ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (June 4, 2021) — Seven public sculptures in Bettendorf and two in Moline will be moving to other locations and replaced with new sculptures over the next 15 days, beginning Monday, June 7. Moline is adding two more sculptures this year, and the Geneseo Public Library will be leasing a sculpture for the first time. Rock Island has elected to re-lease four of the sculptures from last years’ selection and purchase the sculpture titled “Reaching to the Moon” by Tim Frye for its permanent collection.
Quad City Arts has facilitated the leasing and installation of public sculpture in the Quad Cities since 2002. The City of Rock Island has participated in the program, yearly, since 2007, and Bettendorf, since 2008. Six sculptures have become part of Rock Island’s permanent collection, while Bettendorf has added seven. Davenport purchased nine sculptures while involved with the program. Sculptures are chosen by appointed committees and leased for one year. All the sculptures are for sale and can be purchased by individuals, businesses, or a city for permanent installation after June of the following year. All sculptures currently on exhibit, along with permanent sculptures can be viewed on Quad City Arts’ website (https://www.quadcityarts.com/public-sculpture.html), as well as the websites of the cities that sponsor them. All of the artists live in the mid-west region and two are local.
The most exciting part of the process is watching a Hampton Crane operator use their boom to lift a sculpture from an artist’s vehicle, hoist it high in the air and skillfully bring it down gently onto a concrete pad, as directed by the artist who created it. The artist will then drill holes into the concrete and secure the sculpture. (Hampton Cranes generously donates their services).
The installation schedule for Tuesday, June 8, begins at 10:30AM on the lower hillside at Faye’s Field (on the library campus) in Bettendorf. The activity continues throughout Bettendorf until about 1:30PM on Tuesday and then continues throughout the week with the final sculpture hoisted into place outside the Kone Building in Moline on June 21, 3PM.
