In a February 17 concert presented by the Dubuque Arts Council, Gareth Johnson & His Evolution Band will bring their tour to the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center, treating patrons to an evening with the world-renowned violinist, master string teacher, and composer whose extraordinary talent crosses all musical genres from Rick Ross to Stevie Wonder and Bruno Mars, as well as from Johnny Cash to Metallica and Guns N' Roses, right into Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's “Despacito.”

Held in conjunction with the venue's current exhibition Tradition Interrupted, Davenport's Figge Art Museum will host a February 22 Artist Talk with renowned Bay area-based social-practice artist Ramekon O'Arwisters, who will share thoughts about his artistic practice as well as his involvement with the popular exhibition.

With Variety magazine stating, in a prescient 1981 review, that its "mass of symbols and unbridled, brilliant directing meld this disparate tale into a film that could get cult following on its many levels of symbolism and exploitation," Polish writer/director Andrzej Żuławski's classic Possession will be screened at Rock Island's Rozz-Tox venue on February 16, Rolling Stone's David Fear also lauding the excitingly edgy work as "a body-horror answer to Kramer vs. Kramer."

On February 17 and 18, the Vibrant Arena at the MARK will host feats of staggering skill when the touring Professional Championship Bull Riders show comes to Moline, its national success based on a simple concept: Place one determined cowboy on the back of a cranky 2,000-pound bull and see whether he can stay on the gigantic, bucking beast for eight long seconds – and do it with only one hand gripping the animal’s backside.

With her novels having been translated into 41 languages and having appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List on 19 occasions, an award-winning author takes part in February 20's virtual Illinois Libraries Present event Romance & Regency with "Bridgerton"'s Julia Quinn, her credits including induction in the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and her Bridgerton series receiving a popular adaptation for Netflix.

A celebration of students who commit to active participation in a weekly character-focused class and to regular community service throughout the year, the exhibition Character Journeys: Reflections by Wendt Character Scholars will be on display at the University of Dubuque's Bisignano Art Gallery through February 29, this showcase designed to acknowledge the roots and experiences that shape character, and recognize that so much more goes into character growth.

I now have to watch The Zone of Interest again – and maybe again and again. It may be too massive for only one viewing. As I've learned, it certainly appears too massive for one viewing without a dialogue afterward

Republican Dennis Reboletti is trying something different in a state legislative race: Stake out a “moderate” position on abortion in a party which completely rejects that stance and in a race against a solidly pro-choice Democrat.

Our February issue provides stories, information, data, and timelines, in the spirit of traditional journalism. Thanks goes to the authors' commitment to rational dissemination of facts instead of emotion-triggering, unproductive opining sans relative details necessary to actually inform the articles, let alone reliable sources for what little factual information might be sprinkled here and there.