Carolyn Krueger oversees MidCoast's Gallery West and The ARTery in Rock Island, saying "I feel like I have two different stories" because she balances art administration and teaching with her work as a visual artist. Her ceramics are instantly recognizable for their colorful flair. For MidCoast, she curates and installs exhibitions, and promotes and presents receptions. She's also an art instructor for the Family Museum in Bettendorf, and has worked with at-risk students at Black Hawk College. You may now be thinking "Whew! She is really busy!"

A Rock Island native, Krueger began to take on more responsibilities in high school when she started the Art Club at Rock Island High School. As an Augustana College art major, she worked as a teacher's aide for the Kaleidoscope children's art program, and was a photographer for the college Student Photo Bureau, which documented events on campus. In 2004 while in college, she was hired to teach in the Family Museum clay studio. Sher graduated in 2007.

Even before she was a MidCoast employee, Krueger volunteered for MidCoast for the Great Mask Auction and as an "art angel" at Riverssance. She met the then MidCoast director, Dean Schroeder, in 2007 at the formation of the Rock Island Advisory Committee. He later overheard her saying she was going to move if something more didn't develop for her in the Quad Cities, and he hired her to help with exhibitions in the Davenport River Center Gallery.

Several years later, she assumed responsibility for the Rock Island MidCoast galleries. Today she continues to organize exhibitions in these spaces and runs The ARTery rental opportunities. Since the exhibitions are often pre-juried with pairs of artists, it's up to her to make a cohesive presentation. Her lively receptions are the middle Friday of each month. She has a core of about twelve volunteer assistants.

Krueger's ceramics are low fire and consequently she can add vibrant colors on the surfaces. She needed to master this system that was used at the Family Museum and did not feel the need to work in higher firing modes. Many of her objects are functional hand built coil pots, and she also makes varied animal critters, "things that make me happy and that make people smile." When she wants a challenge, she will combine slab construction with coil techniques. I have seen smiles that could not be any bigger when a family visited Bucktown's MidCoast Gallery and the parents told their three children they could each pick out one of Krueger's critters for themselves. The children could not have been prouder of their treasures.

We thank Carolyn Krueger for sharing her cheery art enthusiasm in our community. As a new service, she will be booking artists to set up tables outside Gallery West during the warm weather month second Friday receptions.

For more information, you can contact Carolyn at carolynjkrueger@gmail.com.

~ Sherry

In partnership with The District of Rock Island, MidCoast Fine Arts is coordinating booth spaces for visual artists at Gallery HOP! The District of Rock Island will host local artists at a multitude of different venues.

A map will guide 'Hoppers' to each venue. If possible, artist demonstrations encourage interactive participation between artists and art lovers.

Deadline to enter as an artist is Saturday, April 16.

For more information contact info@midcoast.org or (563) 424-1210.

April 8
ARTery pARTy and Closing Reception for exhibition of works by Glenn Boyles, David Hast and Paul Pinzarrone.

Michael John and David Herwaldt
Through mid-April

Photographer David Herwaldt is intrigued by finding the visual potential of "unspectacular subject matter....I aim for the sweet irony of discovering that nothing is truly mundane." He's an assistant professor of art at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA.

Of his paintings, Michael John notes, "My series of abstractions in acrylic paints was begun to express my feelings after a traumatic brain injury." His paintings are an expressive release of emotions.

Final Friday, March 25, 6-9 p.m.
A celebration of African-American Women Artists and Coretta Scott King will be held by the Azubuike African American Council for the Arts, 6-7 p.m., Suite 103.

Dr. Cynthia Wiedemann Empen will be a guest speaker on Irma René Koen: A 'Modern Painter' Re-Discovered from 7-7:40 p.m., Suite 205.
 
Cynthia Wiedemann Empen, art historian, will share the story of Irma René Koen: A 'Modern Painter' Re-Discovered. Irma Koen (originally Köhn) (1884-1975), grew up in Rock Island, IL, and became a professional artist, writer and lecturer, whose biography and artistic legacy have been largely forgotten.

Two Bucktown suites also celebrate Women's History Month

	Desiree Border of 3 Gypsies Designs

Boho Chic Gallery will feature glass jewelry artist Desiree Border of 3 Gypsies Designs.

Until March 29, the Bereskin Fine Art Gallery and Studio is hosting local women artists Dawn Wohlford-Metallo, Karen Brinson, Jackie Olson and Heidi Hernandez.

Through April 9
The MidCoast Gallery is hosting a two-part exhibition recognizing area women artists. A reception for the exhibitions will be held on March 25, 6-9 p.m.

	Ceramics by Megan Quinn Paintings by April Jackson

One gallery section will feature the paintings of April Jackson of Galesburg, IL. Her paintings focus on emotion, memory, sensory experiences, the metaphysical, the written word and applying concepts of abstraction.

The other will host an invitational exhibition on Quad City Women College Art Teachers. Invited artists include Rowen Schussheim-Anderson (fibers), Megan Quinn (ceramics), Vickie R. Phipps (graphic design/alternative media), Corrinne Smith (mixed media painting and drawing) and Ronda Wright-Phipps (sculptor) of Augustana College; Zaiga Thorson (graphic design and drawing), Tami Schmidt (multi media and foundation courses) and Cozette Phillips (sculptor, foundation courses) of Black Hawk College; Sherry Maurer (teaches Art Appreciation and drawing at Scott Community College), and Kathryn Anderson (graphic design), Alison Filley (printmaking and foundation courses) and Kristin Quinn (painting and drawing) of St. Ambrose University.

The exhibition presents the increasing strength of area women artists who teach. "Twenty-five years ago, men dominated many art departments, including those in the Quad Cities. This exhibition demonstrates gender equalization in administration and staffing" notes Sherry Maurer, executive director of MidCoast Fine Arts. "We thank the artists for their participation given their busy lives."

Bucktown Second Floor Casement
Through April 15: children's artwork from Jordan Catholic School

Ballet Quad Cities Inspires Art Exhibit, April 1 - May 7

	David R. Anderson's Pas de Deux exhibition

Art lovers and dance enthusiasts alike will delight in David R. Anderson's Pas de Deux/A Dance for Two, a collection of new artwork inspired by Ballet Quad Cities, at Berekskin Fine Art Gallery and Studio. Anderson spent a year sketching, painting, and photographing the company of Ballet Quad Cities in preparation for his latest artistic endeavor. "Ballet is the perfect artistic expression of movement. A beautiful balance of skill and athleticism creates a magical perception of lightness and a sense that the dancers are floating on air," he said. "Adding artistic set designs, stage lighting, creative costuming, and moving music during a live performance creates a harmonious and wonderfully unique experience."

Anderson will be on hand to discuss his work at the opening night reception on Friday, April 1 from 6-9 p.m. Special guest, Courtney Lyon, Artistic Director at Ballet Quad Cities, will describe her experiences choreographing the classic ballet The Firebird at 7 p.m.

The Firebird, will be performed at the Adler Theatre on April 30. Pas de Deux/A Dance for Two can be viewed any time during Bucktown hours. For more information, contact Pat Bereskin at (563) 508-4630.

Third Thursday Glass Painting to Support Riverssance, April 21, 7 - 9 p.m.

	Hand-painted glasses to support Riverssance

Please join us to enjoy painting wine glasses to support Riverssance in Suite 103. No previous experience needed.

Tina Garret Portrait Seminar, April 22 - 24
Award-wining artist, Tina Garrett, will teach a three-day portrait and figure workshop at Beréskin Art Fine Gallery. Having only begun oil painting in 2012, the 2015 ARC Salon Purchase Prize Winner is noted for crediting her accolades to having the most amazing
teachers. Conversely, students of artist Tina Garrett, consistently praise her generosity in
passing on that same amazing information. The seminar is $250. Register online or contact bereskin-artgallery@gmail.com.

Beréskin Fine Art Gallery and Studio artist Robert Zeidler will exhibit his transparent watercolors at the Moline Public Library through April. Zeidler will conduct a short lecture on Saturday, April 2 at 1:30 p.m., followed by an hour-long demonstration of his painting process.

Spring and summer class schedules at Beréskin Fine Art Gallery and Studio are available.

Fiber Jam, April 27 - May 27
A juried exhibition of regional fiber works co-curated by Colleen Curry and MidCoast staff. Second floor casement.

April in Paris Final Friday, April 29, 6-9 p.m. April in Paris
Enjoy colorful and Impressionistic art, French bread and cheeses with wine.

Bucktown Revue will perform, followed by Waking Robots.

The Creative Collective, downtown Davenport's first coworking space, continues to grow and become a hub for creative entrepreneurs, remote employees, and freelancers. Community members enjoy the benefits of office and conference space, collaboration, professional development, and a beautiful, cutting-edge work environment located within Bucktown Center for the Arts.

 We are a non-profit community arts agency founded and run by artists. Our mission to stimulate our community's cultural and economic vitality through the support of regional visual arts and artists is accomplished by having amazing art-focused programming and events like Final Fridays, ArtWorks Expo and Riverssance Festival of Fine Art.