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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition Opening at the Figge Art Museum

Davenport, Iowa (February 22, 2022) –The 42^nd Rock Island Art Guild’s Fine Arts Exhibition at the Figge Art Museum is opening Saturday and will showcase the extraordinary talent of artists living within 200 miles of the Figge Art Museum. 

A total of 59 works of art by 50 artists were selected by this year’s juror Susan Watts, Owner of Olson Larsen Galleries in Des Moines. From performance, video and digital art to painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography, and works on paper, a wide range of mediums will be on display.  

“We were thrilled to have so many responses to the call for entries, and the selected works are going to make for an excellent exhibition,” said Figge Assistant Curator Joshua Johnson. “Open calls like the RIAG exhibition give a sense of what is going on in the arts community of a region at a particular point in time and in this year's exhibitions there are works which engage with sexism, global warming, covid, and many other issues that are at the forefront of all of our minds at this time.”

Awards will be given for first, second, and third place, the Sally MacMilan Watercolor Award, the Founder’s Award, the Zeivel Harris Sculpture Award, and Honorable Mention. All awards will be presented at the Opening Celebration on March 3. There will also be a new $300 New Media Award presented to an artist working in video, sound, or digital art. Award winners will be selected by juror Susan Watts.

Don’t miss the opportunity to help select the People’s Choice Award and Children’s Choice Award winners. The public is invited to view the exhibition and cast a vote for their favorite work.

The 42^nd Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Rock Island Art Guild and will be on view through May 15, 2022.

Companion Programs:
Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition Opening Celebration
Thursday, March 3
Celebrate the opening of the 42^nd Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition, alongside exhibition juror Susan Watts, many of the participating artists, and representatives from the Figge and the Rock Island Art Guild.

Artist Talks and Performances: Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition
Thursday, March 31 and April 28
Join us for presentations and performances from a selection of artists featured in the Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition

About the Rock Island Art Guild:
The Rock Island Art Guild was founded in 1955 by a group of individuals who wanted to cultivate an active interest in local and regional artists in addition to promoting and fostering the appreciation of the visual arts in the Quad Cities. The Guild has been organizing this exhibition since 1970 and the Figge has hosted the exhibition since 2016.

About the Figge Art Museum:
The Figge Art Museum is dedicated to bringing art and people together. Located on the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street, the Figge is the premier art exhibition and education facility between Chicago and Des Moines. Its landmark glass building, designed by British architect David Chipperfield, is home to one of the Midwest’s finest art collections and presents world-class exhibitions, art classes, lectures, and special events that attract visitors of all ages. Museum hours are 10 a.m.­­-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays; and 12-5 p.m. on Sundays. Reservations are not required but can be made at www.figgeartmuseum.org or by calling 563-345-6632. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and students with ID and $4 children ages 4-12. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members and to all on Thursday evenings. You can become a member for as little as $50 by visiting the Figge website. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org. 

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