WHAT: Second Act, paintings by Peter Xiao and Saw You in Russia, paintings by Karen Cooper
WHERE: Quad City Arts Center Gallery, Rock Island
EXHIBITION DATES: February 10 through March 24, 2017
RECEPTION: Friday, February 17th 7-9 pm
FREE
On exhibit from February 10 through March 24, 2017, will be paintings by Peter Xiao (pronounced sh-ow) of Rock Island, IL and Karen Cooper of Cedar Rapids, IA.
Peter Xiao, a painting professor at Augustana College in Rock Island presents recent works that “dwell on time, and awareness of its passing as we age-looking backward and forward simultaneously.” Some of the work eulogizes friends who passed on or recalls past experiences of lasting importance while growing up; while others, in a more abstract language, focus on time, space and the body. Xiao utilizes easel paintings, shaped wood constructions and unstretched paintings on linen to depict his ideas.
Karen Cooper has always been a people watcher. “People out there in the world are just SO interesting. It seems only natural to me to translate people watching events into paintings on canvas.” She feels that while a photo can capture s person’s image, a painting can tell the person’s story. Cooper has spent most of the past year living in Lipetsk, Russia where she created her current body of work.
With Xiao’s work being influenced by his Chinese ancestry and Cooper’s work based on visions from Russia, this exhibit will have a multi-cultural feel to it.
The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy complimentary food and beverages from 7-9 pm on February 17, 2017 at Quad City Arts in Rock Island.
Quad City Arts is a nonprofit local arts agency dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts. The Quad City Arts Center Gallery is located at 1715 Second Avenue in the Arts and Entertainment District of Rock Island. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information, contact Dawn Wohlford-Metallo 309-793-1213 X108, or by email at dwmetallo@quadcityarts.com.
