2010 Citizen of the Year - Category Winners

Every year, people in the Rock Island community are nominated by their peers for what they do for the community. The City of Rock Island is pleased to announce the 2010 Citizens of the Year in eight categories. During the August 23, 2010 City Council meeting, the overall "Citizen of the Year," who will serve as Grand Marshal of the Labor Day Parade, will be announced.

Business Category - Chris Elsberg Insurance Agency, Inc.
Chris Elsberg Insurance Agency, Inc. at 3700 11th Street has been a part of Rock Island since Feb. 1988. Chris and her business are both active in many community endeavors. She has been a member of Zonta and the office is a drop off site for First Day Fund donations. She has been an active member of several PTA's and her office helps out with Christmas baskets and gifts during the holidays for those in need. Chris and her girls regularly volunteer to serve meals to the homeless at St. Joseph's. Chris wants people to have a good impression of Rock Island. She wants the young people to want to stay here because it is a good place to be. Teaching people to RESPECT Rock Island is important to her.

Professional Category - Berlinda Tyler-Jamison
Berlinda Tyler-Jamison serves as the president of Trinity Health Foundation. She is engaged in community health initiatives that focus on access to health care and the preservation of this access. She is a natural consensus builder who understands and respects the process involved with any organization. Ms. Tyler-Jamison is active and involved with many community organizations and causes. She is committed to helping Rock Island move forward and is a strong role model for all, young and old.

Education Category - Grace Diaz Shirk
Grace Diaz Shirk teaches Spanish at Rock Island High School. She teaches more than just the language. Her students grow to understand the cultures of those who speak the language, both close to home and around the globe. Her Spanish Club is among the most active at Rocky. When those who were interested in preserving Rocky's annual Student Talent Show were looking for someone who would be able to work to pull things together, they looked to  race. Grace's contributions to the community go well beyond the school and classroom walls. Grace has served on the Rock Island City Council and is currently a Trustee for South Rock Island Township. And...Grace has been a long-time member of the Labor Day Parade committee.

Organization Category - Augustana College
Augustana College has called Rock Island home for 135 years of its 150 year history. At the time of the dedication of the first building on the Rock Island campus, then president, T.L. Hasselquist, said, "The constant and friendly interactions between college and community accrue to the distinct advantages of both." That was true then and remains true today. With a $75 million dollar impact on the community and a faculty and staff numbering 750, the economic benefit is easy to see. The benefits go a long way beyond the economics. There are the museums, the public radio station, the lectures and concerts open to all, the role of Augie volunteers in the community and some outstanding athletic teams. The Education Department is now partnering with Longfellow Elementary School.

Individual Category - Mark W. Schwiebert
No one individual has had his name more closely associated with Rock Island over the past three decades than Mark Schwiebert. His accomplishments as alderman and mayor are well documented. Mark became more than just the face of Rock Island, in many ways he became the face of the Quad Cities. His strong belief that fostering cooperation between communities would be for the benefit of all led to many of the organizations and initiatives that are in place today. Mark Schwiebert remained a strong voice for the Rock Island Arsenal when its future was in jeopardy. The Mark Schwiebert that many might not know is a runner and cross-country skier, an artist and poet, a traveler and noted historian.

City Employee Category - Patrick Doherty
Patrick Doherty serves Rock Island as Risk Manager in the Administrative Services Department. While not necessarily visible to many who live in Rock Island, he is highly visible to those who work for the city. Perhaps as the job title implies, if something goes wrong, it is up to Patrick Doherty to fix things up. His job, however, also means looking forward trying to identify programs and ventures that benefit both the city and its employees. It is through his initiative and leadership that the position of on-site nurse was created. The impact has been tremendous. Not only do employees gain prompt access to medical needs, the city's health care plan has realized savings due to fewer calls for additional medical care. Patrick's team put together a very successful Health and Wellness fair for employees this year.

Youth Category - Chasson Randle
Chasson Randle has brought honor and distinction to himself, Rock Island, and the entire Quad Cities through his representation of the U.S.A. in international basketball competition each of the past two summers. He has received All-State recognition and established the career scoring record at Rock Island High School as a junior. Chasson knows that team success is the ultimate goal and is dedicated to making everyone around him a better player and person. On top of all of the basketball accomplishments, Chasson Randle ranks at the top of his class academically.

Youth Category - Ciara Turner
The young students and student/athletes at Rock Island High School have benefited from the high standards that Ciara Turner has left for them to achieve. If they aspire to reach levels of personal success and compassion for the community as Ciara, then our community will benefit in the greatest way. Ciara was an honors student, officer of the Lettermen's Club, member of the Environmental Action Club, a stellar athlete with 10 state medals to include a state championship, and participated in many, many other extra - curricular activities. Through her club work, she participated in many fundraising activities to benefit the less fortunate; she worked on many community cleanup efforts; and she served as a peer mentor through the Natural Helper program. Her involvement and achievements are varied and inspirational.

Honorary Category (does not live in Rock Island) - Chad Pregracke
Chad Pregracke was born and raised in East Moline. He was raised on the river. Anyone surprised? In 1998, he founded Living Lands and Waters. This non-profit environmental organization is committed to more than just cleaning up waterways. They are equally committed to education. Through Chad's efforts, thousands of volunteers have been mobilized and millions and millions of pounds of garbage and waste have been collected. Fortunately, 80% of what is collected is then recycled. X-Stream Cleanup has worked to clean Rock Island riverfronts and ravines. We hope to see more of this wonderful organization on the Discovery Channel in upcoming months.

Figge Art Museum executive director, Dr. Sean O'Harrow, accepts position as director of the University of Iowa Museum of Art.

The Figge Art Museum would like to announce that its executive director since 2007, Sean O'Harrow Ph.D., will become the next director of the University of Iowa Museum of Art. Dr O'Harrow will take up his duties in November. Until then, he will help lead the Figge through this transition period. "This move is good for both museums and for our region," said Andrew J. Butler, Figge Board of Trustees President. The Figge Art Museum recently celebrated its fifth anniversary and has hosted a number of popular and well-attended exhibitions, including new galleries dedicated to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and the John Deere Art Collection. "I am very happy with the current state of the Figge Art Museum. It is a wonderful institution with great art and a strong support base.

People in the Quad Cities are justifiably proud of their museum," stated Dr O'Harrow. Under O'Harrow's leadership, the Figge has seen increases in popularity and media attention, as well as donations, revenue and other forms of support. This year saw record attendance and participation levels at the museum of over 69,000 people. In recognition of its successes, the Figge was recently re-accredited by the American Association of Museums.

A task force will be formed with both members of the Board and the community to conduct a national search for the Figge's next Executive Director as soon as it is feasible.

Maquoketa Art Experience will display all paintings and drawings that artists create of scenes along the Grant Wood Scenic Byway and will host a landscape painting workshop focusing on the region presented by renowned pastel artist Ellen Wagener.

Maquoketa , Iowa, July 30, 2010: In conjunction with the return of Ellen Wagener for a weekend landscape workshop, Maquoketa Art Experience (MAE) announces an upcoming exhibition that will consist of paintings and drawings that depict scenes along and near the Grant Wood Scenic Byway.

Exhibition Dates: August 23rd through September 19th, 2010

Location: Maquoketa Art Experience Studio and Gallery, 124 S. Main Street , Maquoketa , IA 52060

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11-5pm, Friday-Saturday: 11-7pm, Sunday: 12-5pm

Workshop Dates: August 20th, 21st & 22nd, 2010

Location: Maquoketa Art Experience Studio and Gallery, 124 S. Main Street , Maquoketa , IA 52060

Cost: $295 for the weekend, $95 for Saturday the 21st at Tabor Home Winery.

For more information or to register: Call 563-652-9925.

Workshop deposits can be mailed to PO Box 993 , Maquoketa , IA 52060 .

The Grant Wood Scenic Byway Landscape Show will be on display from August 23rd through September 19th in the spacious galleries of Maquoketa Art Experience on Main St. in downtown Maquoketa.  Any and all artists are invited to tour and paint along the Byway from Stone City, the home of Grant Wood's summer art colony, through Anamosa, Maquoketa, the Maquoketa Caves, through Andrew, then Springbrook, and on to the beautiful Mississippi River views at Bellevue.  Paintings depicting scenes along and near the Byway can be brought to Maquoketa Art Experience at the close of Ellen Wagener's landscape workshop, from 5 to 8pm on August 22nd.  Artists, who cannot deliver their works at that time, can call MAE at 563-652-9925 to make arrangements for delivery prior to that time.  Owners of original paintings that show scenes from and near the Byway can also place those works on display.

A map of the Byway is available online at http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2183.

The paintings and drawings that are brought in for the exhibition do not have to be for sale, but a sales price can be listed if the artist so chooses.  Maquoketa Art Experience will take a 25% commission on any sales.  Only original paintings and drawing will be accepted.  No photography and no prints/reproductions will be accepted for the show.

Ellen Wagener's summer landscape workshop is the third of four seasonal workshops offered by MAE focusing on the natural resources and beauty of Eastern Iowa .  Dewitt native Ellen Wagener is best known for her large pastel landscape paintings of Iowa and Arizona , her new home.  She returns for a second year to MAE to share her masterful skill of the basics and fundamentals of pastel painting, focusing on working processes including sketching, idea-generation, composition, and color palettes.  Special emphasis for this workshop will be given to pastel techniques in the creation of cloudscapes and attention to atmospheric conditions leading up to a final composition.  All of the painting outings will occur along and near the Grant Wood Scenic Byway.

This three-day workshop is well suited for both beginning artists and "seasoned masters" and will also include an optional bonus afternoon on Thursday, August 19, to join Ellen in a trip to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art's Marvin Cone exhibit, "The Sky's the Limit".  This thirty-work exhibition, tracing Cone's work from the 1910s to the 1940s, will be used later in the workshop to explore and discuss the many ways and styles that Cone used to capture the majestic power of "cloudscapes" and his fascination with the sky that is portrayed in his paintings.  A trip to the studio of Grant Wood, Turner Alley, and dinner in Cedar Rapids will also follow.

In addition, artists who cannot attend the entire weekend workshop are invited to sign up for a single day, Saturday, August 21st.  From 9am to 5pm a plein air painting outing led by Wagener will be held at nearby Tabor Home Winery.  The fee for this single day is $95.

Participants in last summer's first annual MAE Ellen Wagener workshop had this to say:

"She (Ellen) is an excellent teacher. She is unusually willing to be open and sharing with all her techniques and methods that she has worked out for herself over a long period of time...To be able to interact with artists at (her) level of achievement is a real privilege."  - Marcia W.

"As an attendee at the Maquoketa Art Experience Workshop...The learning experiences were interspersed with opportunities abounding for participants to expand their horizons.  It was a truly worthwhile encounter."  - Grace Z.

"The (Maquoketa) Art Experience is a great space for a workshop, and you are most fortunate to have artists of such high caliber and skill to be working in your area - it is indeed exciting."  - Linda F.

Biographic Information:

Ellen Wagener received her B.F.A. from the Corcoran School of Art in Washington , D.C. in 1989.  Her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums including the Des Moines Art Center , Phoenix Art Museum , Tucson Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and Art in Embassies, Vilinus , Latvia , and J. Cacciola Gallery, New York City.  Her work can be found in many private and public collections, such as the Figge Art Museum , Davenport , Iowa , Tucson Museum of Art, MasterCard Corporation, New York City , and Iowa State University , Ames , Iowa .

Information about Maquoketa Art Experience:

Maquoketa Art Experience is dedicated to bringing accomplished artists to Maquoketa , Iowa for short- and long-term residencies, workshops, and exhibitions.  Springing up in one of the Grant Wood Scenic Byway communities, Maquoketa Art Experience exists to nurture artists and provide opportunities for developing art-related businesses in the area.  Recognizing what Grant Wood saw in Iowa , Iowans and the surrounding landscapes, the artists and board of Maquoketa Art Experience are dedicated to creating easily accessible resources for Midwest artists.  Similar to the Stone City Art Colony of the last century, Maquoketa Art Experience is committed to supporting arts and artists by creating local opportunities for artists to nurture and expand their talents and skills within the inspiring landscapes of Eastern Iowa .  This project is made possible by the Iowa Community Cultural Grants and the DNRBOG grants.

For more information: www.maquoketa-art.org or phone: 563-652-9925.