QC emerging artists create mini murals at malls
Good stretches of Macerich’s NorthPark and SouthPark malls are being brightened by mini-murals, and the 13 new ones at the Davenport mall were completed just this past weekend.
Quad City Arts, in conjunction with the malls, is hosting two “Mini Murals at the Mall” competitions, Jan. 27-28 at NorthPark Mall in Davenport, and Feb. 17-18 at SouthPark in Moline.
A total of 19 emerging artists (of all ages) were chosen to compete for $2,000 in prizes. The artists create 3’ x 4’ pieces on the walls in the mall, and winners will be selected via online voting.
At both events, artists begin painting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and have until 5 p.m. on Sunday to complete their works. Artists are provided with acrylic paint and brushes by Quad City Arts, and may also supplement with their own materials.
“It was an incredible weekend,” Quad City Arts event coordinator Ben Gougeon said Monday. “It was really great. A lot of people stopped and watched, were chatting with the artists. Like the mall walkers crowd, it was nice for them to have the space brightened up.”
Artists competing at NorthPark Mall (at the old Younkers and Rue 21) were Catlynn Byrd, Dana Cabrera, Jesse Coughlin, Mya Diabira, Kyleigh Green, Reagan Harrington, Jessica Jenkins-McPeek, Snehal Nerpagar, Edward Nunn, Carlin Peterson, Sophia Putnam, Amanda Stout, and Megan Wassom.
New small murals will be painted at SouthPark by JCPenney and Rue 21, Gougeon said. Those competitors will be Jae Florence Corales, Laila Haley, Lauren Lamourt, Emma Reidhead, Dannielle Torres, and Laura Warner.
“It’s an opportunity for artists to bring their work to a new audience, and to bring public art into a new space,” Gougeon said. “Especially for some of our local emerging artists, this provides them the opportunity to get their work seen by people who may not have otherwise been exposed.”
He also noted that, organizationally, Quad City Arts is working on increasing attendance at arts events, which brings more visibility to the talent of local artists, and that this event checks all those boxes.
Contest winners will be determined by online People’s Choice voting conducted via the Quad City Arts Facebook page. 1st-place winners at each mall will receive $500, with 2nd and 3rd place winners taking home $300 and $200, respectively.
Voting is open until Friday, Feb. 2nd at noon. The images with the most likes will win:
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $300
3rd Place: $200
Save the date for Feb. 17 & 18th as SouthPark Mall hosts another round of artists.
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