This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. "Action Reaction," inspired by classical figurative sculpture along with geologic and Neolithic rock formations, takes a closer look at the individual, the person, and the weight they assume. The abstracted figurative form exists in a state of perpetual action and reaction as it's stainless-steel body constructs and twists under a large, painted, rock-like mass. The painted, layered histories accumulated atop the figurative form expresses the here and now with the use of applied text and imagery. The text and imagery are suitable for all ages.

About: As an artist, I fluctuate between interdisciplinary ways of working; at times, focusing on public art with the fabrication of outdoor landmarks; at other times, by constructing artifacts within found material compositions and multi-media installations. Such fluctuation allows for a wide range of expressive capabilities, stretching from the creation of lasting monumental sculptures to transitory moments. The reference of historical and geologic documentation is often apparent in my work, whether through sedimentary layering represented in sculptural form, the accumulation and erosion of text and imagery across surfaces, or the melding of seemingly disparate conglomerate materials and objects.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. "Agua Dorada" was created to emphasize the importance and value of our need and perception of water. We have reached a point in many regions of the United States and the world where water has the value of gold and life without it is perilous. The concept for this sculpture is a riff on the “black gold” oil-based products we have been using and burning since 1859. Even though oil has enhanced many aspects of our lives, it has led to irreparable environmental damage and issues.

About: Peter Gray is a steel sculptor with a multi-disciplinary science background. He explores the intersection of art and science dealing with evolution, mutation and the natural world. Biological processes can be seen as forms of art. He uses steel because it is a strong versatile material. Art can be a powerful tool for social change. His work often deals with issues of social justice and environmentalism. Art has the power to connect people and to create a sense of community. His work can create a dialogue between the viewer and the sculpture exploring ways we can connect with the natural world.His large-scale public sculptures are in the permanent collections of sculpture parks, midwestern cities, California, two Chicago public schools, Chicago State University, a CTA subway station and a UC mini-park.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Steven Buduo: Similar to how a garden invites us to appreciate the beauty in the nature, Air Garden subtly encloses space so that we can imagine it in a more essential way. It consists of cast concrete, though I consider the negative space inside and around it to be equally relevant.

About: My work is rooted in themes of space, scale, and gravity. I have exhibited across the U.S. and have completed residencies at Pinea-Linea in Rota, Spain, Burren College in Ballyvaughan, Ireland, and the Steel Yard in Providence, RI. In 2020 I received the Sean Scully Fellowship at Burren College of Art and in 2023 was a finalist for the William and Dorothy Yeck Sculpture Award. Based out of St. Louis, MO, I am affiliated with Pryor Fine Art in Atlanta, GA; Marshall Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ; Chauvet Arts in Nashville, TN; and J Petter Galleries in Douglas, MI.

The Quad Cities International Airport gallery space, also known as Art at the Airport, is a formal contemporary gallery that has more than 1,600 sq. ft. of exhibition space in floor-to-ceiling glass cases. Nearly one million visitors view this space annually. This gallery is in front of the main arrival/departure seating area. Exhibits in this space are bi-monthly and showcase artists living within 250 miles of the Quad City area. The works can be purchased directly from www.quadcityarts.com.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. John Adduci: I've always been fascinated by magic tricks that seem to defy logic and attract onlookers. The notion of spinning plates has captured my attention for years. Furthermore, a big part of my sculpture practice is capturing movement through metal, for sculpture that attracts and delights onlookers. "Balancing Act" tends to bring enjoyment to visitors, as the spinning plate seems to be captured in time, without losing the essence of spinning. Because my favorite part of fabricating public sculpture is creating art that brings joy to the community, I'm thrilled to have "Balancing Act" on display for the Quad City community.

About: Public sculpture connects the viewer to their environment and, subsequently, connects its environment to human history. From Stonehenge to the Pyramids to Easter Island, physical structures indicate our everyday lives. Public sculpture is today’s equivalent. I imbue forms ranging from arches and obelisks to the pi symbol and give them the ability to walk, bend, and cavort; combining their original connotation with the contemporary. With over forty years of experience, my sculpture withstands all elements: the test of time, weather, and public interaction. Knowledge of technique is matched with practicality; creating budgets, providing liability insurance, and collaborating with contractors. Prior projects include museums, universities, government organizations, cities, and public parks, including water-centered or incorporated projects. Working out of a full-service sculpture studio, I fabricate my own work, assuring the final project matches artistic aesthetic with community values.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. "Bear" depicts a woman's story about her husband being ribbed for having harvested the smallest bear.

About: From the beginning, found objects have been the sprouted seeds inspired by nature that became my art. Rocks have been integrated into my work as symbolic of nature, often as a counterweight showing how all mankind actions affect the world around us. As industrial scrap was included in my work, the sculptures became more linear, abstract, and contemporary. Fountains and kinetic sculpture added movement and sound to the pieces. Themes and stories emerged as some works became more intricate, and my life’s experiences became more evident in the compositions. Relationships have emerged as one central theme for the greater body of my work. Man’s relationship to the environment, nature, and the effects we have on each other. It is the message of caring for the environment by upcycling, transforming it to sculpture that inspires thought, emotions and communication.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Ben Pierce: I wanted to create a sculpture that was both true to my design aesthetic, functional, and identifiable as a bench so people would instantly recognize and utilize the design, hopefully elevating the normal bench sitting experience by at least a little.

About: Ben Pierce is a veteran and Missouri native who found an outlet for his internal struggle by creating sculpture. “ I have been living with depression for many years (way before I began making art). Only recently have I begun to speak openly about it with friends and family. A lot of mental illness is suffered in silence- I am choosing to use my art as a way to help others speak up. Maybe someone will hear about this or read this and feel HOPE. You are not alone! Or through my openness about depression it will allow others to not suffer alone by giving them courage to seek help or confide in someone. Maybe this can open that conversation for them. My art/sculptures possibly would not have been created if it weren't for my need to externalize what I go through inside. I hope you find your own voice and can endure any obstacle that comes your way”.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Jim Wolnosky: My inspiration has been the great jazz & visual artists of the 50's & 60's, including Coltrane, Mingus, Henry Moore, Jean Arp & the wonderful Alexander Calder. Another influence is the great musician Charlie Parker who would start with a few random notes, move them around & eventually come up with a composition. He called this process “the art of recovery”. Riffing on this process, I form a base, add layers of elements until I have backed myself into a corner, recovered & finally end with a shape which is pleasing & moves with the breeze. My favorite Duke Ellington quote is ”It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”

About: Jim has been a professional artist for over 50 years. After attending Wayne State University and Michigan State University, Jim began a career in creative woodworking, focusing mainly on one-of-a-kind studio art furniture. He now uses various media - metal, stone, wood - to create sculptures, mobiles and stabiles. Jim's sculptures have been displayed in numerous locations around the mid-west, including: Troy, Ohio: Sculpture Walk St. Louis, Missouri: Sculptures on the Move Kansas City (Liberty) Kansas : Sculpture Walk – permanent collection In Michigan: Grand Rapids: Art Prize Royal Oak: Art Explored Clare: Art Sculpture Walk – permanent collection Elk Rapids: Walk of Art East Jordan: Sculpture Walk Battle Creek: Kellogg Community College - Art on Campus Beverly Hills: Art in the Park Grosse Pointe: Moross Greenway Project Lansing: Sculptures in the Park Art Path Sparrow Hospital 

Artist: This mural project was led by Augustan instructor Peter Xiao and include student artists at the college that included Caldwell, Katherine; Dean, Shelly; Dean,Taylor; Meador, Emily M; Mishra, Shweta; Sharratt, Emily S; Widdop, Chelsey; Bergquist, Karin B; Borhart, Benjamin; Nguyen, Michelle H; Nielsen, Kate C; Nuguid, Justine M; Vezzetti, John; Seyfert, Jonathan H; Klode, Kayci R; Anderson, Alyssa K; Lundgren, Courtney L; AlKhafaji, Elise R; Bell, Lindsey R; Beseth, Alison G; Cacciatore, Lara E; Fulginiti, Katharine A; Haan, Shannon E; Knight, Brittany M; Lucy, Lauren M; Meyers, Amanda J; Swierczek, Kendra T; Morris, Angelica A; Trent, Cassie L; Zeunik, Patrick J; Olivero, Lindsey E; Waner, Audrey L; Battistoni, Melanie S., Eric Mathis (studio tech) Villagomez, Felipe; Schad, Jason M; Xiong, Pheng; Daudet, Louis; Alvarez, Eduardo A; Shelli Boettcher; Anden Drolet; Brian Hancock; Smith, Veronica R; Seif, Monica M; Behnke, Claire C; Milliner, Cordaral; Schroeder Lauren.

About: The interest for a mural on the themes of diversity and music was initiated in 2007 by Felipe Villagomez, president of the student organization Order of the Phoenix on the Augustana campus.  Filipe took the idea to the art department and the Dean of Student Services. The retaining wall beneath and east of College Center on 38th Street across from the parking lot, was chosen as the site. Painting began in 2008 and continued for several semesters with enrolled painting students contributing ideas and skill. For pedagogy and artistry, students’ designs focused on value, form, color schemes of hue dominance, analogous and complementary contrasts.  Three students came up with images of trains, which led to a music major bringing scores and lyrics of the song “Rock Island Line”.  Several students collected and made images of musical instruments, national flags, globes, musical notes, banners and ribbons, various symbols for Augustana and their overseas study programs, creating perfect source material for a top border running along the 104 feet of wall.  Three student artists created poignant images of musicians, dancers, including a spectator as a stand-in for the self.  Along with a central logo of “Coexist” spelt out in signs of the world’s multiple religions, these figure groups form three focal points with messages of love, peace and music, now separated by the train snaking along a double-curve along the wall.   The theme of diversity is intrinsically suggested in the color arrangement of rainbow order advancing from violet through red, orange, yellow, yellow green, green, blue green to blue, with each section dominated by its hue complemented by other smaller color accents, calmed and brought to a unified whole by the neutral border on top and the train within.  

This large outdoor art sculpture is located in The Quarter along Beacon Harbor Parkway in East Moline, just east of 7th Street. The sculpture was designed by Charles O. Perry, a renowned artist who has created about 90 large outdoor sculptures that celebrate and question the laws of nature, the most prestigious by the name of Continuum, which stands in front of the national Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The sculpture is a Mobius strip meaning it has only one edge and side. Cassini was brought to the Quad Cities through Renaissance Rock Island by Italo Milani, a Quad City architect. He rescued it from a closed shopping mall and he was primarily responsible for making REDEEM aware of the availability of the sculpture. Obtaining the sculpture and the rehabilitation and installation expenses of the project was a joint effort of in-kind material and labor by several parties, including John Deere Harvester Works, Brandt Construction, KVF-Quad Corp, McLaughlin Body Co, DHCU Community Credit Union, Valspar Paint Corp, and Tri-City Electric. Paramount Millwright Services, Inc. was responsible for the assembly of the sculpture. The placement of the Cassini along Beacon Harbor Parkway was chosen so that residents and visitors would easily be able to see and enjoy it while driving by or biking and walking on the adjacent bike path. Artist: Charles O. Perry

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Matt Moyer: The inspiration for this work came from seeing large industrial pumps found in factories.

About: I have been making and exhibiting public sculpture for almost 20 years. My work is owned publicly in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa and exhibited nationally. My work is inspired by industrial manufacturing. It has a decidedly blue-collar feel due to my upbringing in Moline, IL. I am inspired by pumps, plows, factories, crops, and our natural environment, as well as the people who maintain all of them.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Paul Bobrowitz: Collaborative Community is about people striving, and how we need one another so we can discuss and work together so we can reach common goals.

About: From the beginning, found objects have been the sprouted seeds inspired by nature that became my art. Rocks have been integrated into my work as symbolic of nature, often as a counterweight showing how all mankind actions affect the world around us. As industrial scrap was included in my work, the sculptures became more linear, abstract, and contemporary. Fountains and kinetic sculpture added movement and sound to the pieces. Themes and stories emerged as some works became more intricate, and my life’s experiences became more evident in the compositions. Relationships have emerged as one central theme for the greater body of my work. Man’s relationship to the environment, nature, and the effects we have on each other. It is the message of caring for the environment by upcycling, transforming it to sculpture that inspires thought, emotions and communication.

Riefe’s art has been driven by his interests in perception, space, and time. He strives to make art relevant by facilitating interactive and insightful experiences. Art, for him, is a way of spurring curiosity, dialog and creating a sense of place. Riefe’s work spans from intimate objects to large exterior site-specific sculptures. His practice uses form and material to connect viewers to the present moment.

Riefe was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1991, and currently living in his hometown. He attended the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Art, Washington University, in St. Louis (MFA Fellow, 2017) and studied at the University of Northern Iowa (BFA, Art History and Sculpture, 2014). Since then, he has been group exhibitions at the Kemper Art Museum in St. Louis, and in outdoor shows in Knoxville, Tennessee; Hutchinson Kansas; Mankato, Minnesota; Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Riefe has public sculptures in the collections of Fort Dodge, IA (2021), Hutchinson, KS (2021), Lakewood, MN (2019), Iowa State University (2018), Minnesota State University (2018), Laneken, Belgium (2018), Cedar Falls, IA (2017) Rock Island, IL (2016), and Sioux City, IA (2016) 

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025."Colossus" was inspired by a lifelong fascination with architecture, rocketry, and mid 20th century science fiction.

About: Andrew Arvanetes received his BFA and MFA from Northern Illinois University. He has been producing sculpture professionally since 1987. Working in aluminum, stainless steel, bronze, mild steel and wood, Arvanetes has fabricated large outdoor sculptures, gallery-size work as well as low-relief wall constructions. He has exhibited his work throughout the United States, participating in exhibitions, competitions and public art projects. "My sculptures are object oriented and narrative in nature. I achieve a connection with my audience by utilizing universal visual details. These details combine with the overall form to create the visual aesthetic. Because of my formal approach to fabrication, rational functionality might be expected. On the contrary, the combination of physical scale, personal references and visual details often results in a whimsical and absurd reality."

Horstman offers a representation of texture, light, mass and translucent space in the minimalist tradition. His work reflects human interactions and emotions. The movement of water is seen throughout this sculpture.

As a sculptor and painter, I present simple, bold concepts that are easily comprehended. This same theme carries over in my jewelry which I like to call body armor. My art is sometimes created from industrial scrap which brings new life to the castoff of industry. My sculpture has been exhibited in many city-sponsored outdoor exhibits and purchased by private collectors. My work is in several museum collections.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025."The Enchantment of Reading" was origninally created for a children's section of the Addison, Illinois Public Library. The daughter of a librarian who worked at the library was the model. I wanted to create a playful piece that children would relate to.

About: I have been a working artist for over thirty years creating figurative bronze sculptures. The inspiration for my work comes from a wide variety of sources. I enjoy trying to capture the numerous aspects of the human spirit. Many of my sculptures have been commissioned and I have placed numerous sculptures in public settings throughout the country.

Make a visit to the Figge Art Museum and the Museum Store. The Figge Art Museum’s permanent holdings include many nationally and internationally known objects and bear witness to more than seven decades of philanthropy and civic pride. The collections offer a distinctive look at regional, national and international art from the 15th century to the present. A gift of 334 paintings from Charles August Ficke to the City of Davenport formed the nucleus of the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery’s permanent collection when it was established in 1925. Exhibits change throughout the year, along with a national and international traveling exhibition schedule. Hours: Mon Closed; Tue-Wed 10 a.m to 5 p.m.; Thur 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri & Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Artist: Peter Gray About: Traditionally, we have annual remembrances for those long past. HOWEVER, this year we are thrust into a reality where we have many to remember for their sacrifices NOW, not later. So please think of them as you look at my Flame of Remembrance. Artist Bio: At his Metal-i-Genics Studio in Chicago, Gray captures the aesthetics of genetics, microbiology, and physics in bronze and steel sculptures. His goal is to create something that has both an aesthetic value as a sculpture and then also leads to further questioning by the viewer.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Sam Spiczka: When I look at a natural creation, be it a bone, shell or tree, I am struck by the anomalies and variations found in an object that appears symmetrical at first glance. The perfection that life aspires to is forced to adapt into a more irregular and complex form when it encounters an indifferent environment. Yet the ideal still lies just below the surface. It is a whisper only our mind can hear. My sculpture is inspired by this conflict between an ideal state and an imperfect reality. In it can be found both the chaos of growth and the geometry of perfection.

About: Inspired by natural bone forms, rural technology, and geometric structure, I have produced a distinctive body of work that is both modern and intensely primal, public yet deeply personal. Born and raised in rural Minnesota, I became captivated by metal early on through the experience of working at my family’s welding shop. Though I briefly studied art and philosophy at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, my true education has come from Nature, the example of past sculptors, and the craftsmanship of my father. My award winning sculptures have been exhibited internationally – including at the Seolbong International Sculpture Park in Icheon,South Korea, the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and Franconia Sculpture Park in Taylor’s Fall, MN – and can be found in many public and private collections.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025 ."Fowl Play" was created using scraps of steel remaining from other sculpture projects. This creates a playful abstract representation of a bird recognizable from the distance--thus the name, 'Fowl Play'! Up close, the viewer can see the conglomeration of pieces used to create the piece.

About: My Midwestern roots and a career as a Registered Landscape Architect have influenced my designs. Natural landforms and native plants are the starting points for my sculpture concepts. The native trees, shrubs, and perennial plants I work with daily, and the rugged weather of the Midwest provide my inspiration. Often my works are an abstract representation of natural grasses, trees, or shapes that occur in nature. My goal is to make inclusive and accessible public art, that creates a sense of wonder, or a new perspective. To foster sustainability, I strive to incorporate recycled metals and repurposed materials when practical. My pieces are designed and constructed to be stout, long-term installations with little or no maintenance needed. My primary mediums are weathered steel, stainless steel, and painted steel, brushed aluminum, fluorescent plexiglass, native limestone, and LED lighting. I have a full-scale fabrication studio and continually use new materials as my art evolves.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Jon Kamrath: My second sculpture in this series, this abstract sailboat uses a strong contrast between dark, distressed steel components and bright, clean aluminum panels. The organic feel of the steel, juxtaposed with the vibrant motion ground into the aluminum creates a striking visual, constantly changing with the position of the sun or viewer.

About: It was always my dream to be a public sculptor. After loving teaching art for 10 years, I decided to pause and focus on my own artistic vision. My first public commission was a 45’ tall sculpture that proved incredibly challenging, rewarding, and educational. After that, I have been living out my dream, making the rounds on rotating public tours and creating permanent site-specific pieces. I especially enjoy making sculptures that encourage the viewer to move around the space, rewarding them with unique views from each perspective and facilitating exploration of the entire space. I like to use strong contrast in my pieces to draw the viewer in from a distance, often juxtaposing dark steel and bright aluminum. Once closer, rich surface textures then keep the viewers’ attention and offer new details for them to enjoy.

Ben Pierce: "Growing Up" pays respect to my family history and lineage of bricklayers. My father is a 3rd generation bricklayer and I spent a lot of time as a kid on the jobsite. I would play in sand piles that were used to mix with the Portland cement and water to make the mortar. I remember climbing up on the scaffolding and watching my dad as he laid bricks. Using or mimicking a plant-like form, to show growth. Placing the bricks inside a circular shape on a form that is largely angular highlights the brick to showcase their value. As the form grows, the bricks are an integral part- just like in my own growth and childhood.

Ben Pierce is a veteran and Missouri native who found an outlet for his internal struggle by creating sculpture. “ I have been living with depression for many years (way before I began making art). Only recently have I begun to speak openly about it with friends and family. A lot of mental illness is suffered in silence- I am choosing to use my art as a way to help others speak up. Maybe someone will hear about this or read this and feel HOPE. You are not alone! Or through my openness about depression it will allow others to not suffer alone by giving them courage to seek help or confide in someone. Maybe this can open that conversation for them. My art/sculptures possibly would not have been created if it weren't for my need to externalize what I go through inside. I hope you find your own voice and can endure any obstacle that comes your way”.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Brian Ferriby: "Helicopter Seeds" is inspired by the actual form and motion of the seed pods from maple trees when they are carried away on their journey of regeneration by the wind on a summer day.

About: I wholly subscribe to the idea of making your work out of what you know. My work springs from my surroundings. Even when making abstract works, I have drawn my inspiration from a close examination of what is close at hand. Universal questions can be approached if rooted in the specific.There has to be something real to abstract from, and that something is close at hand. I am interested in place. I am interested in what happened or is going to happen in that place, whether it is yesterday or in the distant past. I am interested in what has been forgotten. I am interested in the sublime. I am interested in what is just under the surface of our present reality. I am a professional sculptor and arts educator. I am a graduate of Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I am currently working on commissioned public art pieces around the Midwest, and maintaining a studio practice based in Leelanau County in Northern Michigan.

Hand-blown works of art are what you will discover at Hot Glass. Not only do they feature a gallery floor with amazing pieces for you to purchase and enjoy, but you can also see these talented glass blowers at work creating new and amazing pieces. Check website for hours or call ahead. Hot Glass also offers glass blowing classes for those interested in trying their hand at creating their own works of art. Learn more about Hot Glass by visiting their website.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Anna Modeland: I chose to title my sculpture In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida after the 1968 hit song by Iron Butterfly, because it showcases a carefree era of being wild and free spirited. Featuring iron butterflies sharing a playful moment with [heavy metal] daisies, this eclectic work of art is inspired by a colorful lifestyle that once was, and may never be again. It's perfect for viewers from all walks of life to enjoy and interact with, as the butterflies can spring back and forth to signify flight.

About: My name is Anna Modeland and I’m a 34-year-old artist. Art has always been a huge part of my life. I started drawing at a very young age and have progressed in other forms of art media since then. Sixteen years ago, I started working with metal in my dad’s machine shop after he taught me how to manipulate metal, weld, and plasma cut to make the ideas in my head come into the real world and on public display. I have participated in many public sculpture displays and can't wait to do more! Art is a universal love language. It's all encompassing, yet so personal-whether it's through the stick figure boy and girl you drew on a napkin on your first date or through the design of the hand-crafted diamond you proposed with. Through the photo you took of your newborn's feet on the day you took her home or through the music you cry to when you give her away at the end of the isle. Art is made through the hands, the heart and the soul. A person's life is shown in their art.

“It’s Going to be Okay” is a steel sculpture with two oculus shapes painted with Macropoxy paint in bright colors. This piece is part of the artist’s “Balance Series,” a series of sculptures where Pierce combines unpolished steel with painted steel to achieve a playful balance of shapes and textures.

Ben Pierce is a veteran and Missouri native who found an outlet for his internal struggle by creating sculpture. “ I have been living with depression for many years (way before I began making art). Only recently have I begun to speak openly about it with friends and family. A lot of mental illness is suffered in silence- I am choosing to use my art as a way to help others speak up. Maybe someone will hear about this or read this and feel HOPE. You are not alone! Or through my openness about depression it will allow others to not suffer alone by giving them courage to seek help or confide in someone. Maybe this can open that conversation for them. My art/sculptures possibly would not have been created if it weren't for my need to externalize what I go through inside. I hope you find your own voice and can endure any obstacle that comes your way”.

"Just Visiting" was inspired by the annual migration of the monarch butterflies from Canada to their wintering grounds in Mexico; and their congregating in Mexico's oyamel fir trees of Michoacan and Mexico states.

As a sculptor and painter I offer a representation of texture, light, mass and translucent space in the minimalist tradition.  My art is sometimes created from industrial scrap which brings new life to the castoff of industry. 

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Dale Compton: By simply existing we are constantly changing and growing. In this piece you might see a young girl or an older woman. A young girl, like the small caterpillar, just waiting to grow and explore the next phase in life. She is ready to take flight, embracing what life has in store for her as she transforms into a woman. The woman looks back on her life, fondly remembering when she first spread her wings like the beautiful butterfly and learned to fly. "Learning to Fly" uses rebar for the frame of the structure and reclaimed scrap metal for the body and dress and is powder coated to withstand the elements.

About: Born and raised in Mankato, MN I have always been drawn to art. As a high school student I spent my summers working in a custom framing gallery. This was my first true exposure to a wide variety of art. I received my B.S. degree in Art Education from MSU, Mankato and taught high school art for the past 20+ years before recently moving to the Pacific Northwest. I have been fortunate to have sculptures on display in cities throughout the Midwest over the past few years and am always excited to come back home and install a sculpture in a new location. As an avid outdoor enthusiast I always have my camera with me. I look to find interesting photos wherever I travel. It is in my photos and scenes from nature that inspire my sculptures. From the geometric forms to the abstractions found outdoors I look to bring those into my artwork. With a focus on recycled materials and salvaged or reclaimed metal, I aim to help keep the natural environment a place of beauty.

Artist: Lori Roderick & John Gere About: The Lindsay Architectural Sculpture Park is a grouping of structural forms derived from historic styles of buildings and homes in the Quad Cities. Artist Bio: The concept for this interactive and educational park grew from a series of design meetings facilitated by Quad City Arts. Nearly 50 area historic preservationists, businesspeople, recreation enthusiasts, and river activists came together over a two-year period to develop the community-built project. Lori Roderick and John Gere were its primary designers, with Roderick serving as the project's lead artist. The breadth of Gere's experience as an architect is evident in the scope of the historic architectural references. The park was dedicated and presented to the City of Davenport on May 22, 1999.

"Lloyd's Trek"was dedicated on August 8, 2010 in memory of Lloyd Schoeneman, an artist and arts administrator who served as Quad City Arts' community liaison and director of public visual arts for 22 years, until his death in 2001. Although it was originally intended to be placed on Second Street near the entrance to Quad City Arts along with trail markers and planted trees, the sculpture's location in an active public space better reflects Schoeneman's commitment to a partnership between the arts and the community. (The sculpture can be readily viewed from the Quad City Arts Center through the gallery's large north windows.) The piece's blend of whimsy and sophistication also seems to capture the spirit of Schoeneman's own artwork. The concept of "Lloyd's Trek" was determined through the creative input and donations of numerous friends and colleagues over the course of several years. The relationship between the Mississippi River and local industry is expressed in Lloyd's Trek through the use of industrial materials - weathered metal sheets and concrete - and the aqua-colored waves that circumscribe the sculpture's middle section. The waves are patterned with reflective rectangular forms that enliven the surface but also feel like spikes or large rivet heads. A small welded patch that cuts through the continuous waves seems to further speak of the impact of industry on the river. Yet, this shape - inaccessibly placed far over our heads - also suggests a sealed door, hinting that something is hidden within. A few years after the dedication, Lloyd's wife, Megan Quinn worked with students to create ceramic tiles to add further dimension and interest to the "legs" of the sculpture.

Stuart Morris received an MFA degree as an Iowa Arts Fellow from the University of Iowa. He taught design and fine art courses at the University of Iowa and the University of Miami and ran Conjure Design before coming to UWSP in 2002 where he teaches courses in graphic design and foundations. Stuart continues to work professionally as a designer and artist. His work has been awarded and exhibited regionally, nationally and internationally.​​

The approximately 2,500-square-feet of murals feature a ballet folklorico dancer in a colorful gown, a field of marigold flowers and images inspired by Day of the Dead among other intricate details. The murals also pay homage to the organization’s history with a realistic portrait of Mercado on Fifth founder Bob Ontiveros. Mercado on Fifth partnered with Chicago-based artist Czr Prz to create the murals. The artist and his team worked over a period of a month to complete the project that covers 3 sides of the building. About the artist Czr Prz (Caesar Perez) is a contemporary artist working in sculpture and large-scale aerosol murals. Born and raised in Chicago, Prz’s 20-year creative career has spanned North America and Europe. Prz enjoys telling stories with his artwork in the folkloric tradition instilled by his Latino-Caribbean upbringing. His colorful pieces balance the beauty of ancient and natural elements with futuristic surrealism and incorporate symbols culled from traditional sources and pop culture alike.

"Moon Shadow" was inspired by last year's full eclipse of the moon and the orbits of the moon and earth. The moon pendulum (fixed on the sculpture) refers to the phases of the moon.

Peter Gray is a steel sculptor with a multi-disciplinary science background. He explores the intersection of art and science dealing with evolution, mutation and the natural world. Biological processes can be seen as forms of art. He uses steel because it is a strong versatile material. Art can be a powerful tool for social change. His work often deals with issues of social justice and environmentalism. Art has the power to connect people and to create a sense of community. His work can create a dialogue between the viewer and the sculpture exploring ways we can connect with the natural world.His large-scale public sculptures are in the permanent collections of sculpture parks, midwestern cities, California, two Chicago public schools, Chicago State University, a CTA subway station and a UC mini-park.

River Music Experience is connecting everyone with a chance to play the piano in public. Ten artist-designed and decorated pianos have been placed at iconic QC locations for any and everyone to play. Whether you’re exploring the gems from yesteryear at Antique Archaeology, grabbing your groceries for the week at Freight House Farmers’ Market or enjoying a day at Niabi Zoo with the family, there will be plenty of opportunities to add your own tune to this summer’s soundtrack. Get out and see these amazing pianos across the Quad Cities and see the creative work that has been done by Quad Cities' artists. Check out our website above to view each location!

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Matt Moyer: I created this sculpture in the hope that viewers will remember that opportunities come to us from unexpected circumstances. Each door represents a new set of opportunities.

About: I have been making and exhibiting public sculpture for almost 20 years. My work is owned publicly in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa and exhibited nationally. My work is inspired by industrial manufacturing. It has a decidedly blue-collar feel due to my upbringing in Moline, IL. I am inspired by pumps, plows, factories, crops, and our natural environment, as well as the people who maintain all of them.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Tim Adams:Look at any aerial photo! All rivers and streams take on a serpentine pattern as they carve their way through the landscape toward the equator. As eons pass, the constantly flowing energy of the water scours away the banks, carving and depositing alternately until the water course turns back on itself and abandons its former channel for a new path. The resultant land form is the “oxbow”.

About: My Midwestern roots and a career as a Registered Landscape Architect have influenced my designs. Natural landforms and native plants are the starting points for my sculpture concepts. The native trees, shrubs, and perennial plants I work with daily, and the rugged weather of the Midwest provide my inspiration. Often my works are an abstract representation of natural grasses, trees, or shapes that occur in nature. My goal is to make inclusive and accessible public art, that creates a sense of wonder, or a new perspective. To foster sustainability, I strive to incorporate recycled metals and repurposed materials when practical. My pieces are designed and constructed to be stout, long-term installations with little or no maintenance needed. My primary mediums are weathered steel, stainless steel, and painted steel, brushed aluminum, fluorescent plexiglass, native limestone, and LED lighting. I have a full-scale fabrication studio and continually use new materials as my art evolves.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. "The Feather" is my debut sculpture design, after spending four years designing themed climbing walls in the active family entertainment industry for a company called ClimbZone, and almost twenty years painting public and private murals for my own business, BB Murals.

About: Besides my insatiable desire to design, fabricate, deliver and install art to the public… wherever I can, whenever I can, as much as I can, the following poem best describes my interest in public art: Open love letter to public art: What I love about you, public art, is that you are meant for everyone You require no entry fee, cover charge or special invitation. Set free from the galleries, museums and private homes of the past. You're out there, in the wild, unapologetic, yet vulnerable, and for everyone to see! You must be strong, durable, able to withstand all types of weather, public scrutiny and the test of time! You can be interactive, kinetic or stationary, and come in so many forms, In all shapes and sizes. You invite discussion, and bring the world of visual arts to people’s everyday lives. For all these reasons and many more, I will adore you for the rest of my life! Hopelessly smitten

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Bill McGrath: I've always liked gabions, and like the idea of stone/rocks under some kind of tension. I wanted a familiar shape that would either be recognized at first from afar, or later after examination of the piece. I like people "wandering" through a piece.

About: I took up metal sculpture about 12 years ago after being heavily involved in bringing art into my community as city manager. Because of this interest, I primarily make sculpture for outdoor, public viewing. I create sculpture to lure people into looking at the use of materials, shapes, shadows, and colors in a manner different from what they are used to. Whether or not a piece has "meaning" it stimulates the brain to try to comprehend it and I find this kind of stimulation exciting and beneficial. Making sculpture for outdoor viewing extends the energy used to understand it, as once in a public place, the entire community has to deal with it. If I'm lucky there may be a few benches nearby where conversation may ensue regardless of whether it's about the piece. Public sculpture is also a place where children can be exposed to safe, large fabrications that they don't understand, and this provides an opportunity for a shared family experience.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Glory Hartsfield: The arch creates a doorway that can be the start to a new dimension, within ourselves or as a final transformation when we draw our last breath. We have the power to transform ourselves to become the best we can be.

About: Being able to change what is familiar into something that is born from imagination aligns with my aspirations to create the life I want to have and encourage others to do the same. I want to give the people that encounter my sculptures something to smile about and bring wonder to the ordinary. To initiate a dialog with strangers I present an object created from feelings and images, past and present of my life's challenges and discoveries in hopes of sharing what I've found so that others may see they are not alone. As a woman artist I want to encourage women to celebrate themselves, overcome the social pressure and thought patterns that hold us captive in our own bodies. My goal is to continue to make and show sculpture that speaks to the viewers of troubles and triumphs I have encountered in my journey in hopes of motivating others to conquer their own troubles and become aware that we control the course our life takes us and are beholden to none.

Quad City Arts’ Rock Island Gallery is home to an exhibition space located on the first floor. The building, which was once a turn-of-the-century department store, features bi-monthly art exhibitions by local and regional artists. The gallery also features a shop with a wide variety of art for sale, including paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, handblown glass, and textiles. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed Sundays.

Tim Fry: As humans, our never-ending dreams consist of growing and always reaching upward. It is interesting that nature too moves in this way. This sculpture was designed to have kinetic motion. The upper section sways gently in the wind.

Tim Fry: As humans, our never-ending dreams consist of growing and always reaching upward. It is interesting that nature too moves in this way. This sculpture was designed to have kinetic motion. The upper section sways gently in the wind.”

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. "Rotating Thru the Universe" is a metaphor for the journey of life, with the individual or main object depicted as moving through various stages and experiences. The universe is a complex system where everything is interconnected.This sculpture invites visual interaction through its kinetic energy to represent the movement of planets, stars, galaxies, or other celestial bodies in the universe.

About: From the beginning, found objects have been the sprouted seeds inspired by nature that became my art. Rocks have been integrated into my work as symbolic of nature, often as a counterweight showing how all mankind actions affect the world around us. As industrial scrap was included in my work, the sculptures became more linear, abstract, and contemporary. Fountains and kinetic sculpture added movement and sound to the pieces. Themes and stories emerged as some works became more intricate, and my life’s experiences became more evident in the compositions. Relationships have emerged as one central theme for the greater body of my work. Man’s relationship to the environment, nature, and the effects we have on each other. It is the message of caring for the environment by upcycling, transforming it to sculpture that inspires thought, emotions and communication.

"Seasonal Celebration" evokes the joy people often feel during while participating in various seasonal celebrations-from summer picnics, to Halloween, to all varieties of yearly religious observations-the ability to celebrate bonds us together as human beings.

 From the beginning, found objects have been the sprouted seeds inspired by nature that became my art. Rocks have been integrated into my work as symbolic of nature, often as a counterweight showing how all mankind actions affect the world around us. As industrial scrap was included in my work, the sculptures became more linear, abstract, and contemporary. Fountains and kinetic sculpture added movement and sound to the pieces. Themes and stories emerged as some works became more intricate, and my life’s experiences became more evident in the compositions. Relationships have emerged as one central theme for the greater body of my work. Man’s relationship to the environment, nature, and the effects we have on each other. It is the message of caring for the environment by upcycling, transforming it to sculpture that inspires thought, emotions and communication.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. V. Skip Willits:The things that I make are an integral part of my life. In the studio I use soap stone for drawing the lines that I cut in the steel. I decided to incorporate that mark making technique on the surface of this sculpture.

About: The welding technique I use to create most of my work is a skill I began learning at age ten from my father who worked in a welding shop. He taught me everything, from the characteristics of materials such as steel, cast iron and aluminum to the various welding techniques; arc, TIG, MIG, torch, etc. In 1983, I produced and installed my first major public sculpture. Since that time I’ve continued to make things. Yearly, I participate in numerous exhibitions and produce commissioned work across the United States, Canada and Europe. I live and work, happily, on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Artist: Ted McElhiney and Thom Gleich About: Featuring sculptures of George Seurat's famous painting, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Sculptures are removed during the winter season. Artist Bio: Located in Lindsay Park next to the Mississippi River in Davenport, these sculptures depict figures from the well-known painting done by impressionist Georges Seurat. This interpretation of the painting was created by artist Tom McElhiney and sculptor Thom Gleich. The two artists worked with community volunteers on the painting of each sculpture. These major figures from the Georges Seurat painting titled Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte were created in larger than life carvings by sculptor Thom Gleich. Davenport Central High School art students and other community volunteers worked with the artists to paint the figures using a technique that mimics Seurat's pointillism. Recent restoration to the sculputres was done by Jean Downey. The sculptures were originally placed at Credit Island Park in Davenport in 1998. They were refurbished and move to this current location in July of 2022.

Michael Young: When designing sculpture, I always remember that each viewer will have an individual, emotional response to the piece. Because I want that response to be positive, I frequently use birds in my work – both as imagery and as symbol. The idea of birds swooping up and taking flight is incredibly uplifting, lending an inspirational feel to the sculpture.

Michael Young is a Chicago artist specializing in site-specific public sculpture and light-based work. For over thirty years, Young’s customized artwork and design have appeared in numerous public and private collections across the United States and abroad. Highlights include permanent exhibition design for the National Smithsonian Air and Space Museum along with corporations, schools, and private collections. From concept to installation, Young’s aesthetic reflects the values and interests of each sculpture’s site and surrounding community. Having studied science - primarily botany and ecology – while obtaining a Bachelor’s degree at University of Wisconsin at Madison, Young’s work with organic-forms suggests the interdependence of environmental elements.

Artist: Anna Modeland. I chose this piece because, as the national bird, the eagle embodies the strength and freedom of our country, especially through these tough times. It’s a reminder that through war, hatred and racism, and a panic inducing pandemic, we can all still stand tall, spread our wings and choose to rebuild this place that we call home.

Throughout her childhood, Anna Modeland enrolled in every art class she could take at Boone High School in Iowa. She was passionate about drawing and sketching. As the daughter of a self-taught machinist and metal worker, she’d been exposed to welding for most of her life. At 18, the most influential person in her life, her father, taught her how to weld. “I’ve always been fascinated by my father and his career,” Modeland said. “He’s the most interesting and talented man you’ll ever meet.” Ever since he taught her to weld, she has never stopped creating sculptures.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025.

In rapt conversation, two women sit huddled on a bench in downtown Davenport. One draws back with her mouth comically agape, stunned by the words being spoken by the other. B. Thomas Lytle, captured this interaction with hammered and welded Cor-ten steel. Although the facial expressions and body language of the two women are true to life, the figures are unnaturally proportioned. They're 51 inches in height - about as tall as a seated person - but their heads are relatively tiny, their arms pipe-thin, and their bodies elongated.

Lytle was born in Galesburg and raised Henderson, IL. He studied art and art education at Eastern Illinois University followed by graduate studies in Intaglio printmaking at Governor’s State University near Chicago. He then taught high school painting and drawing for eight years in the Chicago suburban towns of Lansing and Calumet City before moving back to the Galesburg area. Thomas retired from Galesburg High School in 2009 after teaching sculpture, drawing and design. He operates Studio 214 near his home in Knoxville.

Located in East Moline on the riverfront at Beacon Harber, this sculpture was created by Ted McElhiney of LeClaire, Iowa. The scupture represents Ted's interpretation of the Rock Island Rapids that existed between Hampton and Rock Island before the lock & dam system was added to the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities region. Artist: Ted McElhiney

Artist: Michael Young. When designing sculpture, I always remember that each viewer will have an individual, emotional response to the piece. Because I want that response to be positive, I frequently use birds in my work – both as imagery and as symbol. The idea of birds swooping up and taking flight is incredibly uplifting, lending an inspirational feel to the sculpture.

“I started out as a child, building tree houses and various objects. Creating became a critical part of my life. Later I excelled at art and became interested in light and discovered film. At Columbia College, I continued my studies, eventually finding myself at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Immersing myself in the abstract and the practical, I learned and unlearned aspects of my art. Over the last 30 years, I have continued to work on my sculptures both large and small in a host of materials. My work has been sold internationally. One of the highlights of my career was being commissioned by the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to create an entryway sculpture and mural to commemorate the museum’s anniversary. Working in the Sedgwick Studio (Chicago) over the last twelve years has helped me to mature as an artist, collaborating and making the objects necessary to my life.”

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025.

This corten steel scultpure resembles tightly closed seed pods full of potential to burst and scatter their seeds to the breeze where they will begin a haphazard journey to destinations unknown while the parent plant stays rooted in place.

The welding technique I use to create most of my work is a skill I began learning at age ten from my father who worked in a welding shop. He taught me everything, from the characteristics of materials such as steel, cast iron and aluminum to the various welding techniques; arc, TIG, MIG, torch, etc. In 1983, I produced and installed my first major public sculpture. Since that time I’ve continued to make things. Yearly, I participate in numerous exhibitions and produce commissioned work across the United States, Canada and Europe. I live and work, happily, on the banks of the Mississippi River.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. "We’re Here", inspired by classical figurative sculpture along with geologic and Neolithic rock formations, takes a closer look at the individual, the person, and the weight they assume. The abstracted figurative form exists in a state of perpetual action and reaction as its stainless-steel body constructs and twists under a large, painted, rock-like mass. The painted, layered histories accumulated atop the figurative form expresses the here and now with the use of applied text and imagery. The text and imagery are suitable for all ages.

About: As an artist, I fluctuate between interdisciplinary ways of working; at times, focusing on public art with the fabrication of outdoor landmarks; at other times, by constructing artifacts within found material compositions and multi-media installations. Such fluctuation allows for a wide range of expressive capabilities, stretching from the creation of lasting monumental sculptures to transitory moments. The reference of historical and geologic documentation is often apparent in my work, whether through sedimentary layering represented in sculptural form, the accumulation and erosion of text and imagery across surfaces, or the melding of seemingly disparate conglomerate materials and objects.

Artist: Matt Moyer

 I have been making and exhibiting public sculpture for almost 20 years. My work is owned publicly in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa and exhibited nationally. My work is inspired by industrial manufacturing. It has a decidedly blue-collar feel due to my upbringing in Moline, IL. I am inspired by pumps, plows, factories, crops, and our natural environment, as well as the people who maintain all of them.

 “I love discovering synchronicities and where things fit together and share a poetry from different backgrounds,” says Joseph. In "Whimsey, Whirly, Wheelie" Joseph used old bicycle parts to create a fantastical bicycle and it's colorful rider.

Joseph started drawing at the age of three when his childhood doctor taught him how to draw Mickey Mouse and inspired him to go into cartooning. He graduated from the Chicago Academy for the Arts High School and spent two years at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Along with creating his many acclaimed and commissioned art works, Joseph is part of a carving team, “The Starvin’ Carvists” that have won 1st and 2nd place at 2 International Snow Sculpting Competitions in Italy.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Steve Feren: The work is concerned with the search for meaning/enlightenment.

About: Steve Feren is a sculptor who lives in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Some public work includes , a series of kinetic light sculptures called "The Kohl Center Promenade", located in front of the UW Kohl Center, Madison , WI., "Sources", sculptures made of glass and steel and installed at the Fitchburg Public Library, Fitchburg, Wi. and “ The life expressive” a Glass an Acrylic public Art installation, at the Rita Pickett performing Arts center in Kenosha Wisconsin. . He has public work through out , Wisconsin , California, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Illinois. In the work I am now engaged in, mostly work in the public forum , I am trying to find my role in the community and at the same time, pushing the limits of work that can operate on many levels. I am interested in work that is physically and historically rooted yet speaks to the spirit, work that is straight-forward, but that can operate mysteriously. There are no simple answers to matters of the heart.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025.TimAdams: Have you ever been surprised in the spring when a plant pops up where you did not plant it? This is the magic of a seed being windblown to a new location or seed dispersal! ‘Windblown’ represents those seeds that scatter and unexpectedly bloom where they land, carried by the wind and sown in ground remaining dormant until the buds peek out of the soil and beauty reveals itself in blooms and color.

About: My Midwestern roots and a career as a Registered Landscape Architect have influenced my designs. Natural landforms and native plants are the starting points for my sculpture concepts. The native trees, shrubs, and perennial plants I work with daily, and the rugged weather of the Midwest provide my inspiration. Often my works are an abstract representation of natural grasses, trees, or shapes that occur in nature. My goal is to make inclusive and accessible public art, that creates a sense of wonder, or a new perspective. To foster sustainability, I strive to incorporate recycled metals and repurposed materials when practical. My pieces are designed and constructed to be stout, long-term installations with little or no maintenance needed. My primary mediums are weathered steel, stainless steel, and painted steel, brushed aluminum, fluorescent plexiglass, native limestone, and LED lighting. I have a full-scale fabrication studio and continually use new materials as my art evolves.

This sculpture is part of Quad City Arts Public Sculpture leasing Program and will be on display through May, 2025. Bill McGrath: I believe that a created object occupies space, and in doing so, defines the space around it, including the creation of shadows. A successful piece draws one in, inviting them to walk around it and observe the differences that changes in vantage point make. Looking at sculpture carefully, like observing nature and life, can help make one mindful.

About: I took up metal sculpture about 12 years ago after being heavily involved in bringing art into my community as city manager. Because of this interest, I primarily make sculpture for outdoor, public viewing. I create sculpture to lure people into looking at the use of materials, shapes, shadows, and colors in a manner different from what they are used to. Whether or not a piece has "meaning" it stimulates the brain to try to comprehend it and I find this kind of stimulation exciting and beneficial. Making sculpture for outdoor viewing extends the energy used to understand it, as once in a public place, the entire community has to deal with it. If I'm lucky there may be a few benches nearby where conversation may ensue regardless of whether it's about the piece. Public sculpture is also a place where children can be exposed to safe, large fabrications that they don't understand, and this is provides an opportunity for a shared family experience.