Arts & Culture

A "piano on wheels" traveled through the Quad Cities today as part of a trip from the headwaters of the Mississippi River to New Orleans. The Joybox Express is a custom bike frame, with three people pedaling, and carrying a 400 pound piano.

A little-known, but important artist for the Quad Cities, will be remembered this weekend. A grave marker will be dedicated in the Davenport City Cemetery for John Caspar Wild - he painted the earliest known image of Davenport in 1844, but until now has had just an unmarked grave.

Quad Cities residents can now visit a traveling Smithsonian exhibit, celebrating sports. "Hometown Teams" is now on display at the Rock Island Main Library. The interactive exhibit combines national and local sports footage, photos, and memorabilia. This is the sound from one of the videos.  

Television screens, ipads, flip-books, and links to apps are included in each "Hometown Teams" display. Visitors can even smell the food from one Pittsburgh ball park, by squeezing a fake mustard bottle. 

      A Quad Cities theatre group wants to set up an endowment fund to help insure its future. Today the Genesius Guild announced its first major endowment campaign.      Executive Director Doug Tschopp says the goal of their two year campaign called "Pushing 60" is to raise $500,000 to support their unique summer theatre program in Lincoln Park in Rock Island.

     He says the fund drive has a substantial head start thanks to a major grant from Bechtel Trusts and already has reached $281,000.