Rebecca Quick ’21 made a valuable contribution to the Monmouth art scene two years ago when she collaborated as an artist-in-residence with Kendall Thompson ’17 on the large, colorful mural on the north wall of Tin Cup Coffee Shop in the 200 block of South Main St.
Thanks to a position she started in January two blocks north of the mural at the Buchanan Center for the Arts, Quick hopes to make plenty more contributions to the Maple City’s art scene.
The art major from Moline, Illinois, is the new program coordinator and social media curator at the Buchanan Center. In her role, Quick sets up classes in the center and works with the Teen Recharge Center and the Warren Achievement Center, both located in Monmouth.
Quick said she now sees more of the behind-the-scenes aspects of working in the art world.
“I love the constant changes in what I do, and I’m excited about the art opportunities I can facilitate,” she said.
Quick credited Monmouth faculty for helping her to find her new position, as well as for the connections the professors help other art majors make. Art professor Janis Wunderlich introduced her to the Tin Cup mural project while she was still a Monmouth student and continued to be a valuable source after Quick graduated.
“Janis told me about different job opportunities, and that led to more,” she said. “The professors have constantly reached out to other facilities in hopes to help their students find their paths and their careers.”
Facing challenges
Another Monmouth art professor, Stacy Lotz, told Quick, “Don’t be afraid of a challenge.”
Quick has taken that advice to heart after college, and she has found challenges in her career as she strives to bring art to everyone in her role at the Buchanan Center.
“I like making people aware of the opportunities in the community,” said Quick, who has enjoyed the opportunities to meet new people and go to different places through her new position.
“The ease of access in the Quad Cities almost seems like more,” said Quick, “but Monmouth has the ability to really push it out there and present it to more people to bring them in.”
Art has influenced much of Quick’s life, and her career path since high school has been geared toward the arts. She finds the community work she does to be an enlightening experience.
“It brings people together,” she said. “It lets them sit down – unless you’re painting a wall – and it gives them an opportunity to talk and share their stories.”
Quick has two murals lined up for the spring and hopes to work on a third mural with the teen center.
***Courtesy of Barry McNamara, Monmouth College***
