One of the people who shaped Davenport was a Hungarian nobleman. What were the odds? Count Nicholas Fejervary (Miklós Fejérváry) came to Davenport when he was 41 years old. He left his native Hungary to escape the imposed martial law that followed the failed revolutions that swept Europe in 1847 and 1848. Friends had been exiled, imprisoned, even executed. He chose to settle in Davenport because it reminded him of his home on the Danube.

A trio of Iowa artisans are currently displaying their bold and beautiful works in Illinois, with Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center hosting two exhibitions by three Midwestern talents: a series of oil paintings by James Walker Henry of Burlington, and mixed-media paintings by spouses Stephen and Karen Steininger of Altoona.

The talents of three generations of artists will be on display in the University of Dubuque's Bisignano Gallery through December 29, with the venue housing beautiful and evocative drawings, paintings, prints, and more in Lasansky in the UD Collection, an exhibit boasting works by Mauricio Lasansky, his son Tomás, and his grandson Diego, the latter of whom will also speak in a special guest lecture on December 5.

Gloriously colorful and arresting works by a pair of Illinois-based artists are currently on display at the Quad City Arts International Airport Gallery, with the Moline airport, through January 2, hosting new ceramic works by Gary Beaumont of Champaign and recent acrylic paintings by Tony Seabolt of Rock Island.