An Evening of Creativity and Community with Art on the River Opening Reception, August 5
August 1, 2022 - For Immediate Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The public is invited to the opening reception of the 2022-23 Art on the River, the City of Dubuque’s annual temporary public art exhibit, on Friday, Aug. 5, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on the patio of the Grand River Center, 500 Bell Street.
The theme for this year’s exhibition is “Crossing Bridges,” with 11 works selected that speak to physical and metaphorical bridges, and how those ‘bridges’ serve to connect us across divides, help us overcome barriers, and foster economic growth and community prosperity. Five of these 11 sculptures were fabricated especially for Dubuque’s program and will have their public debut as part of the opening of the 2022-23 Art on the River exhibit.
The reception is free to attend, family-friendly, and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, reception activities may be scaled back and held indoors at the Grand River Center. Reception activities will include:
- 5:00-5:30 p.m. – Social hour featuring live music by local musician Brion Bowman with light hors d’oeuvres served and a cash bar available.
- 5:30 p.m. – Welcome by Mayor Brad Cavanagh, spoken word performance by local poet Aaliyah Herrion, and artist acknowledgements and awards presented by City staff.
- 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Live music by Brion Bowman, docent-led tours of the new Art on the River exhibit, and 3D art-making demonstrations along the Riverwalk by local artists.
Throughout the evening, the Dubuque Camera Club, Dubuque Urban Sketchers, and Plein Air Painters of Dubuque will be setup along the Mississippi Riverwalk to capture festivities on paper, canvas, and in photos.
As has become a tradition, the Art on the River reception will include interactive activities that highlight Dubuque-based creatives. This year’s event will incorporate live art-making demonstrations stationed along the Riverwalk by artists who work in 3D materials and processes. The artists featured include:
- Dan Aldeman, one of this year’s Art on the River artists, will demonstrate metal forming techniques and processes.
- Emerald Frommelt, of Pink Moons Cree-ations, will demonstrate techniques of crafting jewelry that blends traditional Native American materials and contemporary design.
- Elizabeth Jack, a member of the Dubuque’s Marshallese community, will demonstrate traditional Marshellese weaving techniques.
- Rachel Spurling, of Artist Rach Ceramics, will demonstrate how wheel-thrown pottery is formed on an electric potter’s wheel.
In conjunction with Art on the River, August in Dubuque kicks off with a robust lineup of other arts and culture related activities including:
- Taste of Summer on Thursday, Aug. 4, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium; free event
- 44th Annual DubuqueFest Arts Festival on Saturday, Aug. 6, and Sunday, Aug. 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Washington Park; free event
- Music in the Gardens featuring classic rock and roll with Walking Molly on Sunday, Aug. 7, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens; free event
Art on the River is part of the Dubuque City Council’s ongoing efforts to foster diverse arts and culture experiences that will improve the social and cultural vibrancy of the community. Since its inception, the program has featured 143 sculptures representing the work of 89 artists at the Port of Dubuque. A 90-acre riverfront campus welcomes 200,000+ visitors each year with features like the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, the Grand River Center, Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark, Diamond Jo Casino, the historic Dubuque Star Brewery, Dubuque Shot Tower, and the Port of Dubuque Marina.
More information is available at www.cityofdubuque.org/artontheriver or by contacting City of Dubuque Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator Jenni Petersen-Brant at jbrant@cityofdubuque.org or 563.513.5636.
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