ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL
​ART INVITATIONAL

Engaging the next generation of creatives ​in the Quad Cities

SUPPORTING HIGH SCHOOL ARTISTS AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR ART EDUCATION AND COMPETE FOR OVER $10,000 DOLLARS IN AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDED BY EXHIBIT SPONSORS

ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL ART INVITATIONAL

Each spring, Quad City Arts displays artwork from top high school artists and their art teachers. High school art instructors in the greater Quad City region are invited to choose works by their top five students in any category, plus additional works in the categories of film, paper sculpture, and recycled materials. The exhibit fills the walls of Quad City Arts’ downtown Rock Island gallery, the opening ceremony is attended by hundreds of Quad Citians supporting young artistic talent, and students receive thousands of dollars in awards from exhibition sponsors.

The public is welcome to visit the gallery in person Monday-Friday from 10-5, Saturdays from 11-5 beginning March 28th. An awards ceremony will take place April 3rd from 6:30-8PM. Everyone is welcome to vote in person for their favorite high school artist in the People's Choice contest at our Rock Island gallery.
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For many students, this will be the first time they receive formal recognition for their creative talents. This can inspire them to pursue careers in the arts and find out how their talents can be applied. In addition to the opportunity to show their work publicly, this exhibition is important to show students the process of competing for gallery shows. As professional artists know, getting into exhibitions can be discouraging, but there is value in seeing which pieces were selected.
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This exhibition is important for the public because it shows the incredible creativity of our young people and our future workforce. Creative people have the ability to problem-solve which is a trait sought after by numerous professions.​

THE 47TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL ART INVITATIONAL

March 22 - April 25, 2024

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In a jam-packed gallery on Thursday, March 28th, Quad City Arts announced the winners of the 47th Annual High School Art Invitational and presented $10,600 in cash prizes to area high school students and teachers for excellence in fine art.  This exhibition is made possible by the William Butterworth Foundation (the major sponsor of the event), The Empeople Credit Union, The Morency Family Giving Fund, and additional sponsors noted for individual awards.

Thank you for being a part of the Annual High School Invitational,
​we are proud to have so many creative teachers and students in our community!​

Scholarship Awards

Sutton Barnes
"Through His Eyes"
Morency Family Giving Fund Senior Scholarship

Hannah Shulze
"April Showers"
Empeople & Quad City Arts' Board Member Scholarship

Best in Show

Shea Gende
"Tragically Beautiful"
Best in Show

Rock Island Art Guild Awards

Sean Chen
"Self-Portrait"
Rock Island Art Guild Award for Digital Drawing

Sunny Roberts
"Milky Way at 4am in Rural Illinois"
Rock Island Art Guild Award for Photography

Alexander VandeWalle
"Eyes"
Juror's Choice ​

Nadia Meeks
"The Fortune Teller Remake"
Rock Island Art Guild Award for Painting

Delaney Carroll
"Woman"
Outstanding Student

Zoe Chen
"Iris"
Juror's Choice

Myah Frazier
"Flowing"
Rock Island Art Guild Award for Ceramic

Isaac DeHaven
"Looking Back"
Juror's Choice

Ella Strader
"The Burden of Atlas"
Juror's Choice

Keith Bonnstetter Memorial Awards

Delaney Ray
"Leopard Shark"
Keith Bonnstetter Memorial Award for Creative Use of Paper as a Medium

Emma Holmes
"Out of Place"
Keith Bonnstetter Award for Creative Use of Paper

Joel & Diane Franken Award

Nayeli Lopez
"Fantasy"
Joel & Diane Franken Award for Most Original Concept

W.C. Griffith Memorial Awards for Humor in Art

Maisy Woods
"The Basics and Sentimentality"
1st Place
W. C. Griffith Award for Humor in Art

Carys Ricklefs
"Bump in the Night"
2nd Place
W. C. Griffith Award for Humor in Art

Bryce Puglisi
"Grasshopper"
3rd Place
W. C. Griffith Award for Humor in Art

Zoe Beck
"Drowning in Silence: Fragmented Memories"
Honorable Mention
W.C. Griffith Award for Humor in Art​

Hannah McVey
"Turtle Enclosure"
Honorable Mention
W. C. Griffith Award for Humor in Art

Steve Pray Awards

Mailli Davis
"Ode to Billie Joe"
Steve Pray Award for Imagination & Technique

Hal Hancks
"Factory"
Steve Pray Award for Imagination & Technique

Cutting Edge Award

Maggie Wanek
"Maggie Half Found"
Cutting Edge Award for Originality

Carlo Centore Award

Aiden Loy
"Cosmic Gaze"
Carlo Centore Award for Mastery of Technique

Ralph Iaccarino Awards

Nadia Meeks
"Factory"
Ralph Iaccarino Award for Mastery of Technique

Natasha Henning
"The Great Pomagranate"
Ralph Iaccarino Award for The Natural World

Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate Winners

DJ Baker
"Who Else But Me"
Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate

Tatum Miller
"Self-Portrait"
Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate

Emilia Surma
"Untitled"
Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate

Willa Halfhill
"Still Life"
Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate

Kaitlyn Miller
"Creation of Chaos"
Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate

Tien Tran
"Cards"
Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate

Nathan Kampe
"Til Our Last Fiddle"
Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate

Cassie Paget
"Bear-Bear's Embrace"
Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate

Alexander VandeWalle
"Eyes"
Figge Creative Arts Academy Class Certificate

Don Heggan Memorial Award

Summer Shoesmith
"Untitled"
Don Heggen Memorial Award for Outstanding Watercolor

Elaine & Larry Sneath Award

Sherry Tang
"Little Miss Perfect"
Elaine & Larry Sneath Award for Thinking Outside the Box

Mark & David Burlingame Memorial Award

Tatum Miller
"Self-Portrait"
Mark & David Burlingame Memorial Award for Excellence in Drawing

Living Lands & Waters Recycled Materials Awards

Nayeli Lopez
"Fantasy"
Living Lands & Waters Award for Best Use of Recycled Materials

TayLinn Bratton
"The Will..."
Living Lands & Waters Award for 2nd Best Use of Recycled Materials

​Helen Doehler Memorial award

Mya Griffin
"A Depiction of Microscopic Pollen"
Helen Doehler Memorial Award for Artistic Excellence

award for Excellence in Photography

Sidney Shaffer
"Mars is Falling"
Award for Excellence in Photography

Award for the Love of Dogs & Books

Rayla Parkinson
"My Refuge"
Award for the Love of Dogs and Books

​Zimmerman Honda Awards

Zoe Chen
"Iris"
Zimmerman Honda Award for Mastery of Technique

Alexander VandeWalle
"Eyes"
Zimmerman Honda Award for Mastery of Technique

Quad City Arts Staff Picks

Justice Harell
"Owl"
Quad City Arts Staff Pick

Addison Bomelyn
"Flavors of the Week"
Quad City Arts Staff Pick

Naomi Fiscus
"Cornucopia"
Quad City Arts Staff Pick

Charlie Hepner
"OI"
Quad City Arts Staff Pick

Film Awards

Brenna France
"Fragile Things"
1st Place Film

Fox Dobbins
"Red Light"
2nd Place Film

Teacher Awards​

Lisa Stisser
"Patron Saint of Invisible Work"
Teacher Award First Place

Juan Rangel
"My Eyes"
Teacher Award Second Place

Andrew Gray
"March 1st"
Teacher Award Third Place

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.

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​Calls for Entry