For Immediate Release
Event Contact: Christine Rebout, JACVB Executive Director at (608) 757-3171
Donations Contact: Nigella Ryan at (608) 774-0949
Janesville, Wisconsin – Returning Art Infusion artist Ivan Roque of Miami, FL found inspiration for the large-scale wall mural he will be creating during the eleventh annual Art Infusion in Janesville native, Carrie Jacob Bond’s most famous song, “I Love You Truly.”
Bond, born in Janesville in 1862, was a composer of popular music from the 1890s through the early 1940s and is perhaps best remembered for writing the song “I Love You Truly.” The song has been sung at weddings for decades and was recorded by numerous artists. It has sold over one million copies and is one of the earliest songs composed by a woman to achieve that distinction. Bonds also started her own sheet music publishing company, and published books of poetry as well as creating the artwork for her sheet music cover pages.
Roque’s mural will be added to the back side (facing the river) of the Hodge Podge Place building at 14 S Water St, September 9 – 11, 2022. It will incorporate features that pay homage to Bond and the song, including a female cardinal with red roses and a butterfly that represents the freedom that music brings to us.
About Ivan Roque
Born December of 1991, Ivan J. Roque is a Cuban-American visual artist from Miami, Florida. Raised in the inner city of the infamous Carol City with a passion for the concepts of birth, death, renewal and social struggles, his influences range from the old masters to the new such as Caravaggio, Marc Rothko, Typoe and Gianni Versace. Roque has been able to accomplish many achievements for his young age, including working with rapper Denzel Curry, collaborating with major brands like Samsung, Becks, Seagram’s Gin, Ultra Music Festival and showcasing alongside established artists such as The London Police, David Detuna, John “CRASH” Matos and many more. As part of Art Infusion 2021, Roque created the incredible 100-foot-long beloved mural known as “The River of Life.” The mural features a flowing river with animals and flowers and is located on the River Street side of the Rock River Charter School at 31 W Milwaukee Street. Roque holds a Bachelor of Art in Visual Arts from the Florida International University.
About Art Infusion 2022
Mural artist Ivan Roque will be returning, Emily Balsley who created the My Pet Park Installation during the 2021 event will return as a mural artist, and three were chosen via a juried process that was managed by professional artist and community wall mural expert, Katie Stensberg of Kasten Design. The muralists will begin working on their designs September 9 and hope to complete them by September 12, 2022 (weather dependent).
Sidewalk chalk artists will be competing for cash prizes on Saturday, September 10, and Sunday, September 11 at Firehouse Park in downtown Janesville. Winners will be announced at 3:30 PM on Sunday. Chalk artists of all skill levels, kids ages 10 and up and adults are all invited to join the competition or draw for fun. The theme for this year’s event is “Find your adventure in Janesville, Wisconsin’s Great Outside.” There will also be a new black and white monochrome component added for those that are up for the challenge.
Spectators are invited to view all the art as it is being created and interact with artists. They can also follow the progress of the art on the Art Infusion Facebook and Instagram pages.
The Art Infusion Committee would like to offer heartfelt thanks to Nigella Ryan and other generous donors, sponsors and volunteers, the City of Janesville, as well as the local organizations assisting with programming and logistics including Janesville Performing Art Center, Rock County Historical Society, Janesville Art League, Rock County Children’s Museum and Downtown Janesville BID. Special thanks to presenting sponsors TDS, Downtown Janesville Business Improvement District (BID) and Downtown Janesville, Inc.
For questions please call (608) 757-3171.
About the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Our expert staff is here to help you plan your next visit, group tour, meeting or conference event in Janesville, Wisconsin’s Great Outside. The Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private non-profit Destination Marketing Organization, whose mission is to lead, support and promote tourism in the area by promoting Janesville as a prime destination for meetings and conventions, motorcoach, sports events and leisure travelers, thereby creating a positive economic impact on the community and enhancing the quality of life. The JACVB is funded by local hotel room tax and receives approximately 60% of the room tax collected by the City of Janesville with the remainder going into the city’s general fund. To learn more visit janesvillecvb.com.
Celebrating 10 Years (2013- 2023) 