Leland Faulkner at the Quad City Arts Center -- September 22.
Tuesday, September 22, 6 p.m.
Quad City Arts Center, 1715 Second Avenue, Rock Island IL
On September 22, Quad City Arts will officially kick off its 53rd season of the Visiting Artist Series at the organization's venue in downtown Rock Island, the public invited to enjoy refreshments, meet and connect with new executive director Ben Gougeon, and learn more about the artists and experiences headed to schools and communities throughout the Quad Cities in the 2026-27 season.
Among the highlights of the September 22 evening will be a performance by Native American storyteller Leland Faulker, who serves as the 2026-27 Visiting Artists series' first guest from September 21 through 25, and who will present a program titled Dreamcatcher. A gathering of traditional Native American wonder tales and magical adventures told with an original and personal perspective, Dreamcatcher asks audiences to listen with the heart of a child, the mind of an elder, and the soul of a warrior, allowing the willing to walk the path to other places and other times.
These traditional tales of wonder are full of entertaining lessons from Turtle Island, and are a gift and legacy for future generations. This performance is a celebration of the power, beauty, and simplicity of human imagination. Prepare your heart for timeless stories that feature the animal world, nature, dreams, tricksters, and heroes, some have hilarious characters, some are frightening, others give us hope, and all of them teach and heal.
Leland Faulkner is a member of The Bad River Band of Chippewa in Odenah, Wisconsin, his mother’s tribe. His father was a Shoshone Bannock tribal member from Fort Hall, Idaho and he walks the path between both peoples. He has travelled the performer’s path for more than 35 years, training with masters of story, physical theater, mime, and acting. Faulkner has loved all magical adventures and wonder tales since he was a little boy, now reaching deep into the spiritual medicine bag where these stories and tales are kept, He hopes to bring you dreams and visions with this performance of Dreamcatcher.
Forthcoming guests in the 2026-27 Visiting Artists series will include: New Orleans blues and roots musician Dusky Waters (November 10 through 13); the all-female jazz band Brass Queens (February 8 through 12); a unique blend of polka and punk with the Chadron Polka Band (April 13 through 16); and the hip-hop and breakdance artists of Movement Revolution Dance Crew (May 10 through 14).
The Visiting Artists season preview with Leland Faulker and Ben Gougeon takes place in Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on September 22, participation in the event is free, and more information is available by calling (309)793-1213 and visiting QuadCityArts.com.
