WHO:             Randy Richmond, Patricia Miller Hancock & Tim Waldrop

On display at Quad City Arts' Art @ the Airport from February 26 through April, 2010 are digitally manipulated photographs by Randy Richmond of Muscatine, IA; paintings on clay by Patricia Miller Hancock of Fairfield, IA and paintings & sculpture by Tim Waldrop of Macomb, IL.

Randy Richmond presents digitally manipulated photographs. Richmond chooses animal imagery that he depicts interacting with man-made objects to gently illuminate the absurdities and behaviors that accompany our higher level of evolution. The result is "a kind of subversive twist on Grimm's fairy tales, where death and dismemberment are not nearly as frightening as going through life pretending to be alive," states Richmond. Visually inspired by theatrical prairie landscapes of Grant Wood, and the odd realities of museum diorama, his goal is to provide the viewer with an experience that starts with a chuckle and ends with a gasp when they understand the subtle warning in each piece.

Patricia Miller Hancock is inspired by everything from the galaxies to the wetlands; her work is not only inspired by nature, but created from nature. Each of her paintings is created from natural oxides applied to clay plates. She uses a layering process and multiple firings to achieve the finished look. In some of her circular oxide paintings, she finalizes the image by use of watercolor, colored pencil or other drawing media.

Tim Waldrop was originally from Biloxi, Mississippi and the area that took a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  As many of his family members and friends suffered greatly from Katrina, Waldrop responds to the catastrophe through his artwork.  He often uses images of fish or frogs as metaphors to describe the impact of the storm on humanity. Waldrop explains, "A sense of panic and struggle ensues when the fish is removed from water and depicted lying in the grass...." His goal is for the works to project several meanings and discussion points to viewers. Viewers in the Midwest who witnessed the floods in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and other small towns in the summer of 2008, will especially relate to his imagery.

One hour of free parking allows plenty of time to browse the exhibit. Artwork on display can also be purchased through Quad City Arts.

Quad City Arts is a nonprofit local arts agency dedicated to the growth and vitality of the Quad City region through the presentation, development, and celebration of the arts and humanities. All Quad City Arts programs are funded in part by Festival of Trees, Quad City Arts Partners and operating grants from the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency) and the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. This gallery and exhibit is generously sponsored by the Quad City International Airport.