BETTENDORF, IOWA (June 9, 2025) — The Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO) is pleased to announce that local artist William Gustafson has been chosen to paint a new mural located on the west-facing wall at 312 17th St, across from City Hall.
Titled Arches, the concept of the mural is to show the viewer the time periods through the arches. Gustafson will paint the mural in June with an unveiling planned in early July.
“I created the mural to span time from the past industrial age: the Bettendorf brothers revolutionizing the train wheel, the innovative Velie Monocoup, the steel industry, old steam boats on the river, and two life-sized industry workers. The center arch includes the current Waterfront Convention Center and Isle Casino, to the Celebration Belle, to a one-wheel rider and young girl life size in the foreground, and a jet streaming across the sky to hold the viewers eye into the future with the new I-74 bridge spanning the present day to lead you into the future with a solar car and personal drone flying in above. An eagle holds the viewer’s eye life-size as the shadow from early morning light cast across all time,” said Gustafson.
“On behalf of the Downtown Bettendorf Organization’s board of directors and the property-owner, we are excited to select William Gustafson for this mural. It will be a highly visible location welcoming people into Downtown Bettendorf,” said Ryan Jantzi, Executive Director, DBO.
Quad City Arts was contracted by DBO to facilitate this transformative art project. "Seeing our communities invest in public art makes us excited for the future of the Quad Cities,” said Ben Gougeon, Quad City Arts’ Director of Community Engagement. “When organizations like the Downtown Bettendorf Organization lead the way in promoting public placemaking initiatives, it helps lift not only Downtown Bettendorf, but all Quad Citizens. Study after study shows the effect public art has on an area's livability, both in terms of the enhancement of quality of life and the economic impact on a region.”
“We're thrilled the selection committee chose to feature Bill Gustafson, a local artist with a long history of signature pieces in the Quad Cities. His work is part of the fabric of the area, and will continue to inspire into the future his mural so hopefully depicts,” said Gougeon.
About Downtown Bettendorf Organization:
The Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO), a division of the Quad Cities Chamber, mission is to administer and operate programs for the general improvement and redevelopment of Bettendorf’s Central Business District and to enhance its aesthetic appearance and economic future for the community and citizens of Bettendorf. DBO was founded to provide a unified voice for stakeholders and downtown Bettendorf business owners who are committed to the future of Downtown Bettendorf. #BettonDowntown
Quad City Arts is a non-profit local arts agency dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts. They’ve helped facilitate large-scale murals in Arts Alley in downtown Rock Island, on Analog Pizza and Arcade in downtown Moline, as well as countless public sculpture projects, Metro Arts murals, and many other public Art and placemaking initiatives. To learn more, visit quadcityarts.com.
