Art on the River Opening Reception, August 6 in Dubuque

Art on the River Opening Reception, August 6

The 2021-22 Art on the River opening reception will be held August 6, 2021 in Dubuque.  Art on the River is the City of Dubuque’s annual temporary public art exhibit.  The theme for this year’s exhibition is “Resiliency Flows,” with 11 works selected that speak to the resiliency and fortitude needed to rebuild better as communities worldwide continue to rebound from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and grow in the ongoing fight for social justice.

A reception celebrating the selected works and their creators will be held on Friday, Aug. 6, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on the patio of the Grand River Center, 500 Bell Street. The reception is free to attend, family-friendly, and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, reception activities will be held indoors at the Grand River Center and may be scaled back. A full-color, printable flyer is available for download.

Reception activities will include:

• 5:00-5:30 p.m. – Social hour featuring performances by Northeast Iowa School of Music’s Jazz Q and select student musicians with light hors d’oeuvres served and a cash bar available.
• 5:30 p.m. – Welcome by Mayor Roy D. Buol, artist acknowledgements, and awards presented by City staff.
• 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Live music by Northeast Iowa School of Music’s Jazz Q and select student musicians and ArchiTREK Tour with Heritage Works and Dubuque Museum of Art

Throughout the evening, the Dubuque Camera Club, Dubuque Urban Sketchers, and Plein Air Painters of Dubuque will be stationed along the Riverwalk to capture festivities on paper, canvas, and in photos.

In honor of the 2021-22 Art on the River, Heritage Works has developed a special ArchiTREK program. At 6:00 p.m., Heritage Works’ staff will offer a walking tour of the Riverwalk telling the story of Dubuque’s connection to and reliance on the Mississippi River, from the present and near future to the late 1800s. The tour will be facilitated by trained docents and elevated by five visual artists live painting on 4'x8' portable murals. Each artist will be assigned a historical moment and tasked with interpreting that moment in their own voice and style. The intent is to bring history to the present through the lens of the artist, and to showcase the ways our city and history continue to inspire us today.

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. 5 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium; free event
• ChamberFestDBQ 2021 on Thursday, Aug. 5 at 7:00 p.m. presented by the Northeast Iowa School of Music at Hempstead High School Auditorium; paid admission
• Dubuque Area Writers Guild Annual Anthology Launch on Friday, Aug. 6 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Alliant Energy Amphitheater, Dubuque Star Brewery; free event
• 42^nd Annual DubuqueFest Arts Festival on Saturday, Aug. 7 and Sunday, Aug. 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Washington Park; free event

Art on the River supports 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. Art on the River is funded through the City of Dubuque’s general operating budget.