The tenth anniversary of Bucktown Center for the Arts will be celebrated on Friday, June 26th from 6 to 9 p.m. with a benefit concert provided by Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls, and a special performance by students from QC Rock Academy. A full evening of events is planned and artists will be on site and in their studios to showcase their creativity. MidCoast Board President Amy Orr notes "Bucktown is an integral part of the MidCoast Fine Arts mission to be a leader in stimulating our community's cultural and economic vitality through the support of regional visual arts and artists."
Awards for the juried exhibition Hot Art in the Summertime will be announced at 6:15 p.m. on the second floor. Participating artists entered from a geographic range varying from Quincy, Illinois, to Iowa City, Iowa. Some interpreted the "hot" theme, whether the beach, thunderstorm, sunset, volcano or stove top. A MidCoast Board Award will be presented and visitors can vote for a People's Choice Award to be given at the closing of the exhibition, August 1.
The second floor MidCoast Gallery will feature murals from the 25th Artworks Expo High School pastel competition. Student teams competed over the course of one day to create large-scale pastel murals for cash awards for their art departments. Awards will be presented at 6:30 p.m. This event was supported by a grant from Quad City Arts and a gift from Seifert Lumber.
With three independently released albums, a high energy live-show and a charismatic front person, Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls have distinguished themselves as one of the Midwest's hardest working bands. Along the way, they've shared the stage with many national acts, including current Country favorites Sugarland, Richard Marx, Ton Loc, REO Speedwagon, and Hootie & the Blowfish. The street concert will include an additional performance by students from QC Rock Academy. Come and enjoy good eats purchased from Farmer's Market favorites such as Uncle Jim's Ribs and Pulled Pork. Lawn chairs are welcome for the event.
A reception for the David R. Collins 2015 Writing Conference will begin on the third floor at 7 p.m. at the Midwest Writing Center.
Bucktown Center for the Arts is located at 225 East 2nd Street, downtown Davenport, Iowa. Bucktown features sales suites with in situ working artists, as well as display galleries including art by talents ranging from the novice to the professional. Bucktown Building Facilitator Sherry Maurer comments "Bucktown is an unusual combination of energies where you will find professional artists practicing on site, educational programming, gallery opportunities with no commission fees for emerging artists, and a Twister game in the elevator." Public hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This Final Friday concert event is sponsored by MidCoast Fine Arts and suggested admission is on a sliding scale from $5 up.
