(ROCK ISLAND, IL - April 22, 2015) - The District, MidCoast Fine Arts, & Quad City Arts present Gallery Hop! on Friday, May 1, 2015 from 6 to 10 p.m. Gallery Hop! is a fun, festive and free open house unique to downtown Rock Island. Over 100 artists will be showcased in over 20 locations throughout downtown Rock Island during the event. These locations are not limited to art galleries; artists will exhibit in coffee shops, restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues. Jewelry, photography, woodwork, glass, paintings, drawings, book signings, sculpture, live music, and more will be featured. Gallery Hop! does not lack in variety, there is something for everyone! Gallery Hop will be a wonderful opportunity to find a perfect gift for Mother's Day, or an unforgettable item for you.
An exciting feature of this Gallery Hop is the 38th Annual High School Exhibition at Quad City Arts. The High School Exhibition will showcase works from 196 art educators and students, coming from 15 schools. This will be a great opportunity for the public to see the level of artistic talent that the Quad Cities has at the high school level. Also, the unoccupied suites at The Shoppes on 2nd will serve to feature seven artists during Gallery Hop.
All of the fun does not stop at 2nd Avenue. We have several Hop Stops that are located along 3rd Avenue including; Aja Styles, Teranga House of Africa, Vivian's Vintage Varieties, Rozz-Tox, Roosters Sports Bar & Grill, Navarro Canoe, and DeSoto Arts Center. Skeleton Key Arts & Antiques will be a Hop Stop that might take a longer walk, but a walk well worth it! Skeleton Key encompasses almost 5,000 sq/ft of space, and is located in the former Wheelan-Pressly funeral home at 520 18th Street. Multiple vendors inside Skeleton Key sell a blend of original art, antiques, vintage, crafts, up cycled, and the irresistible. Skeleton Key Art and Antiques is a locally owned, one-of-a-kind shop, in a one-of-a-kind venue.
There will be game cards at each "Hop Stop" that include BINGO. To play Gallery Hop! BINGO just visit at least five locations, have the artist sign off, and make a straight line on your card. Completed cards can be turned in at MidCoast Fine Arts/The ARTery or Quad City Arts. Winner gets a prize basket full of fun gifts, and art! The winner will be randomly drawn and notified the week of 5/4/2015.
Visual arts, galleries & studios:
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Quad City Arts: 38th Annual High School Exhibition
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Rozz-Tox: Joel Connel (ink/marker/mixed), and musical performances starting at 8 p.m. featuring Seth Knappen, Garrin Jost, and Undlin & Wolfe (cover).
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MidCoast Gallery West: Anne Morris ( 2-D mixed media) , and Karen Bloome (silkscreen and drawing)
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The ARTery: Marty "Heat" Jones, and Connie (Corcoran) Wilson (adult horror and mystery books)
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DeSoto Arts Center: Quad Cities Wood Turners Club
Performing arts, theaters, film studio, & live music venues:
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Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse: "The Church Basement Ladies in The Last Potluck Supper" Reservations required.
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The Establishment: ComedySportz- Live comedy improv show starting at 7 p.m. Rated "E" for everyone.
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Rock Island Brewing Co: Shadow Stone with guests Aterratale & Motorbiscuit, doors at 9 p.m. $5 cover at door.
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The Speakeasy: Viva La Divas, Doors at 7:30 p.m., $10 cover at door
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The District Theatre: "High Fidelity" Reservations may be required.
Alternative venues - restaurants, shops, and entertainment establishments:
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The Shoppes on 2nd: Andrea Howard (original photography), Elaine Rexdale (acrylic paintings), Dee Schricker & Heidi Brandt (local & fine art photography, mixed media, painting, and raku pottery), Judy Heath & Terri Luke (watercolors), Pat Petersen (handmade jewelry), and Alan Campbell (photography, and upcycled mixed media)
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Skeleton Key Art & Antiques: John VandeWalle (metal sculpture), Bill Marsoun (paintings) & 60+ local artists, craftspeople & antique dealers.
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Blue Cat Brew Pub: Jane Doty (mainly oils, few acrylic, and mixed media)
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Daiquiri Factory: Kimberly Miller with Celestial by Design (body painting)
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Icons Martini: Ron Thomas (acrylic watercolor & pencil drawings), and Janelle Kurns with Asyouwish Custom Designs (stained glass)
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M.D. Green's: Anthony Burton (paintings and wire wrapped pendants)
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The Arena: Philip Force (metal sculpture)
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Mama Compton's: Margery Franklin (Photography), Jerri Crabtree (oil and acrylics), and Pam Kaufman (massage therapist)
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Theo's Java Club: Gail Ray (painting, printmaking, and textiles), and Sue Sambdman (Rock River Photography)
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Steve's OId Time Tap: Tony Seabolt (paintings)
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NormaLeah Ovarian Cancer Foundation: Yoyo y Yo (acoustic music) & Jesse Mumm (ceramics)
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Teranga House of Africa: (incense, oils and gifts of diversity), The Place 2 Be (inner city youth art)
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Vivian's Vintage Varieties: Various artists (antiques & jewelry)
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Navarro Canoe Co: Bruce & Sue Peterson (Rock Island handcrafted works of art canoes), and Bob Tuftee (blacksmith)
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Aja Styles- Women's fashion with featured artist, Bryan Cotton (ink drawings)
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The Original Huckleberry's Great Pizza & Calzones- Barbara Toner (jewelry)
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The Smoking Dog Pub- Mya Hayes (jewelry), and Roberta Osmers (photo prints)
Public art:
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MidCoast Fine Arts - Art 'N Alley installations, Quad City Arts' sculpture program, and several murals.
Gallery Hop! is presented by The District, MidCoast Fine Arts, Quad City Arts and sponsored by the Dispatch-Argus, WHBF, and River Cities' Reader.
The event is free. For more information and to print a map of participating locations, please visit www.ridistrict.com.
The Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District (The District) is a 501(c) 6 not-for-profit organization established in 1992 by local downtown merchants. The District's mission is to establish and manage downtown Rock Island as a creative and innovative experience by focusing on the development of the arts and quality special event management. It features retail shops, excellent restaurants, live entertainment, dinner theater, art galleries and several entertainment venues. Rock Island is located on the Mississippi River, three hours west of Chicago in an area known as the Quad-Cities which straddles the river and the Illinois/Iowa border. It is at the intersection of Interstate highways 74, 88 and 80 and is served by Quad City International Airport in Moline, IL.
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