At the Hop: District of Rock Island hosts arts tour

Font Size:

By Katie Vaughn | Monday, April 30, 2007 10:29 AM CDT | () comments

Last year, the Quad-City arts scene lost two notable alternative arts venues with the closings of Mode Gallery in Davenport and the Peanut Gallery in Rock Island.

Nicole Miller ran Mode for a year, then decided to take a break from heading a gallery. And Sarah Jane Fellini was forced to close the Peanut Gallery after 8½ years due to a fire in an adjoining building.

But the owners of both galleries have a chance to make a brief return at Gallery Hop! a twice-a-year arts tour of downtown Rock Island to be held Friday, May 4.

The event began in 1998 as a way to showcase local art — but not just at traditional galleries and studios — said Jennifer Fowler, community marketing director of Renaissance Rock Island. Run by MidCoast Fine Arts and The District of downtown Rock Island, the hop incorporates galleries with restaurants, businesses and other unconventional display spaces.

In more than 20 locations, artists will create and showcase their work while a variety of activities take place around them. Musicians, dancers and actors will perform at several venues, and visitors are encouraged to talk with participating artists. Fowler said the format is intended to make art fun for the public.

“We’re trying to demystify the arts a little bit,” she said. “It doesn’t always have to be stuffy.”

Dean Schroeder, executive director of MidCoast Fine Arts, said Gallery Hop! creates “an alternative art energy” for artists and visitors, adding that downtown Rock Island is the ideal site for the event.

“The District is known as being this bohemian arts community,” he said.

Schroeder said a wide spectrum of events — some offered for the first time this year — will keep visitors busy. The challenge for visitors, he added, will be to keep moving so they can experience everything.

For instance, at MidCoast Gallery West, the acting troupe Prenzie Players will perform scenes from “King Richard” while mixed media work by three artists is displayed. Wendy Alleman will demonstrate glass-bead blowing at Quad-City Arts, and a group of artists will create blown glass at Liquid Fire.

Coinciding with Gallery Hop! is Family Resources’ annual Take Back the Night event. Intended to raise community awareness and celebrate survivors of violence against women and children, the event will feature dancers and speakers on the Great River Plaza.

With a broader diversity of venues and artists than ever before, Miller said this year’s Gallery Hop! is the ideal opportunity for making a return to the local arts scene.

She has created a show called the Five Finger Collective, which will take place in the former Alma’s Tapas building. A group of local artists will show paintings, sculpture and multimedia artwork while Iowa City filmmaker Harry Walker will offer a series of short films. Rounding out the event are mixed-media installations by a Chicago group, plus music by Catfish Have, William Elliot Whitmore and Office Play.

“This year is definitely the year to go,” Miller said. “There should be a great deal of stuff going on this year.”

The Peanut Gallery will relocate to the Rocket Theater for the event, Fellini said. In addition to 27 artists and 16 musicians showcasing and performing there, children and adults will create a Join Hands Day mural.

Fellini said she appreciates the chance to show artwork in the Quad-Cities again.

“Artists keep working whether we have a venue or not,” she said, “but it’s wonderful to have a place to show.”

Katie Vaughn can be contacted at (563) 383-2282 or kvaughn@qctimes.com.

If you go

What: Gallery Hop!

When: 5-9 p.m. Friday, May 4

Where: Downtown Rock Island

How much: Free

Information: (309) 788-6311 or www.ridistrict.com