the Great River Trail next to the Kone building is "a contemporary sculpture in metal, depicting the growth, change and struggle the butterfly goes through. It is a metaphor for our own lives where periods of pain, difficulty and loss can be followed by joyful moments and inner growth.

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Near the 3rd Street parking garage in Davenport is Ted Sitting Crow Garner's sculpture "Snapback", which is a "​three-dimensional allusion to recovering from a set-back; rising back up from the ashes if you will."
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Garner is a​s an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Indian tribe, of Sihasapa and Minneconjou band affiliation.

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Gail Katz-James of Minnesota has two sculptures in this year's program.

Treasure Tower, located in Faye's Field by the Family Museum in Bettendorf, is an interactive sculpture. "Visitors are invited to open the small doors and touch the items inside."

"Mod  Pod is inspired by a vintage toy space capsule crossed with a straw dispenser and retro spinning top. Each level of the sculpture contains different suspended objects to discover. Give each section a gentle spin and peek inside to see the movement of the tiny treasures inside and imagine your own liftoff!" This sculpture can be found at Mercado on Fifth.

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Rock Island's Southwest Library is now home to Matt Miller's Tricky Situation.  Of his own sculpture, Miller says,  "To figure out which side of the grass is truly greener; one must first grasp what green really is...".

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Anna Modeland, who is new to the program, has two sculptures installed around the Quad Cities. "Ever since [her father] taught her to weld, she has never stopped creating sculptures."
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Next to the pond at Geifman First Equity, "The Catch" is "a reminder that[...]we can all still stand tall, spread our wings, and choose to rebuild this place that we call home. "

Modeland's piece "Time" is inspired by the 1973 Pink Floyd hit of the same name. It is located on the river walk in Moline near 15th Street. "Time has a way of teaching you that any sound can be music if we stop just hearing it and actually listen."

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Ben Pierce has two pieces in this year's program, both located in Davenport.

On the corner of 2nd and Main is "Propensity". "I create using a minimalist approach. I enjoy the challenge of using less- this forces me to focus on form and craftsmanship. I also enjoy leaving space for the viewer to think about or guess what the sculpture means to them," Pierce says.

UNsure if this Peace is Abstract" is in the Courtyard near Common chord. "This sculpture is tongue-n-cheek. Unintentionally it looks like a peace sign. But [Pierce] embraced this with a humorous nod to this fact in the title. And couldn't the world use more: art, humor, and peace?

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V. Skip Willits has two pieces in this year's program.

​Of his work Willits says, "I like to use recycled steel whenever possible. Not just for the planet but also for the history of the objects that I'm using in making my art. There's an entire hidden story there. "

"Red" is at Veteran's Memorial Park in Bettendorf.
"Hands" has yet to be installed but will be located at a new sculpture location: The DeWitt Community library.

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Michael Young has two pieces in this year's program.

Both of his pieces use bird imagery. Young says, "When designing sculpture, I always remember that each viewer will have an individual, emotional response to the piece. Because I want that response to be positive, I frequently use birds in my work – both as imagery and as symbol. The idea of birds swooping up and taking flight is incredibly uplifting, lending an inspirational feel to the sculpture. "

"Twist" can be located at Geifman First Equity on Bettendorf.
"Thinking about Flight" is at the DeWitt Community Library.
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Last but not least, Moline sculptor David Zahn installed his piece "Grace" in Rock Island's Longview Park. "Creating art has always been part of my life," Zahn says. "The human form is often the center of my work, and the abstract elements of art are just as important to me as any subject matter I may be portraying. I strive to make pieces that have a timeless quality, contain strong aesthetics, and are a mystery for the viewer."

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All sculptures currently on exhibit, along with permanent sculptures, view them on our website at www.quadcityarts.com/public-sculpture. Take advantage of the public sculpture map and driving directions!