The Cities | Festival of Trees | It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play | WQPT

PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR "THE CITIES" IS PROVIDED BY A GRANT FROM THE DORIS AND VICTOR DAY FOUNDATION.
IT IS HOLIDAY MAGIC IN THE HEART OF DAVENPORT. WE ARE AT THE RIVER CENTER FOR THE 26TH ANNUAL
FESTIVAL OF TREES CELEBRATING EVERYTHING CHRISTMAS IN THE CITIES.
AND WELCOME TO WHAT SOME CONSIDER THE OFFICIAL START OF THE HOLIDAY IN THE CITIES.
WE ARE AT THE RIVER CENTER FOR THE FESTIVAL OF TREES.
SOME 100,000 VISITORS WILL TOUR THE RIVER CENTER FROM NOW THROUGH THANKSGIVING WEEKEND,
AND THEY WILL SEE SOME 100 DESIGNER TREES LIKE THIS ONE. IT IS CALLED "TINNING" THE
TREE. IT WON BEST ARTISTIC AWARD AND BEST FIRST
TIME DESIGNER. THE DESIGNER TEAM WAS STEVE AND CHRIS CRAFT.
AND MOOSE TRACKS, A THEME THAT WON FIRST PLACE AMONG CHILDREN'S TREES WITH DESIGNER TEAM
MEMBER MARTY HUGHLEY BEING A PART OF THAT. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. THERE ARE ALSO ITEMS
THAT YOU CAN BUY. YOU COULD BUY A RAFFLE TICKET. YOU COULD WIN A CELEBRITY HOLIDAY BASKET,
INCLUDING A COUPLE THAT HAVE WQPT THEMES. LORA ADAMS HAS ONE. FAMILY FUN NIGHT,
IT HAS PUZZLES, CARDS, AND GAMES. JAMIE LANG HAS CLIFFORD, CHLOE, THE BEST OF PBS, A FEW
OF THE CELEBRITY HOLIDAY BASKETS THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE AT THE RIVER CENTER.
JOINING US IS THE CO DIRECTOR OF FESTIVAL OF TREES, FROM QUAD CITY ARTS.
IT IS MONTA PONSETTO. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ONCE
AGAIN. >>THANK YOU.
>>16 YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN SOMEHOW INVOLVED IN IT.
I ASK THIS QUESTION SEEMINGLY EVERY YEAR, THE TOUGHEST THING IS TO TRY TO FIND WAYS
TO MAKE IT FRESH EVERY YEAR. >>IT IS A GREAT CHALLENGE, AND SO MANY VOLUNTEERS
AND GREAT STEERING TEAM AND MANAGEMENT TEAM. THEY ARE VERY CREATIVE PEOPLE. THEY COME UP
WITH NEW IDEAS. WE KEEP THE OLD THAT IS VERY POPULAR AND KEEP THOSE EVENTS AND AREAS CONTINUING
THROUGHOUT YEAR AFTER YEAR. BUT NEW THINGS HELP.
>>IT IS NO SMALL TASK WHEN YOU HAVE 70,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE HERE AT THE RIVER CENTER,
AND IT IS FILLED FROM CORNER TO CORNER. IT IS AMAZING.
THIS IS NOT A SMALL PROCESS. TAKE ME THROUGH WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THIS
BUILDING READY FOR FESTIVAL OF TREES. >>FIRST OF ALL, WE START IN ABOUT FEBRUARY,
YOU KNOW, JUST PLANNING AND ORGANIZING, GETTING OUR TEAMS TOGETHER.
WE START OUR LOAD IN. THIS YEAR WE STARTED AT THE VERY END OF OCTOBER,
A COUPLE OF DAYS ACTUALLY BEFORE HALLOWEEN. WE HAVE GOT SEMIS THAT HAVE PIECES THAT WE
USE YEAR AFTER YEAR. >>(LAUGHING) SURE.
>>THOSE ARE LOADED IN, AND LITTLE BY LITTLE, THIS 70,000 SQUARE FEET IS TRANSFORMED INTO
WHAT YOU SEE NOW. >>IS THERE A CERTAIN NOOK OR CRANNY THAT YOU
SEEM TO ENJOY MORE THAN ANY OTHER? >> PERSONALLY, I STILL LOVE THIS ROOM THE
BEST. I STILL ENJOY LOOKING AT ALL THE DESIGNS,
THE CREATIVITY, JUST BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL THROUGHOUT.
>>THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE GRAND HALL OF THE RIVER CENTER WHERE SO MANY OF THE TREES AND
THE DOORS AND THE WREATHS AND THE ARTWORK ARE LOCATED RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE HERE BEFORE THE CROWDS ARRIVE. IT IS FUN TO SEE THE DESIGNS.
IT MUST ALSO BE FUN ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE THE CHILDREN, JUST TO SEE THEIR FACES LIGHT
UP AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING. >>OH, EXACTLY, AND HEAR THEIR OHHH'S AND AHHH'S
AS THEY COME IN THROUGH THE DOORS. BUT YOU GET A FEW OF THOSE FROM THE ADULTS,
TOO. THAT'S ALSO FUN.
>>SO MANY OF US COME HERE AND ALMOST RETURN TO OUR CHILDHOOD IN A WAY.
THAT'S WHAT CHRISTMAS DOES AND WHAT THE FESTIVAL OF TREES DOES IN THE HOLIDAYS IN THE QUAD
CITY AREA. WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE TREES SOME ARE INCREDIBLY CREATIVE.
TELL ME WHERE THE DESIGNER TEAMS COME FROM. >>WE HAVE A DESIGNER WORK GROUP EVENT.
USUALLY IN MARCH. WE INVITE THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DESIGNED IN THE PAST AND THEN AN OPEN
INVITATION TO ANYONE, ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED, AND A LITTLE
BIT OF RECRUITING WITH INDIVIDUAL DESIGNERS, CREATIVE PEOPLE IN THE AREA AS WELL.
>>WE WERE POINTING OUT SOME OF THE CREATIVE TREES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DESIGN TEAMS. IN SO MANY WAYS, IT OFTEN MORE THAN ONE PERSON
PUTTING THESE DESIGNS TOGETHER. >>EXACTLY.
SOME TREES OR SOME OF THE AREAS, AND THE DESIGNS ARE DONE BY AN INDIVIDUAL.
BUT MANY OF THEM ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON A DESIGN TEAM.
WHEN YOU GET INTO SOMETHING LIKE A ROOM OR A HEARTH AND HOME WHERE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE
ITEMS THAT YOU ARE CREATING, OFTENTIMES IT IS MORE THAN JUST A PERSON OR TWO.
>>WE WERE LOOKING AT ANOTHER TREE THAT JUST IS MADE OUT OF BOOKS.
IT IS SPONSORED BY THE MOLINE PUBLIC LIBRARY. YOU SEE THESE TRADITIONAL AND THESE NON TRADITIONAL
TREES. >>RIGHT.
>>IN THAT WAY, IT REALLY BRINGS OUT THE ARTISTIC SENSE FOR FESTIVAL OF TREES.
>>EXACTLY. I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE EVENT SO FASCINATING
TO PEOPLE. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL TRADITIONAL TREES EVERYBODY CAN FIND A PLACE FOR IN YOUR
HOME. BUT THEN YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING THAT IS
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. WE HAVE A FISHING POLE, FISHING LURES, A TREE MADE ENTIRELY OUT OF
THAT. IT IS JUST WHERE THESE IDEAS COME FROM, IT
IS FASCINATING!
>>IT IS ALSO FASCINATING WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TREES AFTERWARDS.
WHEN MY TREE IS DONE AT MY HOUSE, IT GOES TO THE CURB. THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT HAPPENS
WITH THE TREES AT FESTIVAL OF TREES. EXPLAIN THAT TO ME.
>>A LOT OF PEOPLE SAVE THESE TREES YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AT THE END OF THE EVENT, THEY ARE BOXED UP. THEY ARE DELIVERED.
WE HAVE GOT A RADIUS THAT WE WILL DELIVER WITHIN, AND THESE ARE DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR
DOOR AND SET UP AND READY MADE CHRISTMAS. >>YEAH, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!
SO PEOPLE BID ON THEM THROUGHOUT FESTIVAL? >> CORRECT.
CORRECT. >>AND TELL ME  I MEAN IS THERE BIDDING WARS?
HAVE YOU SEEN PEOPLE  >>WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE ON THE LAST DAY OF FESTIVAL
HOVERING AROUND THE BID SHEET, AND EYEING TO MAKE SURE THEIR NUMBER IS THE LAST ONE
ON THAT SHEET SO THAT THEY ARE ASSURED THEY GET THE TREE.
THERE IS ALSO A "BUY IT NOW." WE HAVE OUR GRAND PREMIER EVENT, THAT'S THE
FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE TREES AND THE OTHER DESIGNS.
THERE IS A "BUY IT NOW" PRICE. AND IF YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEND THAT, YOU
CAN PURCHASE THE TREE DIRECTLY OFF THE FLOOR OF FESTIVAL, OTHERWISE IT STAYS ON CONTINUOUS
AUCTION THROUGH THE END. >>MONTA, I HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE TREES,
BUT I MEAN THE WREATHS, THE DOOR DECORATIONS, THE OTHER ASPECTS TO THE FESTIVAL, THERE ARE
OTHER ASPECTS PEOPLE, I THINK, THEY GO TO THEIR SPECIFIC PLACE.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WREATHS. THE DOOR DECORATIONS HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE
DAY ONE. >>SURE.
AND THOSE ARE ALSO BEAUTIFUL AND VERY CREATIVE. WE HAVE MULTIPLE ONES, AND IT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS A LITTLE MORE AFFORDABLE, A LITTLE EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO PURCHASE, MAYBE CHANGE
OUT FROM YEAR TO YEAR. >> THAT'S KIND OF THE NEAT THING, TOO.
WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU CAN BID ON THOSE AS WELL.
>>RIGHT. >>YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THINGS TO DECORATE
YOUR HOUSE. YOUR TREE IS SOMETIMES A LITTLE TRADITIONAL.
THE WREATHS DON'T HAVE TO BE. >>CORRECT.
>>YOU CAN GET SOME GREAT IDEAS HERE. >>RIGHT.
YES, YOU CAN GET IDEAS. YOU CAN PURCHASE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO GET IDEAS
FOR YOURSELF. HEARTH AND HOMES HOLIDAY ENTRIES, MINIATURES,
JUST INDIVIDUAL ORNAMENTS AND STOCKINGS AS WELL.
>>THE FESTIVAL OF TREES HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST THE DECORATIONS THAT WE SEE HERE. YOU
HAVE GOT SOME GREAT EVENTS. I KNOW YOU HAVE A NEW ONE, THE SNOWFLAKE STOP.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT. >>SO MANY THINGS ARE FOR THE YOUNG CHILDREN.
>>TRUE. >>AND THEN WE HAVE HAD JINGLE JAM AS PART
OF FESTIVAL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THAT'S FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
IT IS THE FORGOTTEN MIDDLE AGED CHILD. SO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS HAVE AN EVENT OF
THEIR OWN NOW, AND THAT'S CALLED SNOWFLAKE STOMP.
THEY CAN COME HERE, AND IT IS A DANCE. WE WILL SEE HOW MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY DO DANCE!
(LAUGHING) IT IS THAT AWKWARD AGE, RIGHT?
>>RIGHT. (LAUGHING) RIGHT.
RIGHT. IT IS AREA FOR PARENTS TO SAY THEY MAY FEEL
COMFORTABLE IF THEY ARE CLOSE BY. THE PARENTS HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE AREA THEY CAN BE CLOSE
BY WHILE THEIR CHILD IS AT THE DANCE. >>YOU DO HAVE EVENTS, ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL
ONES I ALWAYS SEE IS FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE. IT IS SO PRECIOUS TO SEE THESE PEOPLE ALL
DRESSED UP. I THINK IN SO MANY WAYS, FESTIVAL REALLY TRIES
TO BECOME A FAMILY EVENT BECAUSE CHRISTMAS REALLY MEANS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND
YOU DO THAT EVERY YEAR, DON'T YOU? >> VERY MUCH SO.
PEOPLE COME HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WHICH IS OUR THEME THIS YEAR, AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY
WANTING TO SPEND SOME GOOD QUALITY TIME TOGETHER, AND THEY CAN CERTAINLY COME DOWN TO FESTIVAL
AND BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT THOUGH TO REMEMBER
IT IS A FUNDRAISING EVENT. >>EXACTLY.
>>THE CELEBRITY LUNCHEON, THE CELEBRITY WAITERS THAT YOU HAVE FOR ALL RAISING MONEY FOR QUAD
CITY ARTS. FESTIVAL OF TREES STARTED IN 1986 AT A TIME
WHEN THE QUAD CITIES WAS NOT DOING WELL FINANCIALLY OR ECONOMICALLY.
AND LOOK WHAT HAS GROWN FROM IT. THE QUAD CITIES HAS GROWN, BUT SO HAS FESTIVAL.
DO YOU THINK IT IS A NICE TRIBUTE, NOT ONLY THE FESTIVAL, BUT THE CITY AS WELL?
>>EXACTLY, THE AREA HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE DO, WHAT QUAD CITY ARTS DOES AS
WELL, TURNING FESTIVAL IN FROM ONE WEEKEND IN ONE ROOM OVER AT RIVER CENTER NOW TO AN
11 DAY EVENT, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT 70,000 SQUARE FEET,
SO BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER CENTER. >>IT IS AMAZING, AND YOU WANT TO PAY TRIBUTE
ESPECIALLY I NOTICED ALSO TO THE MILITARY. THE LAST FEW YEARS, YOU HAVE REALLY MADE IT
A POINT TO SALUTE THE MILITARY. >>RIGHT, OUR MILITARY DAY WILL BE SUNDAY,
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF FESTIVAL. WE HAVE CHANGED IT.
IT WAS A LITTLE LATER IN THE WEEK BEFORE, AND THIS WAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY MORE
MILITARY FAMILIES WILL STILL BE IN THE QUAD CITIES AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE EVENT.
THEY GET A DISCOUNTED TICKET FOR THEMSELVES, THE ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBER AND THEIR FAMILIES,
IMMEDIATE FAMILIES. >>I NOTICED A FEW OTHER THINGS, IS THAT YOU
HAVE SOME TREES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BE FUNDRAISERS AS WELL.
YOU HAVE CHANGED THE BEAR TREE, THE TRADITIONAL BEAR TREE.
I WOULD SAY HOW DARE YOU DO THAT BECAUSE IT IS A TRADITION.
>>VERY POPULAR. >> I REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH IT.
>>THE ZOO TREE WAS REALLY A POPULAR PART OF FESTIVAL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
BUT CHANGE IS GOOD SOMETIMES, AND IN THIS WAY WE THOUGHT IT WAS MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GIVE BACK TO THE QUAD CITIES AND THE CHILDREN IN THE AREA.
>>BECAUSE IT IS NOW A TOYS FOR TOTS TREE. >>IT IS A TOYS FOR TOTS TREE.
AND CAME IN AS A SPONSORSHIP. THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET TOYS DONATED
FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF. ANYWAY, SO IT IS NOW A TREE COVERED ENTIRELY
WITH TOYS. AND AT THE END OF FESTIVAL, THOSE TOYS WILL
BE DONATED TO TOYS FOR TOTS AND DISPERSED BY THE MARINES.
>>IT IS A GREAT IDEA. I MEAN THE WHOLE POINT ABOUT GIVING.
I MEAN THAT'S KIND OF A NEAT IDEA, ISN'T IT? >> EXACTLY.
EXACTLY. AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO STILL WANT TO GIVE,
THEY CAN BRING A TOY WITH THEM TO FESTIVAL, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY PASS THAT ALONG AND
GIVE THAT TOY TO TOYS FOR TOTS AS WELL. >>YOU ALSO HAVE A BOOK TREE?
>> YES, THE BOOK TREE WHICH IS OVER IN THE NORTH POLE AREA, AND, AGAIN, MADE UP ENTIRELY
OF BOOKS. THOSE BOOKS WILL BE DONATED TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AT THE END OF FESTIVAL.
>>WHERE DO IDEAS LIKE THIS COME FROM? >> JUST A GREAT GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS, QUAD
CITY ART STAFF, DEB McDANIEL WHO IS THE FESTIVAL  OR QUAD CITY ARTS DIRECTOR, STAFF DIRECTOR
FOR FESTIVAL. ANYWAY, WE JUST KIND OF BRAINSTORM IN OUR
MEETINGS AND DECIDE WHAT CAN WE DO THAT IS NEW AND DIFFERENT OR HOW CAN WE ENHANCE WHAT
WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING. >>WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT VOLUNTEERS, EACH YEAR
YOU NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS. THIS YEAR, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY
FOR THOSE VIEWERS THAT ARE WATCHING IS THAT YOU REALLY NEED THEM THE WEEK AROUND THANKSGIVING,
DURING THOSE DAYS. >>EXACTLY.
>>TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED, AND WHAT VOLUNTEERS GET.
>>VOLUNTEERS, THEY WILL GET A FREE ENTRY INTO FESTIVAL WHICH IS WONDERFUL.
>>NICE! >>WE HAVE A GREAT VOLUNTEER ROOM WHICH HAS
FOOD AND DRINKS AND THEY ALSO HAVE SOME PRIZES THAT THEY GIVE AWAY ALSO TO THE VOLUNTEERS.
PLUS, JUST BEING A PART OF THIS WONDERFUL EVENT AND BEING ABLE TO SAY THEY WERE PART
OF REAL QUAD CITIES A TRADITION. THEY CAN GO ONLINE TO WWW.QUADCITYARTS.COM,
CLICK ON THE FESTIVAL LOGO, AND THERE IS A TAB HEADING FOR VOLUNTEERS, AND THEY CAN SIGN
UP ONLINE RIGHT OFF THEIR COMPUTER. >>YOU CAN BE A PART OF THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS.
EXACTLY. EXACTLY.
>>MONTA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU.
>>IT IS BEAUTIFUL. WE WANT TO SHOW OFF ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE AMAZINGLY DESIGNED TREES.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW MOMENTS AGO, IT'S CALLED "READING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE,"
MADE UP OF BOOKS DESIGNED BY JAN LA ROCHE, SPONSORED BY MOLINE PUBLIC LIBRARY, ONE OF
THOSE SPECIALTY TREES YOU WILL NOT SEE ANYWHERE BUT HERE AT THE FESTIVAL.
FESTIVAL RUNS THROUGH THANKSGIVING WEEKEND. THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS GETTING STARTED RIGHT
NOW AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON. AND WITH THE LATEST, LET'S GO TO LORA ADAMS
WHO IS OUT AND ABOUT. >>HI.
I AM LORA ADAMS, AND THIS IS OUT AND ABOUT. IT IS BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
AS FESTIVAL OF TREES INVITES YOU TO USHER IN THE SEASON AT THE AREA'S MOST POPULAR HOLIDAY
EVENT OR COME TO THE JOHN DEERE COMMONS AND ENJOY THE FREE LIGHTING OF THE COMMONS.
JOIN THE FESTIVITIES AS NEARLY HALF A MILLION LIGHTS AND FIREWORKS BRIGHTEN THE SKIES IN
THE COMMONS AREA. THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW AT THE QCAA
EXPO CENTER IN ROCK ISLAND IS JUST WHAT SANTA ORDERED.
OPENING THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, ENJOY SHOPPING HUNDREDS OF HANDCRAFTED ITEMS FROM
HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT VENDORS. ON STAGE, THERE IS STILL TIME TO CATCH RICHMOND
HILL PLAYERS HOLIDAY OFFERING OF THE PHIL OLSON COMEDY,"A NICE FAMILY GATHERING," OR
GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH TRIP TO CIRCUIT 21 AND THEIR PRODUCTION OF THE MUSICAL, "MIRACLE
ON 34TH STREET." PLUS WQPT AND WVIK ARE PRESENTING "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE," A LIVE RADIO PLAY
AT POTTER THEATRE ON THE CAMPUS OF AUGUSTANA. THIS PRODUCTION IS TAPED AND WILL AIR ON BOTH
STATIONS AT CHRISTMAS. BE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME
COMMUNITY EVENT. THE DISTRICT THEATER'S PRODUCTION OF "THE
BEST MAN" CLOSES ON NOVEMBER 18TH. PLUS COMEDY SPORTZ PRESENTS THEIR UNIQUE BRAND
OF HUMOR AT THE ESTABLISHMENT THEATER IN ROCK ISLAND.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER EVENTS, LOG ON TO WQPT.ORG.
>>FESTIVAL OF TREES, OF COURSE, IS ALL ABOUT THE TREES.
BUT FOR SOME KIDS, AND ADULTS, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE TRAINS.
THIS IS A HOLIDAY TRADITION FOR A LOT OF BIG BOYS AND GIRLS AS WELL AS LITTLE ONES.
IT IS THE FESTIVAL EXPRESS. LOCAL ENGINEERS FROM KJWW ENGINEERING WORK
YEAR ROUND TO MAKE THIS TINY CHRISTMAS VILLAGE INSIDE THE RIVER CENTER. IT IS THE RECREATION
OF AUSTRIAN VILLAGE. FOR A DOLLAR A TICKET, KIDS CAN GET THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PLAY ENGINEERS AND NAVIGATE THE LOCOMOTIVE. THE MONEY RAISED AT FESTIVAL OF TREES EACH
YEAR GOES TO QUAD CITY ARTS. AT A TIME WHEN PROGRAM FOR ARTS ARE IN JEOPARDY,
IT IS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE QUAD CITY ARTS MAKE SURE KIDS GET THE EXPOSURE TO ART AND CREATIVITY
THAT THEY MAY OTHERWISE MISS. JOINING US IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF QUAD CITY
ARTS, CARMEN DARLAND. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>>THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, JIM, WE APPRECIATE IT.
>>THE ARTS ARE IN TROUBLE IN SOME ASPECTS, BUT SEEMS THEY ARE THRIVING IN THE QUAD CITIES.
>>ARTS ARE EASY TO CUT FROM BUDGETS OF SCHOOLS OR CORPORATE LIFE.
OUR MISSION IS ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH THE ARTS.
WE KNOW YOU DO THAT THROUGH ENCOURAGING ARTS, NOT JUST THE THINGS WE PRESENT, BUT CERTAINLY
THINGS WE PRESENT AS WELL, ENCOURAGING, DEVELOPING NEW FORMS OF ART, AND WE DO MOST OF THAT THROUGH
EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS. >>FESTIVAL OF TREES, KIND OF DOVETAILS INTO
IT. IT IS MORE THAN THROWING TINSELS AND LIGHTS
ON SOME OF THESE TREES. >>ABSOLUTELY.
IT IS ALWAYS AMAZING FOR ME TO LOOK AND SEE HOW  TRY AND WONDER HOW SOMEONE WAS INSPIRED
TO DO THIS. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A 380 PIECE HIGH SCHOOL
ART SHOW JUST ACROSS THE FLOOR HERE, MIXED IN WITH THE ART  OR THE TREES, EXCUSE ME.
FOR MANY OF THESE STUDENTS, IT IS THE FIRST TIME THEIR WORK, THEY CREATED, MIGHT BE PHOTOGRAPHER,
JEWELRY, POTTERY, PAINTING, FIRST TIME THEIR WORK HAS BEEN ON VIEW BY PEOPLE.
THAT ACT IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SEEMS. WHEN YOU SEE YOUR CREATION VIEWED AND APPRECIATED
BY OTHERS, YOU ARE INSPIRED TO TRY HARDER, TO DO MORE, TO STAY FOCUSED AND TO APPRECIATE
THE ARTS IN THE FUTURE. >>QUAD CITY ARTS IS MORE THAN JUST SOME GALLERY
IN ROCK ISLAND OR AT THE AIRPORT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS SO INTERESTING ABOUT
YOUR ORGANIZATION IS THAT YOU DO HAVE MAJOR OUTREACH.
YOU WANT TO TOUCH PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE QUAD CITIES.
>>WE DO. THIS YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO SEE 52,000 PEOPLE
AT VARIOUS VENUES THROUGH OUR VISITING ARTIST SERIES.
THE SERIES IS 39 YEARS OLD, AND IT BRINGS ARTISTS LIKE MARK WOOD WHO IS IN TOWN RIGHT
NOW, INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO EDUCATE INSPIRE, TEACH PASSION, TEACH A LITTLE TECHNIQUE, TO
STUDENTS WHO, OTHERWISE, WOULD VERY RARELY HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEE A LIVE PERFORMANCE,
TO MEET A LIVE ARTIST, MIGHT BE A DANCER, A SINGER, INSTRUMENTALIST, OR WHATEVER, BUT
IT BRINGS IT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL SO THEY CAN REALIZE THEY CAN ATTAIN THAT DREAM, SOMEDAY,
TOO. >>I KNOW IN YOUR ROCK ISLAND GALLERY, YOU
HAVE AN ARTIST FROM MOUNT CARROLL. YOU REALLY DO WANT TO UNDERLINE LOCAL ARTS
AS WELL. >>WE DO WITH THE REGION.
SO IT IS NOT  I MEAN OUR WORK IN THE SCHOOLS IS IN THE SIX COUNTY AREA, THREE IN IOWA,
AND THREE IN ILLINOIS. WHEN IT COMES TO ARTISTS, YES, WE INVITE THEM
IN FROM A GEOGRAPHIC REGION SO THAT THEY, TOO, CAN HAVE THEIR SCULPTURE, OUTDOOR PUBLIC
SCULPTURE DISPLAYED WE ARE FOUR OF THE CITIES WITH THAT PROGRAM OR THE WORK IN ROCK ISLAND
AND THE AIRPORT IN MOLINE. >>THE FUNDRAISING DONE BY FESTIVAL OF TREES,
THAT'S GOT TO BE A MAJOR PART OF YOUR BUDGET, BUT IT IS NOT THE ONLY PART.
IS IT DIFFICULT TO BE RAISING FUNDS DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR?
>> I DON'T THINK IT IS DIFFICULT  I SHOULD QUALIFY THAT.
IT IS NOT DIFFICULT, BUT IT IS A CONCERTED EFFORT ALL YEAR LONG.
WE ARE THE BENEFICIARY OF A NUMBER OF GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE
STATES AND CITIES. WE HAVE A LOT OF CORPORATIONS WHO ARE VERY
GENEROUS TO US, AND WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WHO WRITE US NICE CHECKS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
FUNDRAISING IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. YOU HAVE TO CLICK ON WHAT THE POPULOUS WOULD WANT,
WHAT WOULD THEY SPEND THE MONEY TO SEE, WHAT COULD YOU DO TO FIND ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS TO
STAFF IT. SO I DON'T THINK IT IS HARD, BUT I THINK IT
IS A FORMULA THAT ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED AND ENCOURAGED AND CELEBRATED.
>>WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE COMING YEAR?
WE HAVE FESTIVAL WHICH KIND OF CAPS OFF 2012. WHAT IS IN STORE FOR QUAD CITY ARTS IN 2013?
>> 2013 IS OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF VISITING ARTIST SERIES.
WE START THAT SEASON IN THE SUMMER, AND WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE LINE UP.
WE ARE LOOKING TO GETTING DEEPER INTO THE SCHOOL PROGRAMMING WITH POSSIBLY SOME MORE
MASTER TECHNIQUE CLASSES, COLLABORATING WITH A LOT OF THE ARTS GROUPS IN TOWN.
THIS YEAR WE WERE IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR THE EXPERIENCE QUAD CITIES EAST WEST RIVER
FEST IN SEPTEMBER. WE WILL BE DOING THAT AGAIN NEXT SEPTEMBER.
WE HAD 300 EVENTS PUT ON BY 80 DIFFERENT GROUPS OVER TEN DAYS.
NOT NEW EVENTS, BUT BECAUSE WE COLLABORATED WE COULD SHOWCASE THAT MUCH. OUR ROLE IS VERY
MUCH AS A CHAMPION, CELEBRATOR, COMMUNICATOR, ALL THOSE THINGS.
>>FACILITATOR. >>FACILITATOR.
>>YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE, BUT YOU ARE CERTAINLY TRYING TO REACH ALL
PEOPLE. >>CAN'T BE. YES.
>>CARMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>>HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY AS WELL. >>AND YOU, TOO.
>>RIGHT WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE RIVER CENTER, THERE IS A DISPLAY OF TREES THAT HAS A LOT
OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE. THEY ARE CALLED HONOR TREES. THE TREES ARE
PERSONALIZED ORNAMENTS WHICH CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF SPECIAL PEOPLE, HONORING BIRTHDAYS
AND ANNIVERSARIES, SOLDIER'S SERVICES, STUDENTS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED.
ORNAMENTS ARE DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL OF TREES.
ACTUALLY THESE ORNAMENTS WILL BE MAILED TO BUYERS JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
TIME NOW FOR OUR MUSICAL SPOTLIGHT. WE HAVE A FEATURED MUSICIAN IN OUR LOCAL ARTS
PROGRAM CALLED ARTISTS IN PROFILE. THESE ARE INTERESTING TRIO.
BROTHERS LARS AND LEIF REHNBERG AND ARE JOINED BY GORDON PICKERING FOR US
THIS MONTH.AND HERE THEY ARE WITH THE "BALLAD OF THE WHEEL."
¶¶ SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A WHEEL.
SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE TIME TO WANNA BE A SPOKE. WHILE THE RIM SCREECHES, WHILE
THE HUB GRINDS. THAT'S WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE THE EARTH AND
HEAVEN CONFUSED, TO SPEAK OF THE STARS OF THE ROAD OF STONES, TURNING IN THE ICY SKY
TO SUFFER AT THE WHEEL IT IS UNIMAGINABLE. >>THE BALLAD OF THE WHEEL, ONE OF THE SONGS
THAT WILL BE FEATURED THIS MONTH ON WQPT ORIGINAL PROGRAM, ARTISTS AND PROFILES.
FESTIVAL OF TREES THAT IS REALLY AN EVENT BASED ON TRADITIONS.
WHEN YOU THINK OF THE HOLIDAYS, AND YOU THINK OF TRADITIONS, YOU PROBABLY THINK OF SOME
OF THOSE GREAT MOVIES THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR THE CHRISTMAS TIME SEASON.
ONE OF THEM, OF COURSE, "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE."
THE QUAD CITIES IS STAGING KIND IF AN INTERESTING, UNIQUE TWIST ON "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE" THE
MOVIE, AS A PLAY. JOINING US NOW IS WQPT'S DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER
OF "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE" STAGE PRODUCTION, LORA ADAMS.
LORA, THANKS FOR JOINING US. I SAID IT IS UNIQUE BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WITH GEORGE BAILEY IN BLACK AND WHITE.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT TAKE ON IT. >>IT IS.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER IT IS A WONDERFUL LIFE TOOK PLACE WHEN THE MOVIE WAS DONE, WE ARE GOING
BACK TO THAT TIME, 1946 AT A RADIO STATION IN NEW YORK CITY ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
THERE ARE A GROUP OF ACTORS AND ANNOUNCERS, ETCETERA, THAT TAKE THAT SCRIPT AND MAKE IT
COME TO LIFE. SOME CHARACTERS ARE PLAYING 15 DIFFERENT CHARACTERS.
AT ONE POINT, WE CALL IT A SYBIL MOMENT WHERE ONE ACTOR IS GOING INTEREST SIDE TO SIDE TO
SIDE WITH DIFFERENT VOICES. ONLY TWO ACTORS THAT PLAY ONLY ONE ROLE IS
MIKE MILLER, WHO IS PLAYING GEORGE BAILEY, AND JENNY WYNN WHO PLAYS MARY.
EVERYONE ELSE PLAYS MULTIPLE ROLES. >>WHAT IS NEAT ABOUT A STAGE PLAY LIKE THIS,
WHEN YOU MAKE IT BEHIND THE SCENES, AND THE RADIO PRODUCTION, YOU AS AUDIENCE MEMBER FEEL
YOU ARE PART OF INSIDE STORY HERE. >>THAT'S EXACTLY HOW IT IS STAGED.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ACTORS DON'T COME IN FROM BEHIND ON THE STAGE. THEY COME IN THROUGH
THE AUDIENCE. WHEN YOU ARE GETTING YOUR PROGRAM, YOU ARE
GREETED BY SOMEONE IN 1940'S ATTIRE. THERE IS A REAL SENSE OF HAVING THAT STEP
BACK IN TIME. EVEN WHEN THE SHOW STARTS, THE HOUSE LIGHTS
ARE UP, THE STAGE MANAGER IS TALKING, TELLING EVERYBODY WE ARE GOING IN FIVE, INTRODUCING
EVERYBODY, AND THEN WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DOWN, WE HAVE ALREADY ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE PLAY
FOR A LITTLE WHILE. IT IS REALLY INTERESTING CONCEPT, THAT JOE
LANDRY WHO WROTE IT CAME UP WITH. ANOTHER GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF KEVIN CONNORS,
HE SAW THE PIECE AND THEN HE WROTE INCIDENTAL MUSIC THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.
EVEN DOWN TO THE COMMERCIALS THAT ONE WOULD EXPECT TO HEAR IN A RADIO PROGRAM.
>>IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SEE THIS, WHERE DO YOU GO?
YOU ONLY HAVE THREE PERFORMANCES >>ONLY THREE PERFORMANCES THEY WILL BE NOVEMBER 16 AT
7:30 AND NOVEMBER 17 AT 2:00 AND 7:30 THEY CAN GET THEIR TICKETS ONLINE AT AUGUSTANA.EDU/TICKETS
OR THE CAN CALL THE BOX OFFICE. >>YOU POINTED OUT THE NAME OF THE THEATER
ON AUGUSTANA HAS A SPECIAL MEMORY. >>IT DOES.
WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A SPACE, WE FOUND POTTER THEATER, AND CONSIDERING IT IS A WONDERFUL
LIFE HAS THE VILLAIN OF MR. POTTER, WELL, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT WAS MEANT TO BE. THAT'S
WHERE IT IS GOING TO BE PERFORMED. >>FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO WON'T BE ABLE TO GET
TO AUGUSTANA COLLEGE TO SEE THE PERFORMANCE, IT WILL BE BROADCAST.
I THINK THIS IS A NEAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WQPT IS NOW INVOLVED IN.
>>WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITIES IS ALSO ON WVIK ON FRIDAY EVENINGS.
AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP. SO I THOUGHT WELL HERE WE HAVE A PLAY THAT
IS SET IN A RADIO STATION, AND I WANTED TO PUT IT ON WQPT, AND I THOUGHT WELL WE CERTAIN
CAN PUT IT ON WVIK AS WELL. AND WE CAME TOGETHER. THEY ARE DOING THE AUDIO FOR IT, AND WE ARE
DOING THE VIDEO FOR IT. SO WE WILL AIR IT ON DECEMBER 21 AND ON CHRISTMAS
DAY AT 7, AND WVIK WILL HAVE IT ON THEIR AIR ON DECEMBER 23.
SO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T BE IN THE AUDIENCE, THOUGH WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL BECAUSE IT IS A FUNDRAISER
FOR BOTH THE STATIONS, THEN THIS WAY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SIT WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND
ENJOY IT THAT WAY. >>PERHAPS YOU KNOW FRANK CAPRA?
>>I AM NOT FRANK CAPRA, NO. >>MAYBE YOU ARE CREATING NEW TRADITION AND
MEMORY FOR THE QUAD CITIES. >>I HOPE SO.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS IT IS A LOCAL PRODUCTION. AS LOCAL PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION, WE WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT MORE OF THE THINGS WE DO LOCALLY. >>LORA, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
A LOT OF HARD WORK. BUT I KNOW IT IS THE JOY OF YOUR LIFE AS WELL.
>>YES. >>ONCE AGAIN, FESTIVAL OF TREES HERE AT THE
RIVER CENTER WILL BE RUNNING FROM NOW THROUGH THANKSGIVING WEEKEND.
HERE IS AN IDEA THAT YOU MAYBE INTERESTED IN, VOLUNTEERING.
FESTIVAL IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT, THEY
SURE COULD USE YOU. JUST CHECK OUT DETAILS AT QUADCITYARTS.COM.
ON THE AIR, ON THE RADIO, ON THE WEB, AND ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE, ONCE AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE
EVERY TIME YOU JOIN US. FOR "THE CITIES."