18
Oct
2016
Art and the environment intersect in "Art Meets the River," ten award winning regional artist have painted and sculpted with the Mississippi River as their theme for an elaborate exhibition at Beréskin Fine Art Gallery in Davenport. A 2017 calendar featuring works inspired by Quad City waterways created by six of those Quad City artists will makes it's debut. A portion of the calendar's proceeds will benefit River Action, a non-profit organization that strives to foster the environmental, economic, and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront in the Quad City region.f
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This is the calendar's second year of production, and project coordinator and artist Heidi Brandt says local artwork is a natural fit for the fundraiser. "Many local artists use our environment as inspiration," she said. "It's a great opportunity for the community to support local artists as well as our local environment."
Contributing artists are Pat Bereskin, Brad Bisbey, Gene Brack, Heidi Brandt, Dee Schricker, and Robert Zeidler. More of their work can be found in the Boho Chic and Bereskin Fine Art Gallery located in Bucktown Center for the Arts, 225 E. 2nd Street, Davenport. Calendar images can be found at www.heidibrandt.com. Artists Dave Anderson, Gene Brack, Lee Kimball and David Zahn will be among the noted artists represented in the "Artoberfest" of the river. |
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Original art used in the calendar, in addition to other expansive renderings of the water and landscape along the river, will be on display at Bereskin Fine Art Gallery October 28 - November 12. An opening reception will be held at Bucktown's Final Friday event on October 28 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Calendars go on sale October 28 and will be available through the holidays at Hy-Vee grocery stores, as well as Boho Chic, Bereskin Fine Art Gallery, Midcoast Gallery West, Quad City Arts Rock Island, the Festival of Trees, Crafted Quad Cities, and the Quad City Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
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For more information contact Pat Bereskin, 563-508-4630, bereskinartgallery@gmail.com or Heidi Brandt at 563-340-2611,
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ARTIST BIOS
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Heidi Brandt - www.Heidibrandt.com
After a 30-year career in graphic arts, Heidi turned to fine-art photography as a full-time vocation in 2005. She is pleased to share her love of the river in the images chosen for this calendar and hopes they inspire others to join River Action in protecting and enjoying the river, too. She was honored recently when images from her collection of botanical photography were chosen for the new UnityPoint Health Trinity medical campus in Rock Island.
More of Heidi's work can be found at her gallery, Boho Chic in Bucktown Center for the Arts in downtown Davenport, at Quad City Arts in Rock Island, and online at Fine Art America. Calendar images can be found at heidibrandt.com.
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Pat Bereskin - www.patbereskin.com and www.
Pat Bereskin is a native of Bettendorf, Iowa. She acknowledges her artistic gift from God and the guidance her teachers from grade school through adulthood provided. A University of Northern Iowa grad, Pat has taught children in grades pre-k through adult for 38 years. For the past 26 years, she has taught through her own school, Mrs. B's School of Art; works as "Artist in Residence" for the community school district; works with art educators; brings contemporary artist to inspire students; teaches special need community artist, "Inspiration Studios"; has provided classes for military veterans: and is Director of Bereskin Fine Art Gallery & Studio.
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Brad Bisbey - www.bereskingallery.com
Brad Bisbey began drawing and painting at the age of 9, and decided early to pursue a career in fine art, particularly painting. He graduated from St. Ambrose University with a B.A. Degree in Art. Brad also studied with renowned portrait painter Daniel Greene in Chicago. An oil painter for many years, Brad developed an allergy to oil paint and solvents and had to find another medium in which to work. Acrylic paint was a possible solution. After getting used to the acrylic, Brad wouldn't return to oil paint, even if he could.
Brad lives in Moline Illinois in the same house in which he grew up. He exhibits and teaches at Bereskin Fine Art Gallery & Studio in Bucktown Center in Davenport, Iowa.
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Gene Brack - www.bereskingallery.com
Growing up in Central Florida, I lived a pre-Disney childhood. My Christian faith helped me stabilize a career path that has included four years in the US Air Force, 25 years in pastoral and theatre ministry, and more than a dozen years in education.
In 2007, weary of the tired old paintings in our home, I bought artist oil paints and a canvas. Doing so changed my life. A simple grid design filled with bold colors and textures became my first painting. It sold for nearly $400 and I was hooked. Today it's the unexpected colors that identify my paintings. I play not only with the subtly of colors, but the clashing of colors, as well. As a self-taught artist, I explore a variety of styles while continuing to fine tune my own.
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Dee Schricker - www.deeschrickerart.com
An Iowa native living in Blue Grass, Dee Schricker works in a variety of mediums including paint, clay and fiber. Her work is abstract and contemporary in style, giving free rein to the viewer's imagination. Her mixed media creations interact with bold and exciting results.
"I love having the artistic freedom to try new approaches. I often use new techniques in mixed media to achieve the look I want to express" Schricker says, "When someone purchases a piece of my art, I am truly honored." More of Dee's work can be found at her gallery, Boho Chic in Bucktown Center for the Arts in downtown Davenport.
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Robert Zeidler - www.bereskingallery.com
Born and raised in Muscatine, Iowa, and having never wandered very far from the shores of the Muddy Mississippi, I've grown at ease with life in the "rust belt". But it hasn't always been that way.
Being of German descent, the left side of my brain seeks total control of everything. So it seemed logical as a young man to pack off to college and become an aerospace engineer. After two years of disliking nearly every minute of nothing but math, I decided to try using the right side or the creative part of my brain.
After graduating with an Advertising Design degree from Iowa State University, I checked out agency-rich urban centers. That insanely hectic lifestyle was not for me and we settled down in the manufacturing hub of the midwest to raise a family, develop my creative skills, and paint in my spare time.
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Bereskin Fine Art Gallery is located at 225 E. 2nd St., Suites 102 and 104, Davenport, Iowa, 52801. For more information, contact owner Pat Bereskin at 563-508-4630 or bereskinartgallery@gmail.
