Through public sculpture the QC’s creative current comes alive
13 Jul2022July 13, 2022

Through public sculpture the QC’s creative current comes alive

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QC, that’s where we display our region’s culture and history, quirky originality and creativity within a gallery of sidewalks, alleys and parks. QC, that’s where public art reflects our values, illustrated within vibrant murals and wood and metal sculptures that draw visitors and residents to explore areas once dormant, now fully alive. It is where partnerships and regional artists elevate placemaking, QC identity and pride. And it is where we are striving to incorporate so much more.

This summer, through the Quad City Arts’ Public Sculpture Program and Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program, our region celebrated 16 new installations across our family of communities, four of which were installed in June and will be displayed for a year. The new sculptures are in addition to the collection of sculptures and numerous murals already on public display throughout our region.

For more than 20 years, Quad City Arts has facilitated the selection and display of public sculpture for our cities, business and organizations; facilitating murals and street paintings by its Metro Arts student apprentices; and providing art programming and events that allow us to express and share the QC’s creative current with the world.

“Public art is one of the most important aspects in a community and often gets overlooked. Studies clearly show It drives tourism, increases civic pride and showcases our community’s values,” said Kevin Maynard, Executive Director, Quad City Arts.

Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO) recognizes and values the impact the arts have on our region and in the work we do.

Downtown Bettendorf now has a total of eight sculptures on display, four of which are permanent. To bring even more art into the downtown, DBO held a student banner design contest. In all, 60 new banners were installed last summer.

The City of Bettendorf and DBO also identified the addition of public art as a priority in the Downtown Master Plan. “As downtown Bettendorf’s renaissance continues, we appreciate the importance art can play in our community. For example, the new I-74 Bridge is a work of art itself and we look forward to seeing how it will be showcased in artwork for years to come,” said DBO Executive Director Ryan Jantzi.

QC, that’s where we are proud of the fact that for a region our size, we are way ahead of the curve.

“I encourage everyone to take some time to walk around and look closer at our community,” Maynard said. “Our region is very lucky to have a wealth of art and art amenities. From murals to public sculptures, art programming and cultural events, there are so many things in the QC that you’d be hard pressed to find in other communities of our size, or even larger.”

Here is where to find the new sculptures in Bettendorf, including four that were placed downtown:

  • “Ora’s Shelf” by Mike Baur (West Chicago), Veteran’s Memorial Park.
  • “Mod Pod” by Gail Katz-James (Minneapolis, MN), Faye’s Field, 2850 Learning Campus Dr.
  • “Majestic Honker” by Pete Segar, Waterfront Convention Center.
  • “Sweet Dreams Fly Away” by Paul Bobrowitz (Colgate, WI), Build to Suit (River’s Edge Business Park) 1805 State St.
  • “Coral” by Tim Adams (Webster City, IA), Community Center, 2204 Grant St.
  • “Flame of Remembrance” by Peter Gray (Chicago), Ascentra Credit Union, 2019 Grant St. (Re-leasing for second year).