Ringing in the ‘20s Final Friday

January 31, 6-9 p.m.

Bucktown Center for the Arts

Experience a speakeasy created by Bucktown Artists, closing reception for Tony Seabolt, live music by Anthony Catalfano, Valentine-making with Rose Patton, and an informal talk on art of the 1920s by Sherry Maurer.

Tony Seabolt will have new work on display (to replace paintings that already sold from his show) in the MidCoast Gallery. Led by Bucktown artists Peggy Gratton and Scott Swanson, a suite will be transformed into a ‘20s Speakeasy. Pianist Anthony Catalfano will enliven the evening with his music starting at 6:30 p.m. Paper magic for valentines will happen in suite 100 with Rose Patton. Sherry Maurer, who teaches art history at Black Hawk College will provide a half-hour slide presentation on Art of the 1920s at 7:30 p.m. in suite 203.

Bucktown MidCoast Gallery

Tony Seabolt

through January 31

Jane Doty and Amber Williams

February 8 – March 28

Amber Williams has worked in collage since childhood and refocused on the medium in 2010. “I deconstruct materials by color, pattern, shape, etc. to create new images.” Her new collages expand the kinds of materials and processes she incorporates, including underlying collages, chips of paint, feathers and polyacrylic phototransfers. She also has moved from landscapes above ground to playful interpretations of sea creatures. The common ground connection between the types of images is experimentation.

Jane Doty retired from teaching in 2013, set up a studio at home and embarked on learning painting. She became a professional artist in 2015 when she came on board at Bucktown Center for the Arts and sold her works out of the MidCoast Artists’ Market. Her career climbed to a new level when she was commissioned to create works for the new Merrill Hotel through her representation in the Sunrise Gallery in Muscatine. Like Williams, she pursues experimentation: “In my paintings, manipulating the colors, light, depth and texture of what I see is my challenge.” Her subjects range from representation to abstraction. She says ”Holding onto a moment of beauty, a memory, a story, is why I paint.”

Bucktown second floor

Sam McFarland exhibit

February 15 – March 28

Sam McFarland is an independent tattoo artist by day and whenever possible she works in kiln-fired vitreous glass paints and stained glass after tending to her twins and family. She notes that her first spark of inspiration originated during watercolor classes with Ralph Iaccarino, which led to AP art classes at United Township High School and an art degree from Illinois State University. Her stained glass focuses on the relationship of humanity and animals.

She explains: “Fascinated and inspired by religious artwork of all denominations but deeply agnostic, my love of animals led me to explore the world of religious expression with them as martyrs and figureheads instead of humans. I create saints from the downtrodden animals haplessly caught in a world of humans and human desires. They become revered symbols for their fellow creatures and a new faith of fur and fishes is born.”

MidCoast Gallery West / The ARTery

Teresa Mesich and Jeanne O’Melia

through January

?

Glen Lowry, Juliet Stock and Barbara Toner

February – March

All that and a bag of chips! This exhibition will be a lively celebration of QC excellent talents: Glen Lowry’s cool serigraphs, Juliet Stock’s tactile paintings and Barbara Toner’s ingenuous fused glass.

Opening reception AND 11th ARTery Birthday pARTery on Friday, February 14, 6-9 p.m.

Meet the ARTists while enjoying live music by our friend, Dr. Heat. We’ll have cake by Lil Sweets and so many tasty snacks and drinks! Chair massages available from Pam Kaufman as well! Don’t miss this one… 2020 is bringing about big changes 🙂

Moline Centre Station

Craig Miller

through February

Craig Miller of Coal Valley, sees his photography straddling two modes: street photography (taken while out and about, somewhat akin to photojournalism) and fine art photography (abstracted and constructed imagery).