Artist Talk
FRIDAY, MAY 21 | 7 PM – 9 PM | FREE | 1715 2ND AVE, ROCK ISLAND, IL
Beer, wine, and pre-packaged snacks will be served.
Masks will be encouraged, but not required in conjunction with the new CDC and State guidelines.
Masks will be encouraged, but not required in conjunction with the new CDC and State guidelines.
ROCK ISLAND GALLERY
Ioan Marcu & Peter Xiao
May 7 - Jun 18, 2021
MIXED MEDIA SCULPTURES
Ioan Marcu
Ioan Marcu presents a group of sculptural pieces called “Immigrants.” Some of these pieces hang on the wall and others stand freely in the gallery. Marcu feels that he speaks for immigrants through his art, since he is an immigrant from Romania. He lives by the motto that Immigrants may find it a challenge to express themselves in English, but art is a universal language. He uses real shoes in his artwork to symbolize the idea that the people have moved around the world. Marcu has woven oversized “hats” and figures from wildly colorful fibers to represent the diversity of people who have made the United States home.
Marcu explains, “Hats used to be an important part of a man’s and woman’s outfit, as it said something about them and their status in a society. Men of lower ranking used to have to bear their heads to men of higher ranking by tipping their hat. Men were also expected to tip their hats to women as a sign of respect. It is also customary to remove your hat to show respect at a funeral, inside churches, at the dinner table and for the National Anthem. Hats can tell a lot about the wearer.” Marcu’s hat shapes reference the history of hat wearing as a cultural commonality known to people in every part of the world.
Another element to note in Marcu’s work is the creation of several “ball and chains.” Marcu explained that when he was getting ready to come to America, he was full of hope and thought that everything would be easy. The reality is that there are some things that hold you back, that you carry with you-things like learning a new language while trying to be understood, and different customs and routines to learn. Through his work, Marcu hopes to bring awareness of the struggles immigrants face and to celebrate the unique cultural gifts they bring with them.
Marcu explains, “Hats used to be an important part of a man’s and woman’s outfit, as it said something about them and their status in a society. Men of lower ranking used to have to bear their heads to men of higher ranking by tipping their hat. Men were also expected to tip their hats to women as a sign of respect. It is also customary to remove your hat to show respect at a funeral, inside churches, at the dinner table and for the National Anthem. Hats can tell a lot about the wearer.” Marcu’s hat shapes reference the history of hat wearing as a cultural commonality known to people in every part of the world.
Another element to note in Marcu’s work is the creation of several “ball and chains.” Marcu explained that when he was getting ready to come to America, he was full of hope and thought that everything would be easy. The reality is that there are some things that hold you back, that you carry with you-things like learning a new language while trying to be understood, and different customs and routines to learn. Through his work, Marcu hopes to bring awareness of the struggles immigrants face and to celebrate the unique cultural gifts they bring with them.
PAINTINGS
Peter Xiao
Peter Xiao presents a mixed body of work “INundATIONs” completed through the year of the pandemic. It comments on global and national realities through art historical parody, satire, and direct observation. He has been experimenting with painting on unstretched canvas and other surfaces and has moved beyond the rectangular confinement of traditional painting by extending some of his paintings onto the floor. Other paintings lay directly on the floor, to be viewed from above.
BROWSE & SHOP THE GALLERY
We offer curbside pick-up or shipping. For more information contact Visual Arts Director Dawn Wohlford-Metallo.
Rock Island GalleryThe 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.
|
|
Artist CALL For EntriesView 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.
|
