University News

WIU Professor Showcasing New Art in the Quad Cities

August 22, 2016

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MOLINE, IL - Western Illinois University Professor of Art Bruce Walters will be showing new works of art in two Quad Cities venues between Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 15-17.

The short film, "Red Hot Jazz," directed by Walters, will be broadcast on WQPT, the Quad Cities' Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) station, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. According to Walters, the 20-minuted film "paints a vibrant picture of the Roaring 20s at its inception."

"Flappers, musicians, artists, the horrors of WWI and the spark of creativity interweave at a dance in Bix Beiderbecke's hometown," Walters said. "In 1920, jazz was new; it was the voice of change."

The dance scenes featured in the film were shot in three historic locations in Davenport, IA, including the Coliseum Ballroom, Bucktown Center for the Arts and the Vickie Anne Palmer Hall. Jazz percussionist and band leader Josh Duffee is also featured in the film and on its soundtrack.

For more information on the film, visit redhotjazzfilm.com. A 30-second clip of the film is available at youtube.com/watch?v=RO-wHUPYEzU.

Walters will also exhibit his "We the People" work from Sept. 15-17 at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA. The exhibit features multiple mapped projections of the faces of Americans, young and old, rural and urban and ethnically and racially diverse.

The 21-foot projections will be shown on the four sides of the Sol LeWitt sculpture in the museum's plaza from sundown until midnight. Walters partnered with lighting designer Daniel B. Chapman to develop the exhibit.

"In the face of rising anti-immigrant rhetoric; fear of people different from us; ugly, angry words and actions – I wanted to create something that is positive and inclusive," said Walters. "'We the People's' message of inclusion; of assurance that we all belong and contribute to our country is timely and pertinent."

"We the People" was first displayed in 13-foot windows in downtown Iowa City from July 1-3. It will also be featured at the WIU Art Gallery from Tuesday-Friday, Sept. 20-23. Walters is also working on displaying the exhibit in Barcelona, New York and Albuquerque, NM.

For more information on the exhibit, visit wethepeopleart.com.

Walters' work has been featured in more than 100 exhibitions, including at the Des Moines Art Center; Millennium Park, Chicago IL; Madison Art Center, WI; Russian Cultural Center, Memphis, TN; Uster Festival of Art & Design, Belfast; Geddes Institute for Urban Research, University of Dundee, Scotland; Tate Modern, London.

For more information about his work, visit bruce-walters.com.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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