The Quad City Arts Public Sculpture Program prepares for it's largest year of installations, reflecting our commitment to fostering cultural engagement and enhancing the urban environment.

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 34 sculptures. Sculptures are chosen by committees representing each city or venue and are leased for one year from sculptors living throughout the country. All the sculptures are for sale and can be purchased by individuals, businesses, or a city for permanent installation after June of 2026. All newly installed sculptures, along with permanent sculptures purchased from past exhibits, can be viewed on Quad City Arts’ website as well as the websites of the sponsors after the installation of new sculptures.

The most exciting part of the process is watching a Hampton Cranes 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.) 

Due to the large number of sculptures rotating, the process began in May and will continue through June 26, with most installations occurring between June 3-13th. If the press would like to watch an installation and interview a sculptor, please contact Dawn Wohlford-Metallo @ 309-793-1213 X108. (The only day installations will utilize Hampton Cranes is June 3rd.)

Rock Island will lease 4 sculptures to enhance two parks and two libraries. The Moline Public Art Commission has chosen 5 sculptures that will be placed along 5th Ave. in Moline, plus one for the site near the Kone Building. Bettendorf will be renting 10 sculptures to draw attention to local businesses, including 3 for the Geifman First Equity business park and two new locations: one near the base of the I-74 bridge multi-use path, and the other at Be the Light Park. (1104 State St.) The Downtown Davenport Partnership has chosen 5 sculptures to bring new interest to their collection of 10 permanent sculptures along 2nd Street between Western Ave. and Pershing. New this year is the addition of a sculpture in front of the downtown Davenport Library. The DeWitt Fine Arts Foundation and the DeWitt Community Library are partnering to bring sculpture to the garden area outside the library featuring 2 sculptures this year. The City of Clinton joined the program last year with the selection of 6 sculptures. With positive feedback from the public, Clinton has purchased a bronze sculpture by James Haire for their public library and will be leasing 6 new sculptures to be placed near the riverfront.

We encourage everyone to share their experiences and interactions with the sculptures on social media using #QuadCityArts on Instagram or by tagging @QuadCityArts on Facebook. 
​

​Complete list of sculptures with installation location:

​Rock Island (Rock Island Public Art Commission)

1. Listen by Chris Wubbena (Jackson, MO). Five Points. 18th Ave. and 17th Street
2. Bloom by Hilde DeBruyne (Winterset, IA). Southwest Branch Library: 9010 Ridgewood Rd.
3. Learning to Fly by Frederick Napoli (Lake Zurich, IL). Longview Park. 1300 17th Street
4. Text Pods by V. Skip Willits (Comanche, IA). Downtown Public Library, 401 19th St.

Moline (Moline Public Art Commission)

1. Prioritizing by Matt Miller (Cape Girardeau, MO), Kone Building, 1 Montgomery Drive
2. Sum Pig by Kyle Fokken (Minneapolis, MN) 14th St. and 5th Ave.
3. Athena by Sam Spiczka (Apex, N.C.) 1605 5th Ave.
4. Magnify by Kirk Seese (Lutherville, MD). 1801 5th Ave.
5. Cohesive Narration by Kristin Garnant (Camanche, IA) Heritage Place Plaza
6. Angles, Shadows, Reaching by Bill McGrath (Batavia, IL) 504 17th St.

​Bettendorf (The City of Bettendorf and the Downtown Bettendorf Organization)

1. Icosahedron by Kirk Seese (Lutherville, MD). Veteran’s Memorial Park entrance
2. Farmhouse Toadstool Town by Anna Modeland (Somers, IA). Faye’s Field. 2850 Learning Campus Dr.
3. Miscanthus by Tim Adams (Webster City, IA). Waterfront Convention Center
4. “Reflective” by Tim Adams (Webster City, IA). Build to Suit (River’s Edge Business Park) 1805 State St.
5. Dendrite by Sam Spiczka (Apex, N.C.) Community Center lawn. 2204 Grant Street
6. Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear by Chris Plaisted (New Milford, CT) Base of the I-74 bridge multi-use path, 1308 State St.
7. Starburst by Tim Adams (Webster City, IA) Be the Light Park (1104 State St./Scuba Adventures)
8. The Catch by Anna Modeland (Somers, IA). Geifman First Equity, 2172 56th Ave. W. (leased for the 3rd year)
9. Twist by Michael Young (Chicago). Geifman First Equity, 2172 56th Ave. W. (leased for the 3rd year)
10. Bench, Please by Ben Pierce (Cape Girardeau, MO) Geifman First Equity, 2172 56th Ave. W. (leased for the 2ndyear)

Davenport (The Downtown Davenport Partnership & Public Library)

1. Focal Point by Paul Bobrowitz (Colgate, WI). Parking Ramp on W. 2nd Street.
2. Tree by Sunghee Min (Saint Paul, MN). Current Hotel, entrance. 2nd & Main.
3. Dance Diagram Kristin Garnant (Camanche, IA). 126 Main St., Common Cord Courtyard
4. Ascending Perspectives by Craig Snyder (Plymouth, MN), Figge Art Museum Plaza, 225 W. Second St.
5. Fowl Play by Tim Adams (Webster City, IA), RiverCenter, east entrance, 2nd St.
6. Multi-Purpose Assist Droid, (M.P.A.D.) by Kirk Seese (Lutherville, MD). South side of RiverCenter, (across the street from Major Art & Hobby, 201 E. 2nd St.)
7. The Wind in the Waves by Chris Plaisted (New Milford, CT) Public Library, 321 N. Main St.

City of Clinton

1. Collaborative Community by Paul Bobrowitz, (Colgate, WI). Riverview Drive
2. Flight by Hilde DeBruyne (Winterset, IA). across from RV campground and marina parking lot on river front
3. Tree Branches by Kirk Seese (Lutherville, MD). Riverview Drive
4. The Feather by Kirk Seese (Lutherville, MD). Riverview Drive
5. Skudelev #37 by Chris Plaisted (New Milford, CT) Riverview Drive
6. A Book for Everyone by James Haire (Ft. Collins, CO) 306 8th Ave. S. (Public Library)

​DeWitt Community Library (DeWitt Fine Arts Foundation)

1. Agua Dorada by Peter Gray (Chicago, IL)
2. Drip-Drop by Peter Gray (Chicago, IL)

​

Be Part of the Art — Chalk Art Fest is Back!
May 31–June 1 | Schwiebert Riverfront Park, Rock Island, IL
🎨 FREE Admission | Live Art | Family Fun | $2,000+ in Prizes!

Quad City Arts’ 9th Annual Chalk Art Fest returns May 31–June 1, transforming downtown Rock Island into a vibrant, temporary art gallery. Watch incredible chalk masterpieces come to life on the pavement, enjoy live music, food trucks, and activities for all ages—and even get creative yourself!

Inspiring and engaging for people of all ages, this free, two-day sidewalk chalking festival brings together hundreds of local and regional artists that spend hours transforming blank pavement into a museum of chalk art, while competing for cash prizes. The festival starts at 10 a.m. on both days and goes until 7 pm on Saturday and 5 pm on Sunday. Visitors strolling by can see the wonderful works of art as they come to life, vote for their favorite, and even do some chalk art of their own by taking part in the collaborative community piece. 

A full line-up of live music, food trucks, concessions, craft brews, face painting, a bounce house, the Kaleidoscope Bus, and a kid’s chalk zone are all part of the festivities. In addition, on Saturday, May 31, people will be able to participate in Art for the Spirit’s ‘Have a Heart for Kidneys’ community art project, and the Rock Island Public Library’s Library2Go will be on site from 10am-2pm. Over $2000 in prizes will be awarded including a People’s Choice award, and youth category awards for ages 12-17. The artworks are temporary, lasting only until the next rainfall, so you’ll want to catch a glimpse before they are gone!  

Festival Hours:
Saturday, May 31: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 1: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Awards announced at 4:30 p.m. Sunday

Bring the Whole Family – Free fun all weekend!
- Chalk artists in action
- Food trucks & craft brews
- Bounce house & face painting
- Kid’s Chalk Zone
- Kaleidoscope Bus
- Live music all day (View the full lineup)
- Community chalk piece (you can help fill it in)
- Rock Island Library’s Library2Go and Art for the Spirit's Have a Heart for Kidneys project on Saturday

The art is temporary—catch it before it washes away!
Get all the details on our website: quadcityarts.com/chalk-art-fest

We can't wait to see you at Chalk Art Fest! Share with friends and RSVP on Facebook!
​

​The Arts Are Essential — To Our Culture, Our Communities, and Our Economy
Quad City Arts receives annual support from the National Endowment for the Arts ($36,000 on average) which helps fuel programs that reach over 436,000 each year—through public art, school residencies, cultural festivals, and more. These funds don’t just support creativity—they drive real impact.

Now, that impact is under threat.

The proposed elimination of the NEA would dismantle programs that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and ensure the arts are accessible to everyone—regardless of income or zip code. In 2022 alone, the nonprofit arts and culture sector in the Quad Cities generated over $29 million in economic activity, supported 712 local jobs, and returned more than $6 million in government revenue. NEA grants deliver a 9-to-1 return in private and local funding. That’s not waste—it’s one of the smartest investments we can make.

With NEA support, Quad City Arts empowers artists, activates public spaces, and builds bridges across communities. These are the very outcomes that make our region thrive.

We can’t afford to lose this momentum.

Call your representatives. Share your story. Make your voice heard.

Creativity isn’t expendable—it’s essential. For our economy. For our identity. For our future.
Let’s stand up for what we’ve built—and keep the arts thriving in the Quad Cities for generations to come.

Use these resources to help spread the message:
Americans for the Arts: Protect the NEA
Americans for the Arts: Letter template for contacting representatives (Download)
Iowa Cultural Coalition: Advocacy Resources
NEA Grant Termination Tracker

Thank you for your continued support,