​This week’s STEAM Star is Tristan Jennings! He demonstrated how to make a homemade black snake, just in time for Independence Day!
This STEAM project from Science Notes shows you how to make a popular, non-exploding firework: the black snake. You can purchase these fireworks but they are also easy to make with ingredients from your kitchen!

​This week’s STEAM Star is Dorian Maglioccowho will be a fourth grader at Lincoln-Douglas Elementary School. Doriancreated a paper circuit Father’s Day card that incorporates science, technology, and art. Thank you Dorian for creating this fun activity for us!
​
How does an electrical circuit work?Electricity can be found everywhere you look. Electrical circuits are used to power light bulbs, televisions, computers, and more! Circuits are a simple, fascinating way to better understand building and engineering. To create a simple circuit, you will need a battery, wire, and a light. 

This week’s STEAM Star is Leah Welker, an 8th grader at Quincy Junior High School. She is trying out one of most popular STEAM projects, salt painting. Thank you Leah for creating this fun activity for us!
​
This fun STEAM project from busymommedia.com uses the power of salt absorption to create a unique work of art. In the process of creating a salt painting, you’ll see first hand how salt effectively absorbs moisture from the environment.
 
Before starting the project, discuss how salt is used not just to favor our food but also prevents food from spoiling. Salt absorbs moisture from its surroundings helping to inhibit the growth of bacteria in foods. With that in mind, observe how quickly and effectively salt absorbs the watercolors. 

​Arts Quincy: America’s First Arts Council, has been selected as the winner of The American Prize in Arts Marketing, 2019-2020, in recognition of its robust media presence, flagship publication, overall community involvement and public outreach initiatives.
 
Arts Quincy was selected as the winner from applications reviewed recently from across the United States. The American Prize in Arts Marketing recognizes and rewards the best marketing campaigns by the best arts administrators in America and is based on submitted applications from professional or community groups. The contest seeks evidence of campaigns that combine inspiration and creativity with demonstrable success, regardless of the budget available.

​Illinois Stories, Mark McDonald was in Quincy on June 25th videotaping the rebuilding of the 1828 Fraser Log Cabin located in the Lincoln-era Log Cabin Village on Quinsippi Island.  He interviewed John Gebhardt, President of the Friends of the Log Cabins (FLC), Helaman Haynie Contractor who is rebuilding the 1828 Fraser Log Cabin and Dan Conboy, FLC Board member.  The finished program is to air locally on PBS Channel 27.1 (off air) or on Channel 8 on Cable this Thursday, July 9 at 7:30 PM; Friday, July 10 at 6:30 PM; and Wednesday, July 15 at 6:30 PM. 

​It’s time to pull out an album from your record collection or pick up one from a thrift store! Grab a partner and some simple supplies and you can make a turntable to listen to a vinyl LP without electricity. This activity teaches aspects of engineering and technology, and the physics behind sound waves. Thank you Eli and Kate Carlson for submitting your project and being this week’s Arts Quincy STEAM Stars!

Quincy Preserves to Host First-Ever Walking Tour!
 
Historical preservation is integral to the identity of Quincy. It contributes to the liveliness of our streets and our booming downtown district. It symbolizes important events, people, and ideas in our area’s history. It promotes the heritage of our city to all who visit and live here. Without historical preservation, there would be far fewer gems in the “Gem City.” 

Preservation is so important because once a historical building is demolished, it is lost forever. The chance to renovate or save a structure that adds so much to the cultural landscape of an area is eliminated. These beautiful buildings showcase high-quality building materials that are no longer found in newer construction, such as rare hardwoods and unusual tinted glass. To lose them would greatly hinder our community’s understanding and appreciation of great architecture and craftsmanship. 

​The American military in the 21st century is diverse and reflects the complexities of the country and the current times. '100 Faces of War," a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian, presents the stories of those who served the U.S. in the Iraq and Afganistan wars. 

The exhibition, organized in collaboration with artist Matt Mitchell, features 100 oil portraits of Americans representing a cross-section of home states, military branches, jobs and backgrounds. Each painting includes a candid, unedited, firsthand account of war. The statements take many different forms, including emails and letters to loved ones and poems and words written specifically for this exhibition.

​As home to the oldest Veterans Home in Illinois and American Legion Post 37, as well as being host of a variety of veteran fundraisers, events and services throughout the year, Quincy, Illinois has long valued the dedication and lives of our country’s veterans. It’s because of this The Art Center is excited to host this traveling exhibition by the Smithsonian Institution in collaboration with artist Matt Mitchell.