Welcome to Bellevue Arts Council, Bellevue, Iowa!

We are delighted to announce that BAC member Ronald Hansen will be creating the public art piece along Bellevue's Scenic Byway. Ronald's concept proposal of steamboat stacks and colorful fishes is shown above. Thank you to the community for its input in this multi-year process, and to the Public Art Selection Committee which developed the theme "Living, Flowing, Ever Changing." This project is being managed by the Byways of Iowa Foundation and the Northeast Iowa RC&D.  The goal is to have the sculpture in place in time for Fishtival in August 2018. 

Our current BAC Board Members are from left to right, back row,  Anne Amore, Ron Hansen, Allen Ernst, Dave Eischeid, and Julianne Couch. 

Front row from left to right, are  Karen Langseth, Jo Fifield, Linda Nudd, Kate Brooks, and Sue Sawvel.  

Carrie Weaver of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, shown above separately,  is also a board member and advisor.

We are so fortunate for the use of the Great River Gallery for individual showings by artists and also for our annual BAC Members Spring Exhibit.  

The gallery is located at 116 North Riverview Drive, Bellevue, Iowa.  Access to the gallery is available upon request by contacting Allen Ernst at 563.581.9197 (or 563.872.3388) or email at allenrernst@me.com.  

Link here to the Great River Gallery website.

This year our BAC Members Spring Art Show is opening at the Great River Gallery, 116 North Riverview Drive in Bellevue, Iowa, on Friday, May 4, 2018, with a reception from 5:30 to 8 P.M.   The exhibit will also be open on Saturday, May 5th, from 2 - 4 P.M. for public viewing.  

This exhibit always proves to be diverse in range of 2D and 3D artworks by our members, and exceptional in quality of works presented. 

As in previous years, up to three works can be submitted by each artist; 20% of the proceeds from the artist's sales will benefit the BAC.

Works can be picked up by the artists at the gallery on May 6th from 2 to 4 P.M.  If this time creates a conflict for the artist, please contact Dave Eischeid for other arrangements.

GREAT RIVER GALLERY OVERVIEW

The Great River Gallery exhibits ongoing artworks from resident artists throughout the year.  In addition, specific scheduled shows by individual artists and the BAC Members' Spring Exhibit celebrate area artists creations in photography, 2D studio works, jewelrymaking, fabric art, woodworking and sculpture. 

In addition to our Great River Gallery, we are working on a BAC  Art Gallery online on this website.  It is currently under construction and will be open for viewing in 2018.

Our next annual 2018 Fishtival event is Saturday, August 18, 2018!

Included with the Fishival Arts Festival is a dedication of a Public Art Piece on August 18th as well. If you'd like to know more about this art piece, see the Riverfront Sculpture description  at the top of this page.


FISHTIVAL OVERVIEW
The annual Fishtival event in August is a celebration of our heritage as a community on the Mississippi through all forms of art including dance, media arts, and folk and traditional music. Some activities include an art exhibit, on-location painters, fish sculptures, fish related children's hands-on projects, DNR fish demonstrations, children's dance troupes, trolling musicians, a mermaid, and a fish boil.  Just added in 2017 are informal adult art experiences in the gazebo. This year included a clay handbuilding project, chalk pastel and watercolor.  The mission of the BAC is to present a variety of unique, artistic expressions and experiences to children, students, and community. The purpose of Fishtival is to attract tourists to the Bellevue, Iowa, through the promotion of art. 

Come join us from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Great River Gallery, 116 North Riverview, Bellevue, next door to the River Ridge Brewery, that is open for the arts event offering  specialty beverages if desired. See you there!

JANUARY 14, 2018 - Mini Acrylic Painting

                                                                           Studio Event

FEBRUARY 11, 2018 - Writing Love Poems for Valentine's Day                               Literature Event

MARCH 11, 2018 - Irish Folklore, Symbols and Illumination                                               Studio Event

APRIL 8, 2018 - PAINTING AND HIDING ROCKS                                                                             Studio Event

MAY 12, 2018 - MOTHER'S DAY - PHOTO WITH YOUR MOM AND A GIFT OF PANSIES FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL

We'll be taking photos of moms and daughters for a special keepsake in honor of Mother's Day. Also, you will have the option of handpainting a primed plastic flower pot with acrylic craft paints, markers, and paint pens.  When your pot is dry, we'll fill it with pansies for that special someone.  Come and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with us on Mother's Day!

Future 2nd Sunday Events in the planning stages:

May 12: Mother's Day - Photos with your Mother

June 10 - Sun Prints

July 8 - Paint Pouring and Acrylic Mini Canvas Painting with Easel

August 12 - Field Trip  to Fiddler on the Roof, Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll (tickets $25 available from Jo Fifield)

September 9 - Origami with Joe Oclon

October 14 - Photo Contest for Photography Enthusiasts

November 11 - Painting donated ceramic ornaments 

December 9 - Don't know yet... keep you posted

SECOND SUNDAY OVERVIEW

Second  Sunday events allow  children, adults, and families to explore the arts. These events started in December 2016  and are held every Second Sunday in the Great River Gallery from 2-4 p.m. Participants  have access to  the River Ridge Brewery next door while enjoying writing, music, and studio art.  Some of the  2nd Sunday arts events in 2017 included watercolor, pastel, recycled art, authors, historical re-enactments of prominent writers and poets of the past, and musical experiences. The sky is the limit in what you may experience. 

The Bellevue Arts Council is proud to sponsor an annual "Explore Art" project that K-5 students from Bellevue Elementary and Marquette Schools participate in at the Off the Wall Studio Gallery every year from January through March. Studio experiences for the children include everything from drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture works, with effort for the art activities to tie into the Bellevue community; for example, the river, fish and wildlife, native american history, pioneer roots, and the heritage of our town.  

This is one of many events that we as the Bellevue Arts Council are doing to promote the arts in Bellevue and pride in our community. Our ongoing mission and vision is to build a strong community arts program now and for the future. We utilize artists, volunteers, and supplies obtained through grants and memberships to offer art opportunities to all elementary students in Bellevue.  

Two to three times a month Dave and Carol  Eischeid, and Sue and Earl Sawvel take turns giving painting classes to any Mill Valley residents who choose to attend. Karen Dunne consistently helps with every class as well and a special "Thank You!" goes to her for her devotion to what we are trying to achieve at Mill Valley for its residents. Our painting classes are an hour and a half in length giving residents the opportunity for mental focus, dexterity, and critical decision making skills while producing very personal artworks that could include subject matter from horses and barns to florals.  We love working with the residents of Mill Valley, knowing these activities add to their enrichment opportunities and quality of life. Random discussions, camaraderie, and  life stories add depth and a smile to the residents' day as well.

March 9, 2018, we took a caravan field trip to three different Dubuque  locations to experience very diverse expressions of art.  It was a wonderful day of discussion, inspiration, comaraderie, and art experience. We began at the Sinsinawa Mound Center for Gail Chavenelle's Spirit and Space Exhibit, but we couldn't leave without admiring the chapel's beautiful stained glass windows, then  heading for the bakery and gift shop for goodies.  Then on to lunch at 7Hills, followed by the Amanda Steines Exhibit at Gallery C in downtown Dubuque.  We finished up the day with two shows at the Dubuque Art Museum, the Charles Thwaites Exhibit and the Paper: Medium and Message Show. 

This year, BAC members will take a trip to see "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll on Sunday, August 12th. 

Past field trips have included art museum tours to Milwaukee, Chicago, and Dubuque.  Each year members can participate in a field trip to Mount Carroll's  Timberlake Playhouse in Illinois. Where would like to go on an arts related field trip?

To add to individual exploration of the arts, we are including an  Inspiration Page to this website  that will change  in content every month or so. Access to the Inspiration Page can be linked to from the Navigation Bar at the top of this page as well.   It explores an artist from history, his or her biography, the relevant artistic time period, and the artist's personal style and motivation to be an artist. It's a little art appreciation and art history rolled  into one. We hope you enjoy it!