​Hi everyone! My name is Ryan McElroy and I’m the new Programs Manager here at Arts Quincy. I’m originally from Quincy and I just graduated from the University of Iowa in May. There, I majored in theatre arts with a focus in design. Also, while there I was involved in the Hawkeye Marching Band where I got to travel to places like Florida and New York to play for the football and basketball teams. I loved my time at the University of Iowa. A little more about myself is that I love watching sports, especially the Denver Broncos and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Theatre is something I try to do as much as I can. You might have seen my lighting design in Mama Mia! or Bye Bye Birdie!  both at QCT. I’ve been back in Quincy since March and I’ve been working at Arts Quincy for a little over a month now and I really enjoy it so far. The biggest strength I bring to Arts Quincy is being the comedic relief of the office and being able to work through problems with a new set of eyes because I’m fairly new to the world of art councils. Arts councils are something I’ve been interested in for a long time now. This is a great place for me to be, having just graduated I get to see so many different organizations at work and how people can support them. Working here is also incredibly helpful because with all that is happening in the world, working in an arts field is not an easy thing to come by right now. Staying in the world of the arts while also getting to support all of the things that mean a lot to me is the best of both worlds. I’ve been learning a lot since I’ve been here and I’m very much looking forward to working here in the future! 

​This week’s STEAM Star is Wade Scheuermann! He visited Kesler Park and decided to replicate the Mississippi River Flood Markers in this project. Wade is nine-years-old and will be entering 4th grade at Thomas S. Baldwin Elementary School. Thank you Wade for sharing your idea!
This STEAM project is an original project idea from nine-year-old Wade Scheuermann of Quincy. He visited Kessler Park on the riverfront with his family and decided to recreate the flood markers using recyclable materials. He drew pictures, took notes, and snapped photos for reference before he got started.

​It’s sometimes difficult for my brother to agree
with me on a project, but we’ve always loved a
project that mixes art, science, books and a
mess! You may have heard about Oobleck in
science, but we first read about it in Dr. Seuss’s book Bartholomew and the Oobleck.
In the story, the king wants something new to happen. The result, a magician makes Oobleck fall from the sky. This project is fun for families of all ages and clean-up is just hot water and a rag! So, get to making your own Oobleck!
​This steam project is from Page and Gavin Schumacher!

​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!