Davenport, Iowa — The fourth annual festival to honor legendary artists Isabel and John Bloom will feature some new art activities and artists in the Village of East Davenport, Sat. May 7, 2016, 10-4 p.m. Admission and all activities are free and open to the public. It will be held rain or shine. (Photos below are available in high resolution format.)
What’s New?
“Village in Bloom: A Festival of the Arts” will welcome additional caricature and balloon artists, to reduce the line wait times for those popular activities.
A craft sponsored and supervised by Isabel Bloom artisans – painting concrete daisies – will take place in the old firehouse. (Photo below.)
A craft sponsored and supervised by Mississippi Fine Arts – creating your own John Bloom painting – will take place in the old firehouse.
Several popular entertainers will return to the festival after absences, including the Eulenspiegel Puppets and Steve Couch.
The Eulenspiegel Puppets will host a puppet making workshop as well.
The art activities tent will house several new crafts sponsored by the Figge Art Museum, Rock Island Art Guild, and other organizations.
As always, all activities are free.
Art and Artists include:
Quad City Students
Area school children (participating schools and organizations listed below) will exhibit nature sculptures that reflect the foundational principle of the regionalist movement that Isabel and John represented. That principle – making art based on what’s in your own backyard – will feature a bird theme and will be primarily composed of locally available recycled materials.
Teen Artists
This year’s festival will also feature the clay sculptures of Scott and Rock Island County high school students who created and submitted eagle-themed sculptures made of clay, under the guidance of Isabel Bloom sculptor Donna Young.
12th grade Davenport Central High School student Reilly Moeller submitted the winning sculpture. Titled “Pride and Joy,” the sculpture is being molded, cast and finished by Isabel Bloom artisans as a fundraiser for the festival. It will be available for sale for the first time during the festival, with Reilly on hand to sign it. Proceeds from the sale of “Pride and Joy” will be donated to the 2017 Village in Bloom arts festival. (Photo below.)
Professional Performers Include…
Steve Couch will entertain kids of all ages with Steve ‘n TV’s The Amazing You and Your Body Show in the Village Theatre at 10:30.
Eulenspiegel Puppets will perform shows in the Corner Park at 11:30 and 2:30, hosting a puppet-making workshop for children in between. (Photo below.)
Marbin Gypsy Jazz Duo will perform their Chicago Electric Guitar/Jazz/Rock on the Outdoor Main Stage at 1:30.
Tom Milligan, Humanities Iowa, will celebrate Grant Wood’s 125th birthday with his one-man play on the beloved Iowa artist in the Village Theatre at 12:30.
Quad-City Performers Include…
Many area dancers, drummers, singers and other performers will appear throughout the day, including the Moline Boys Choir, Mayer School of Irish Dance, Baker Youth Ballet, Metro Youth Program Drum Corps, Hand & Heart Drumming and more. For a complete schedule of performers, visit villageinbloom.org.
11th Street Performers Include…
Clowns, magicians, caricature artists, balloon artists, a bagpipe player and others will entertain festival-goers.
Street, Tent and Firehouse Arts Activities Include…
Sidewalk chalk drawing, mural painting, puppet-making, bubble fun and other activities will be found along the street. A make-and-take art tent hosted by the Figge Art Museum and many other local organizations will feature many children’s crafts and art activities, from modeling with clay to still life drawing. Art activities inspired by the work of Isabel and John Bloom will also be featured in the Fire House.
For the full schedule of performances and activities, visit www.villageinbloom.org.
“We’re excited to host Village in Bloom in celebration of all Isabel and John brought to our area,” festival organizer and Isabel Bloom sculptor Donna Young says. “Thanks to our presenting sponsors, Alcoa and Northwest Bank & Trust Company, we’re able to offer all performances and arts activities free.”
Vendors include…
Local firefighters will be grilling and restaurants and retail shops will be open.
Dunn Brothers Coffee, kettle corn, bake sale goodies will be available.
Water will be provided free of charge courtesy Iowa American Water.
Presenting Sponsors include Alcoa, Northwest Bank
Sponsors include Alcoa, Northwest Bank & Trust Company, Isabel Bloom, Union Hoermann Press, Edward Jones, and Hahn Ready Mix. Funds have been granted by the Isabel Bloom Art Education Endowment at the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend. In addition, many in-kind sponsors have contributed generously to help keep all activities entirely free for festival attendees.
Visit www.villageinbloom.org or contact festival organizer Donna Young at (563) 349-3167 or donnay@ibloom.com for more information.
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Schools and organizations creating sculptures for display at the festival:
Thomas Jefferson School K-5th Meghan Purcell (teacher)
Buchanan School 5th grade Kay Steele (teacher)
North High School 9 – 12 David Schaeffer (teacher)
Central High School 9-12 Renee Ott (teacher)
Sudlow Middle School 8th Annette Eechaute-Lopez (teacher)
Jackson Stepping Stones K-5th Stacey Houk (teacher)
Rivermont Collegiate 8th Colleen Tomlinson (teacher)
Walcott School 8th Anna Blackburn (teacher)
Creative Arts Academy 7th Nick DiGioia (teacher)
Washington School 5th Ann Rannfeldt (teacher)
