Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting
and autumn a mosaic of them all ~ Stanley Horowitz
MidCoast Musings

2017 Harley Award presented to
Jeanne O'Melia, accepted on her behalf
by Laura Evans Mahn
Like a last kiss of summertime, the thirtieth annual Riverssance Festival of Fine Art was awash with sunshine. The sum of the festival is more than its parts. It blends the scenic location with the array of color, texture and form in displayed artwork, fine local music, children creating, and flavors from Laogmarcino's peach ice cream to Tabor Home Vineyard's Electric Raspberry wine. Over eighty artists depended on sales (and had them) to continue sharing their talents. Thank you to the community for supporting their livelihoods! In addition to our community, we welcomed a bus group of visiting fiber artists from the area of Toronto, Canada. They had the bonus of watching a riverboat paddle by and a bald eagle soar over the park.

The key energy of the event was in the assembly of 72 volunteers who helped with every facet; they all will be individually recognized in our November newsletter of thanks. For now, thank you to the Riverssance Committee and their family members who devoted their weekend and more to make sure everything culminated in a fun event: Elizabeth Avenia, Kathy Betcher, Jim Cronk, Sydney Crumbleholme, Michele & Dan Darland, Phillip Dunbridge, Jodean & Mark Meleski, Sarah Mullins, Amy & Ryan Orr, Eileen and Sienna Roethler, Jenni Swanson and Jack Wilhoit.

Young Art Angels
The 2017 Harley Award, presented to Jeanne O'Melia, was accepted on her behalf by her friend Laura Evans Mahn. The plaque reads "For her unparalleled creative spirit; the knowledge she has shared with young artists in the States and abroad; and her enduring passion for the arts."

Awards made to participating artists were to: Benjamin Ryan (Best of Show), Kristin Hill (People's Choice), Nancy Solbrig (Student's Choice), John Vandewalle, Jan Friedman, Jay Nielsen, Jay Stratton, Steve Nowatzki, Jon Offutt, Sandy James, Stuart Roddy, Rich Robertson and Albert Tanko (Awards of Merit).  We thank Peter Xiao for his jury deliberations. 

Since the sum of Riverssance is more than its parts, I can share, for this year, a shining moment for me, which was watching a little one dance in the sun to the music. The arts help reignite those liberated feelings. A medley of images from Riverssance is shared here.

Riverssance wouldn't be possible without the generosity of our sponsors and media partners: City of Davenport, Smart Toyota, Rivermont Collegiate, Hanson Watson Associates, dphilms, KWQC-TV6, Mix 96 and the River Cities' Reader.

Tiny dancer
Riverssance raises funds to support area visual art programs throughout the year. Riverssance 2018 will take place September 15 and 16 and we hope to see you there.

Now, on to the pumpkins (more below).

~ Sherry
Bucktown Construction Coming Soon!

Suite 103 will be converted to the new Artists Market location, complete with street storefront visibility.

Support for this project comes from the Riverboat Development Authority and the Scott County Regional Authority.
Support the Arts. Support MidCoast.

Support high school students participating in ArtWorks Expo, our annual pastel competition.

Support Bucktown Center for the Arts that houses exhibition spaces for more than 45 artists at any one time, including unique shops and studios featuring creative, unusual, and usable works of art for sale.

Support our galleries -- Gallery West/The ARTery, Centre Station or Gallery at Bucktown -- that have a no-commission policy for artists allowing them to keep 100% of what they earn from their art.

Support Riverssance Festival of Fine Art. An amazing weekend of fine art, fantastic music, food, and wine with a picturesque view overlooking the mighty Mississippi.

Support the arts. Support MidCoast.

MidCoast projects are supported by funds contributed in 2017 from the Regional Development Authority and the Scott County Regional Authority. The 2017 ArtWorks Expo is supported by Quad City Arts Dollar$, provided by the Illinois Arts Council Agency and John Deere.

MidCoast Gallery West / The ARTery
1629 2nd Avenue, Rock Island
Open: Wednesday - Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 

Ceramic by Heather Seibel
Heather Seibel, ceramics
Juiet Stock, painter
October - November

Opening reception Friday, October 13, 6-9 p.m.

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."
- T. S. Eliot

Heather Seibel teaches and inspires young art minds by day and explores her own art by night. As an avid gardener, traveler and outdoor enthusiast, she finds inspiration in found pattern, textures and rhythms of nature. Experimenting with slip trailing, mishima, monoprinting, and stenciling. Seibel's ceramic work is a combination of wheel thrown and hand built methods. She strives to learn something new each day and, above all, to always be an explorer of art and life.

Painting by Juliet Stock
Juliet Stock has titled her show After Midnight because most of her paintings were created after the midnight hour. Raised in the Carolinas, she moved to the Quad Cities in 2013. She's the student of world renowned decorative artist Annie Sloan. Her studies include the art of faux finish and historical restoration. She notes, "Many talented artists call The Quad Cities home.  I have been able to complete this body of work because of their wisdom, critique and encouragement. My years here have been a time of great artistic growth." She's dedicated this show, her first, to those Quad Cities artists.
Moline Centre Station
1200 River Drive, Moline
Open: Monday - Friday, 6 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.  

This is the only art gallery in town that is open every day of the week!

Painting by Thomas M. Awad
Thomas M. Awad, painting
October - November  

"If the mark is sincere, then beauty will grow over time. If the mark is insincere, then familiarity will breed contempt... IS THE MARK SINCERE?? This need be the only criteria when judging ART."

Thomas Awad notes he has a BA in art from the University of Iowa and is "fully capable of drawing and painting realistically," yet has been compelled to paint in "what some would call 'Abstraction,' although I don't see it as such."

His paintings combine gesso, spray paint and different types of enamel and artist oil paints. Large patches of color are informed by the incising of layers underneath in search of that "sincere mark."
Bucktown Center for the Arts
225 East 2nd Street, Davenport
Open: Wednesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Final Friday, September 29, 6-9 p.m.

Everything Pumpkin wine glasses at Boho Chic
It's everything pumpkin in the Boho Chic Gallery!
Enter to win a bottle of wine and wine glasses selected from new pumpkin and fall designs by Dee Schricker. Check out some fall art on ceramic, canvas, fabric and glass. Enjoy pumpkin refreshments and spiked cider to help usher in our favorite season!

Purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Suite Experience from the QC River Bandits.
Win the use of a corporate suite and 19 admission tickets for a 2018 game. Proceeds benefit the 2018 Art Meets the River calendar.

Coloring Between the Lines: Kid's Art Exhibit at Azubuike
You are cordially invited to the opening reception of Coloring Between The Lines 2017, Azubuike's Kid's Art Exhibit. Meet the young artists and celebrate their colorful and delightful works of art!

Coloring Between the Lines exhibit
Azubuike's Arts & Cultural programs are about crossing boundaries and viewing things in different ways, enriching perspectives, while building a solid foundation for a lasting appreciation for the Arts in our communities.

Azubuike's 2017 Kids' Arts Program, is funded by Quad City Arts Dollar$ funds, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and John Deere. Additional funding provided by the Davenport Noon Optimist Club.

Pop-up Artists Market, Bucktown Suite 102
In the spirit of supporting area artists, MidCoast welcomes and will set out tables for a September Final Friday pop-up market with:
  • Kimberly Miller, body painter who will create based on the evening's pumpkin theme
  • Joel Erickson, ceramics and marble sculpture
  • Shelby Brown, painter
  • Lisa Mahar, painter and mixed media
  • Peggy Gratton, painter and illustrator
Glass pumpkins by Hot Glass
Artists Market, Bucktown Second Floor
Hot Glass has delivered a bumper crop of glowing glass pumpkins for purchase.

MidCoast Gallery: Closing Reception, Summer of Love Tribute by Alan Campbell
Artist's Talk, 7:30 p.m.

Artist Alan Campbell will informally speak about his homage to the Summer of Love, which he remembers as being a formative part of his childhood. Campbell is a photographer who also upcycles materials for artwork. He is Associate Director for Marketing & Communications for the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges where he has received numerous awards for his photography and design work. Among many other activities, he previously designed and built awards show sets for sites around the country.

Golden Gate by Alan Campbell
Create Your Own Peace Sign.
See Alan Campbell's exhibition and then color your own version. Supplies in suite 205.

This MidCoast Gallery Final Friday is partially supported by a gift from Andrew Williams and Rebecca Christoffel in honor of Dr. Kurt Christoffel.

Bucktown Second Floor Casement and Suite 203: Out & About
through October 13
a joint exhibition with Quad City Arts

Artwork by Susan Doran
An exhibition spanning both sides of the Mississippi, the great outdoors inspired Out & About, a themed exhibition jointly presented by Quad City Arts and MidCoast Fine Arts.

What did you see while you were walking, bike riding, boating, or daydreaming?

Artists included in the full exhibition are: Karen Blomme, Heidi Brandt, Catlynn Byrd, Jane Coultas, Susan Doran, Jane Doty, Iyla Ferguson, Pat Halverson, Kay Irelan, Holly Kimball, Kathleen Lenaghan, Nancy Lindsay, Julie Malake, Mick McFerren, Rich Mengel, Lori Miller, Emily Newman, Pam Ohnemus, Lori Roderick, Heather Seibel, Barry Sharp, Zaiga Minka Thorson, Joan Webster Vore and Laurie Zaiger.

We thank Dawn Wohlford-Metallo and Quad City Arts for this collaboration.

Night Call by Sara Slee Brown
Sara Slee Brown Exhibition at MidCoast Gallery, October 14-November 25
Sara Slee Brown received her MA and MFA for painting from the University of Iowa. After working in an Iowa City library as a clerk and graphic designer for 20 years, she changed media to explore layered digital expressions.

She explains that she starts with straightforward photographic images: "The foundation of the work is built on familiar, realistic people, places or things. This represents for me the known in our world."

After finding the base, she then uses graphic design to alter the images, making them less familiar. As she prints and applies her photos to surfaces, she changes them further by cutting and layering different sections. She describes the finished product as "a new reality which may not be as easily understood but nevertheless exists." Her exhibition reception will be the October Final Friday.
2017 Calendar: Save the Date

October 27

Final Friday Artoberfest and Reception for Sara Slee Brown
November 24 & 25
Shop Small and Shop Local, Bucktown Final Friday and Saturday, with That Dam Shopping Trip Contest
December 8
Gallery HOP! in Rock Island and Gallery West Opening Reception for Goddess Tales group show with Deborah Doehler, Carolyn Krueger, Lisa Mahar
December 15
Holiday Final Friday


Copyright © 2017 MidCoast Fine Arts. All rights reserved.

  MidCoast Fine Arts
PO Box 4142 Rock Island, IL 61204-4142
225 East 2nd Street Davenport, IA 52801
(563) 424-1210 | midcoast.org
 
MidCoast Fine Arts programs are partially supported by operational grants
from the Riverboat Development Authority and the Illinois Arts Council.