Public sculptures on the move to Rock Island, Bettendorf

Six public sculptures in Bettendorf and four in Rock Island will be moving out and replaced with new ones over the next two weeks, starting Wednesday. Each city has elected to keep a sculpture from last years’ selection for another year. Quad City Arts has facilitated the leasing and installation of public sculpture in the Quad Cities since 2002.

The City of Rock Island has participated in the program, yearly, since 2007 and Bettendorf, since 2008. Five sculptures have become part of Rock Island’s permanent collection, while Bettendorf has added seven. Davenport purchased nine sculptures while involved with the program. Sculptures are chosen by appointed committees and leased for one year. All of the sculptures are for sale and can be purchased by individuals, businesses or the city for permanent installation after June of the following year.

The most exciting part of the process is watching a Hampton Crane operator use their boom to lift a sculpture from an artist’s vehicle, hoist it high in the air and skillfully bring it down gently onto a concrete pad, as directed by the artist who created it. The artist will then drill holes into the concrete and secure the sculpture.

The installation schedule for Wednesday, June 10th begins at 10:30 am at Martha’s Point in Bettendorf. The next stop is Faye’s Field on the lower hillside facing 18th Street. After that, a sculpture that sat in front of “Build to Suit” on State Street for two years will be lifted onto the sculptor’s truck to return home to await another rental or permanent installation. Meanwhile, a new sculpture that does not need a mechanical lift will be placed in Veteran’s Memorial Park, at the entrance off 23rd St. in Bettendorf at noon. (Hampton Cranes generously donates their services).

Moline artist, David Zahn, will be installing a bronze sculpture at “Build to Suit” on Thursday, June 11th with the help of Quad City Arts’ Nathan Kraft.

Thursday, June 11 will see the arrival of sculptures at Rock Island’s Southwest Library branch and Longview Park, without crane assistance.

Council Bluff artist, Leslie Bruning, will work with Hampton Cranes on Tuesday, June 16 at 1 pm, to install his piece in front of the Waterfront Convention Center, Bettendorf.

On Thursday, June 18th, Rock Island’s Lincoln Park will receive a new sculpture by Tim Frye of Shumway, IL.

This story originally appeared on the Voice of Muscatine. Read More local stories here.

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