Exhibit
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service
Figge Art Museum
Saturday, June 29, through Sunday, October 6
Beginning on June 29, Davenport's Figge Art Museum will be house a special, site-specific installation by Juan Angel Chavez, and on the venue's Web site, the Chicago-based artist's intention with the piece is stated thusly: "In his use of refuse and other found objects, Chavez seeks to draw attention to socially deviant behavior and other 'unwanted' activities."
The man could've saved himself a lot of trouble, and a lot of refuse, merely by peeking in the windows of the nearby Reader offices, but I won't tell him if you won't.
Born in Mexico and raised in the United States since age 13, Chavez attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Early College Program, and currently holds a faculty position in the school's sculpture department. But while the artist's sculptures, installations, and 3D collages - the majority of them formed by the use of found materials - have been on display for years throughout his American stomping grounds, Chavez's reach has also extended far beyond the Windy City; his works have been exhibited in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, Denmark, and Thailand.
For his Figge exhibit, Chavez - using discarded items gathered solely from the Quad Cities - has constructed what the museum describes as "a web-like structure reminiscent of the temporary shelters that animals (and humans) construct for their survival." And in addition to being aesthetically fascinating, the piece will likely also inspire thought about the nature of art itself, as the installation, like all of Chavez's works, is designed to "celebrate the intrinsic value of ordinary, and seemingly banal, objects."
So be prepared to be wowed by the Figge's latest showcase of a modern master's talents. Oh yeah, and I almost forgot to mention: The title of the installation on display is No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service. Which, coincidentally, is what they say to me every single time I walk in the Figge. It's getting kind of awkward.
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service will be on display through October 6, and for more information on this and other Figge exhibits and events, call (563)326-7804 or visit FiggeArt.org.
Theatre
reasons to be pretty
The District Theatre
Thursday, June 27, through Sunday, July 7
From June 27 through July 7, Rock Island's District Theatre will be giving us reasons to be pretty. My first thought after hearing that news was that the plural was kind of unnecessary, as having the power to get out of a speeding ticket with one well-calibrated smile seemed like reason enough.
But my second thought after hearing that news was, "No, jackass, they're talking about the play titled reasons to be pretty," and for fellow fans of author Neil LaBute - whose exceptional theatrical résumé also boasts the equally thrilling works The Shape of Things, bash, and Fat Pig - that's excellent news indeed.
Nominated for three 2009 Tony Awards including Best Play, LaBute's fast-paced, acerbic, and verbally dexterous comedy/drama opens with a vicious verbal battle between longtime lovers Greg and Steph, one instigated when the latter overhears the former calling her something terrible. But instead of the "b" word or the "c" word, what Greg calls Steph is actually the "r" word - "regular" - and the explosive emotional fireworks that result from the man's unintended insult make you think the "b" and "c" words would have been infinitely preferable choices for him, if far less fun for us.
An incisive, wrenching, and bitterly hilarious exploration of modern romance, friendship, and personal growth (or, in at least one case here, the lack thereof), reasons to be pretty's District Theatre presentation is being directed by venue veteran Bryan Tank, with its cast a gifted acting quartet composed of Chris Causer, Cara Chumbley, Kelly Lohrenz, and Eugene Pavinato.
And if the team behind this reasons to be pretty isn't enough to pique your interest, maybe the show's reviews will be. The New York Times, for instance, raved that LaBute's work boasted "some of the freshest and most illuminating American dialogue to be heard anywhere these days." The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, called it a "lacerating and extremely funny work [that] should appeal to younger theatre-goers especially" ... though I should stress to parents that the "younger" in that plaudit does not refer to grade-schoolers. Unless, that is, you want your kids' quoting of the show's dialogue to lead to reasons to have your mouth washed out with soap.
reasons to be pretty will be staged on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. - with an added preview performance on Thursday, June 27 - and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)235-1654 or visiting DistrictTheatre.com.
Music
Rock the District
District of Rock Island
Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29
Matchbox 20 and the Goo Goo Dolls
i wireless Center
Wednesday, July 10
Keith Richards once called rock "music for the neck downwards." If that description is true, and if you're planning to attend the upcoming concerts in the District of Rock Island and at the i wireless Center, then be sure to sneak in a good book or a few Sudoku puzzles over the next couple of weeks to stimulate your neck upwards. 'Cause your neck downwards is gonna be awfully stimulated.
The Quad Cities' early-summer rock extravaganza kicks off with the Daiquiri Factory's and RIBCO's hosting of the annual, outdoor Rock the District concerts, which, this year, share a decidedly post-mortal theme. On June 28, Rock Island's outdoor stage will boast the tightly wound musicians of Here Come the Mummies, the rock, funk, and R&B performers who play wholly in bandaged attire and are frequent guests on radio's Bob & Tom Show. And their costumed concert will be followed, on June 29, by a Rock the District set featuring headliners Theory of a Deadman, the Canadian rockers who've scored seven top-10 hits on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, with two of them - "Bad Girlfriend" and "Lowlife" - reaching the number-one spot.
The i wireless Center, meanwhile, will find venue patrons rocking with the pulsating excitement of Matchbox 20 and the Goo Goo Dolls, whose North American co-headlining tour makes a stop at the Moline venue on July 10. Matchbox 20 has been a multi-platinum-selling sensation ever since the group's 1998 recording debut, while the musicians of the Goo Goo Dolls - with 14 top-10 singles to their names - received two Grammy Award nominations for their Billboard chart-topper "Iris."
That's a heckuva lot of area rock over a 13-day stretch, and an exceptional assemblage of rock bands. But how well do you know their individual output? Try your best at this quiz, and match the 12 album titles below with the artists who made them famous.
1) Cryptic
2) Gasoline
3) Gutterflower
4) Hits & Mrs.
5) Mad Season
6) Magnetic
7) North
8) Scars & Souvenirs
9) Single Entendre
10) Something for the Rest of Us
11) The Truth Is ...
12) Yourself or Someone Like You
A) Goo Goo Dolls
B) Here Come the Mummies
C) Matchbox 20
D) Theory of a Deadman
Here Come the Mummies performs with special guests The Brat Pack, Theory of a Deadman's concert opens with sets by 3 Years Hollow, Candlelight Red, and 3 Pill Morning, and more information on both Rock the District nights is available by calling (309)283-1809 or visiting DaiquiriFactory.com or RIBCO.com.
For tickets to Matchbox 20's and the Goo Goo Dolls' Moline concert, call (800)745-3000 or visit iwirelessCenter.com.
Answers: 1 - B, 2 - D, 3 - A, 4 - B, 5 - C, 6 - A, 7 - C, 8 - D, 9 - B, 10 - A, 11 - D, 12 - C. Tough quiz, huh? Who says rock is just for the neck downwards? Oh wait ... Keith Richards does. Guess I would've remembered that if I hadn't been listening to so much rock lately.
What Else Is Happenin'... ?
MUSIC
Thursday, June 27 - Portland Cello Project. Indie-rock string ensemble in concert. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 7:30 p.m. $12-15. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Thursday, June 27, and Friday, June 28 - Dream Lover: A Salute to Bobby Darin. Tribute concert with national touring artist Robert Shaw and his band. Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island). Thursday and Friday 11:45 a.m. doors, noon plated lunch,1 p.m. show, $42.43. Thursday 5:45 p.m. doors, 6 p.m. buffet, 7:15 p.m. show, $48.07. For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29 - Piano Legends: The Music of Elton John & Billy Joel. Concert of pop favorites performed by Matt Romy & the Lonely Street Band. Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $20-25. For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
Friday, June 28 - Miranda Lambert. Outdoor concert with the chart-topping, Grammy-winning country star. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort (3184 Highway 22, Riverside). 9 p.m. $35-70. For tickets and information, call (877)677-3456 or visit RiversideCasinoAndResort.com.
Saturday, June 29 - Tracing Footsteps with Bill Payne. Art discussion and performance with the photographer and Little Feat musician. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 8 p.m. $20-25. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Saturday, June 29 - The Socialists. Rock concert with Chicago-based musician Fernando Rabiela and his children. RME Community Stage (131 West Second Street, Davenport). 7 p.m. $5. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Wednesday, July 3 - Bad Company. English rock super-group in concert. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort (3184 Highway 22, Riverside). 9 p.m. $30-70. For tickets and information, call (877)677-3456 or visit RiversideCasinoAndResort.com.
Thursday, July 4, through Saturday, July 6 - Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. Annual blues weekend with blues and BlueSKool workshops, a photo exhibit, vendors, and concerts on the tent and bandshell stages. Tent performances - Adler Theatre (136 E. Third Street, Davenport). Bandshell performances - 3rd Street west of the SkyBridge; in case of rain, Great Hall of the RiverCenter (136 E. Third Street). $15-20/day. For tickets and information, call (563)322-5837 or visit MVBS.org.
Friday, July 5 - Brandi Carlile. Pop-rock singer/songwriter in concert, with an opening set by The Lone Bellow. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $32.50-35. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 7 - Iowa City Jazz Festival. Annual outdoor festival featuring concerts on several stages, vendors, children's activities, and more. Downtown Iowa City. For information, visit SummerOfTheArts.org.
Friday, July 5, and Saturday, July 6 - 80/35 Music Festival. Annual outdoor music festival featuring dozens of acts performing on several stages. Downtown Des Moines. $39-150/day. For tickets and information, visit 80-35.com.
Wednesday, July 10 - Meat Puppets. American rockers in their fourth decade of performance, with an opening set by Enemy Planes. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $10-12. For information, call (309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com. For a 2009 River Cities' Reader cover article on the Meat Puppets, visit RCReader.com/y/puppets.
Wednesday, July 10 - Arlo Guthrie. Folk-music icon in concert. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $40-50. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
THEATRE
Tuesday, June 25, through Saturday, July 27 - Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. Family musical based on the book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin, directed by Marc Ciemiewicz. Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island). Scheduled performances Thursday-Saturday and Tuesday. $8.50. For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
Thursday, June 27, through Saturday, June 29 - The Bad Seed. Maxwell Anderson's melodrama about an evil eight-year-old presented as part of the University of Iowa's Summer Rep series, directed by Eric Forsythe. Coralville Center for the Performing Arts (1301 Fifth Street, Coralville). Thursday-Saturday 8 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m. $13-26. For tickets and information, call (319)335-1160 or visit http://www.Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Saturday, June 29, through Sunday, July 7 - Alcestis. Genesius Guild's masked presentation of Euripides' Greek tragedy. Lincoln Park (11th Avenue and 38th Street, Rock Island). Saturday and Sunday 8 p.m. Donations encouraged. For information, visit Genesius.org.
Wednesday, July 3, through Sunday, July 21 - The Sound of Music. Rodgers & Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning musical classic. Clinton Area Showboat Theatre (311 Riverview Drive, Clinton). Thursday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday and Wednesday 3 p.m. For tickets and information, call (563)242-6760 or visit ClintonShowboat.org.
Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 21 - Les Misérables. Countryside Community Theatre's production of the Broadway-musical smash based on Victor Hugo's novel, directed by David Turley. North Scott High School Fine Arts Auditorium (200 South First Street, Eldridge). Friday, Saturday, and July 11 7 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $7-14. For tickets and information, call (563)285-6228 or visit CCTOnStage.org. For an article on Countryside's production, visit RCReader.com/y/lesmis.
Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 14 - A Green River. Debuting returning-soldier drama by Aaron Randolph III, directed by Daniel D.P. Sheridan. QC Theatre Workshop (1730 Wilkes Avenue, Davenport). Fridays & Saturdays 7:30 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m. "Pay what it's worth" ticket pricing. For information and to reserve, call (563)650-2396 or visit QCTheatreWorkshop.org.
Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 14 - The Music Man. Meredith Willson's classic musical romance. Timber Lake Playhouse (8215 Black Oak Road, Mt. Carroll). Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $15-23. For tickets and information, call (815)244-2035 or visit TimberLakePlayhouse.org.
LITERARY ARTS
Thursday, June 27, through Saturday, June 29 - David R. Collins Writers Conference. Annual three-day workshops sponsored by the Midwest Writing Center, with topics including poetry, fiction, freelancing, publishing, and more. St. Ambrose University (518 West Locust Street, Davenport). $65-75/workshop, $125-145/two workshops, $150-175/three workshops. For information and to register, call (563)324-1410 or visit MidwestWritingCenter.org.
EXHIBIT
Thursday, July 4, through Thursday, August 1 - Flamingo Follies. Annual exhibit of artistically altered plastic pink lawn flamingos. Quad City Botanical Center (2525 Fourth Avenue, Rock Island). Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m. Free with $2-6 admission. For information, call (309)794-0991 or visit QCGardens.com.
EVENTS
Thursday, June 27 - The Garden Party. A celebration of the center's 15th anniversary featuring samplings from area chefs, music, a silent auction, and more. Quad City Botanical Center (2525 Fourth Avenue, Rock Island). 6 p.m. $65/person, $480/table of eight. For information and to reserve, call (309)794-0991 or visit QCGardens.com.
Thursday, June 27, through Saturday, June 29 - Antique Automobile Club of America's 2013 Grand National Show. More than 300 cars compete in an event hosted by the Mississippi Region Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America. John Deere Commons (1415 River Drive, Moline). Thursday and Friday 6-8 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-3 p.m. For information, call (309)517-4195 or e-mail JaKirik@mchsi.com.
Wednesday, July 3 - Red, White, & Boom! Annual Fourth of July celebrations across the Mississippi River, featuring fireworks, vendors, children's activities, and more. The District of Rock Island and Davenport's LeClaire Park. Free admission. For information, visit RIDistrict.com and DowntownDavenport.com.
