Influential QC artists to be honored
Quad City Arts on Friday announced Atlanta Dawn, CJ Parker, Daniel Sheridan, and Phil Vernon as winners of the 2024 Lloyd Schoeneman Community Impact Awards.
They will be recognized at the organization’s upcoming Celebration of the Arts, Thursday, May 16 at the Bend Event Center, East Moline.
Since 2005, the awards have been given in honor of Lloyd Schoeneman (1951-2001), who began his career with Quad City Arts Council in 1978 and worked tirelessly for the arts and artists in our community. The awards honor outstanding artists, arts educators, and arts supporters, and the winners were selected from nominations from the community.
The four winners this year are:
Outstanding Visual Artist: Atlanta Dawn, who is highly in demand for her colorful mural work throughout the area.
Dawn started her career decorating storefront windows in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas with hand-painted whimsical illustrations. This window art quickly grew into small interior mural jobs and sign painting, which has led to the creation of larger exterior murals. One of her most recent and largest projects is a 4,200-square-foot mural on the rooftop of the new YWCA building in downtown Rock Island. She now advocates for helping other artists find success on their journeys while fulfilling her own career as a full-time artist.
Outstanding Performing Artist: CJ Parker, a dynamic multi-instrumentalist and captivating singer/songwriter from Davenport.
Parker is the epitome of musical versatility, his talent and dedication have caught the attention of industry insiders, earning him a coveted spot as a Rising Star on MTV Music News.
He has also sung the national anthem at numerous Iowa Hawkeyes Men’s and Women’s Basketball Games, most recently in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for Caitlin Clark and the Lady Hawkeyes. Beyond his success as a performer, Parker is also deeply committed to music education and serves as the InTune Mentorship Program Coordinator at Common Chord.
Outstanding Arts Educator: Daniel Sheridan, the Performing Arts Supervisor for Davenport Parks and Recreation, where he oversees Davenport Junior Theatre programs and facilities, among other responsibilities.
He has grown the program from 300 enrollments and 8 part-time staff to a program today that serves over 2,000 enrollments year-round and provides nearly 40 part-time jobs. Since Sheridan’s time as a DJT kid in the ‘90s, he’s served Junior Theatre as a performer, instructor, director, designer, artistic director, and administrator, teaching thousands of students to “Be brave, be bold, and have fun.”
Outstanding Arts Supporter: Phil Vernon, the dynamic leader of the Quad City Ukulele Club.
His leadership has been pivotal in transforming the club into a cultural resource, offering lively performances of classic rock and folk music free of charge. These performances notably include convalescent facilities, bringing musical joy to residents who may have limited access to cultural events.
They also perform in schools, inspiring students with the arts, and in churches that serve as important community centers. Additionally, the club is a staple at local community events such as the Bix & QC Marathon and the Festival of Trees, enhancing these gatherings with their music. Through these efforts, Vernon has significantly enriched the Quad Cities’ cultural landscape, promoting inclusivity and a shared community spirit, according to the QC Arts release.
The Lloyd Schoeneman Community Impact Awards recognize excellence in the Quad Cities arts community. The award features an enclosed rubber band ball; a symbol of Schoeneman’s playful and creative spirit, and his penchant for making rubber band balls and shooting them over the cubicle walls. Creating something colorful, fun, and unique from everyday objects was second nature to him, and the award acknowledges the creative spirit of all its winners.
This year’s Lloyd Award winners will be recognized at Quad City Arts’ Celebration of the Arts at The Bend Event Center Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m., starting with cocktail hour and 7 p.m. awards and keynote.
The evening will also feature remarks from Quad City Arts’ executive director Kevin Maynard, performances by Visiting Artist Daniel Pak and Grammy-nominated pianist Josh Rawlings, and a keynote address by Americans for the Arts’ Vice President of Research, Randy Cohen.
Since 1991, Cohen has propelled national arts advocacy, initiating studies like Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 and collaborating on the National Arts Policy Roundtable with Robert Redford.
Tickets are $60 and include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Proceeds support the Quad City Arts’ Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program.
Make your reservation HERE.
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