Thursday, February 28, 2013

No ordinary teacher(s)

Tucked away in a classroom at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School in Eddyville, Iowa is an English teacher, John David Thompson. By day he dispenses typical English class fare: proper use of grammar and syntax, the formatting of an essay, the art of making smooth transitions between paragraphs, an introduction to the classics. To some, exciting stuff, to others drudgery.

Such is the life of an English teacher. But John David Thompson is no ordinary English teacher. He is also a published poet with eight books to his credit. His latest book, Iowa: A Place to Poem, recently hit the bookshelves.

Think about the title for a second. The first thought that comes to mind is the former Iowa tourism slogan, Iowa: A Place to Grow. But Iowa is thought of as a place to do many things: grow corn, raise hogs, manufacture machinery, go to school, but a place to poem?  Thompson thinks so.

Two of Thompson’s previous books, the ones I have first-hand knowledge of, also reflect an Iowa theme. 99 Voices, 99 Lives: County Poems of Iowa, published in 2006, includes poems inspired by each of Iowa’s counties. Another, On Holiday, is a Christmas-themed collection of poems written by an Iowan for an Iowan. It was also accepted for review by the Pulitzer Prize Committee in 2007. Not bad for a small town teacher from Iowa. But then again, Thompson is no ordinary English teacher.

Thompson’s latest book is a collection of over 300 poems also reflecting an Iowa theme. In one he writes as a house. See if you can pick up on which one.

Quietly a drifter trips to my yard,
entranced as if in requisite study.
He calls me the backdrop, and it settles hard.
His brush of air, annoys and disturbs me.

Round of spectacles and round at mid-waist.
this Wood-be painter asks for my porch profile.
I may be the house, but he is fresh paint
 to ask that I turn my gables, effect a smile.
You’ll need frown’s farmer, and
you’ll need a stern wife.
I advise with my south eye window-arching.

And it’s best to depict me in the dust-white
to convince of regionalism’s aching.
His masterpiece eyes spy a rarity.

I bring’m to size. Wait for the parodies.

Much of what is written about the house in American Gothic is how Grant Wood found the house and what he saw in it. This is the first I have come across from the house’s point of view, and obviously it was a bit annoyed. He calls Wood a “drifter” and takes offense to making him the “backdrop” for the painting instead of front and center. While Wood paints, the brush sounds “annoys and disturbs” him and he belittles Wood by calling him a “Wood-be painter,” which, by the way, is pretty clever. In the end the house accepts its fate and importance and becomes prescient: “Wait for the parodies.”

This is what an artist does; he or she provides us with something not thought of, another point of view. Wood painted familiarity—farms, fields, the product of toil, although not quite with an exactness. Thompson does something similar by humanizing the famous house and its thoughts on the painting. It’s food for thought—and fun—what more could a reader want.

I only know Wood by what I read, and only Thompson enough to feel comfortable saying “Hi, John” when we cross paths, but by reading the introduction poem in 99 Voices, 99 Lives, have come to the conclusion both have much in common.

I am a man for all counties,
and I push a proud pen.
Before most of you met your first morn,
I was born in one of them.
Goldfinch greets me at easterly window.
The rose and I grow in a ditch reserved for the wild.
Among the strongest of vines there,
Iowa’s child.


Besides both being artists with an appreciation for Iowa and Iowans, both were—are—teachers. And no ordinary teachers at that.

Iowa: A Place to Poem is available from Amazon and bookstores throughout Iowa.

Brian Chambers
Media Coordinator
American Gothic House Center
641-652-3352
wapellocountymediacoordinator@gmail.com

The American Gothic House Center strives to become financially independent through gift shop revenue, sponsorships, and by establishing an endowment fund. Funds raised in this campaign will be used to match the Iowa Cultural Trust Endowment Challenge Grant and will become endowment funds to support the Center's annual operations. As a subscriber to the weekly newsletter, you have already shown support for the American Gothic House Center. I invite you to strengthen your role in the valuable experience we provide the community by making a contribution to our fund drive. Click here to give your tax deductible gift, or head to our website for more information. Thank you to all who have donated so far!
        Our Mission: Integrating the puzzle pieces of American Gothic
300 American Gothic St | Eldon, IA 52554 | 641-652-3352 | theamericangothichouse@gmail.com

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Get on the GW Bus

Not all activities concerning the American Gothic House Center are held at the Center or in Eldon. Once in a while, in order to provide a better understanding of Grant Wood’s world, it is necessary to hit the road and explore other venues.

This is what will happen on Saturday, April 27 as the Center will host a day-long field trip to Ames, Iowa to see first-hand some of Wood’s most famous creations and what farm life was like in Iowa during the 1800s. But that’s not all. Before the day is over a walk through Reiman Gardens, one of the largest public gardens in the state, is on the agenda and an evening meal at another popular attraction—Prairie Meadows.

First stop will be the Iowa State University Library, not to check out a book but to check out the Grant Wood Heritage Area. This area consists of murals designed by Wood while he headed the Public Works of Art Project for Iowa in the 1930s and painted by various artists from Iowa.

The murals are arranged on the walls of the stairway leading to the upper lobby of the original library and are designed to reflect a quote by Daniel Webster in 1840 at the Boston State House: “When tillage begins, other arts follow.” Webster believed that farmers are the founders of human civilization, thus all advancement by civilization were born of farmers.

After the ooohing and aaahing is done at the library, the next stop is the Farm House Museum at the center of the ISU campus. The Farm House carries the distinction of being the first building on campus and was built in 1860, just shortly after the university was founded in 1858.

 The Farm House has served many functions during its life, two of which were housing college presidents and the epicenter of a working farm. For many years college students were hired to help with the chores around the farm and in the 1940s it was a practice home for young women in the Home Economics Department. In the late 1970s the Farm House became a public museum where visitors can experience 19th Century farm life.

Before leaving campus a stop at Reiman Gardens will reveal a host of garden designs and arrangements, a conservatory featuring a lush, tropical collection of colorful, rare plant, seasonal displays and a 2,500 square foot indoor butterfly garden. The gardens also boast a children’s garden containing elements of an Iowa farm, and a town and country garden exhibit that demonstrate design solutions for the home landscapes.

April 27 will also mark the premier of “Iowa Naturally: Garden Inspired Sculpture by Iowa Artists.” The exhibit runs through Oct. 30 and feature sculptures, designed by Iowans, nestled in the landscape creating inspiring displays. In the mood to spend some money? All sculptures are for sale with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Gardens.

On the return trip a stop is scheduled at the Triple Crown Eatery at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. The restaurant will be a fitting end to a day of sights and sounds of Grant Wood and Iowa. The eatery’s menu boasts a wide range of offerings and daily specials with all-you-can-eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets.

Cost for the day-long trip is $69.50 per person and covers transportation, dinner and admission. The tour begins in Fairfield at 8:30 a.m. with departure on the east side of the Jefferson County Health Center parking lot at 2000 South Main St. Pick up points enroute to Ames will be the American Gothic House Center in Eldon at 9 a.m. and Ottumwa at 9:30 a.m. on the west side of Great Prairie AEA parking lot at 2814 North Court with arrival in Ames at 11:45 a.m. The bus will return the same day to Ottumwa, Eldon and Fairfield at 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. respectively.

Reservations for the trip can be made by calling Holly Berg at 641-652-3352 or email at TheAmericanGothicHouse@gmail.com. Reservations will be accepted as long as space allows. There must be a minimum of 32 people for the trip or it will be cancelled. Deadline for sign-up is Friday, April 12.

Hope to see you on April 27!
Brian Chambers
Media Coordinator
American Gothic House Center
641-652-3352
wapellocountymediacoordinator@gmail.com

The American Gothic House Center strives to become financially independent through gift shop revenue, sponsorships, and by establishing an endowment fund. Funds raised in this campaign will be used to match the Iowa Cultural Trust Endowment Challenge Grant and will become endowment funds to support the Center's annual operations. As a subscriber to the weekly newsletter, you have already shown support for the American Gothic House Center. I invite you to strengthen your role in the valuable experience we provide the community by making a contribution to our fund drive. Click here to give your tax deductible gift, or head to our website for more information. Thank you to all who have donated so far!
Our Mission: Integrating the puzzle pieces of American Gothic
300 American Gothic St | Eldon, IA 52554 | 641-652-3352 | theamericangothichouse@gmail.com

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Birthday party a huge success

Yesterday, Feb. 13, would have been Grant Wood’s 122nd birthday. There is little information out there as to how he celebrated when alive, but the American Gothic House Center and volunteers did him justice last Saturday with their tribute at the KD Center in Eldon.

Close to 75 Grant Wood supporters and enthusiasts stopped by the KD Center to sample one (or more) of 10 delicious soups made by volunteers. Along with soup, there was homemade bread, a host of desserts also made by volunteers and iced tea, lemonade or coffee. (Yum! Yum! As the cast of Hee Haw would say when Grandpa Jones announced the menu.)

To feed the birthday party revelers (this may be too strong of word as most in attendance were on their best behavior) volunteers were kept busy serving up soup, keeping the dessert table stocked and pouring drinks. At times all the tables in the Center were full with people sitting around visiting and sharing personal stories about Grant Wood. (I might be stretching the truth on this last comment, but they were doing quite a bit of talking.)

For entertainment the Indian Hills Community College Chamber Singers were on hand and gave a fine performance sans “Happy Birthday To You.” True to the nature of college students never passing up a free meal they all stuck around for a bowl of soup and dessert. Thanks to Laura Wiebe, director of the IHCC Chamber Singers, for making arrangements to bring her students to Eldon for the party.

Throughout the afternoon door prizes were awarded picked via an elaborate system of playing cards. The door prizes were donated by local businesses: Chommy’s, Ostrander Flowers and Greenhouses, The Lucky Rooster Coffee House, D’s Eldon Y Company and Red Rooster Collectibles.

The party ended with a drawing for the framed American Gothic House print by local photographer Chris Abigt. This unique print of American Gothic was framed by M&J Art and Frame Gallery with reclaimed wood and glass from the American Gothic House. Dave C. of Ottumwa was the winner of the print. He bought the ticket when attending the Eagle Watch at Bridge View Center in January.

Besides good food and conversation the event was productive in the fiscal department as over $1,000 was raised between the raffle tickets for the American Gothic House print and free will donations. Money raised from the raffle will be put toward the American Gothic House Center Endowment Fund, while the money raised from donations will be used to buy supplies for the Easter Egg Roll on March 30, as well as the Halloween Party and Gingerbread House building later in the year.

Next week: Look to this space for information on the upcoming Grant Wood Bus Trip on Saturday, April 27.

Till next time.
Brian Chambers
Media Coordinator
American Gothic House Center
641-652-3352
wapellocountymediacoordinator@gmail.com

The American Gothic House Center strives to become financially independent through gift shop revenue, sponsorships, and by establishing an endowment fund. Funds raised in this campaign will be used to match the Iowa Cultural Trust Endowment Challenge Grant and will become endowment funds to support the Center's annual operations. As a subscriber to the weekly newsletter, you have already shown support for the American Gothic House Center. I invite you to strengthen your role in the valuable experience we provide the community by making a contribution to our fund drive. Click here to give your tax deductible gift, or head to our website for more information. Thank you to all who have donated so far!
        Our Mission: Integrating the puzzle pieces of American Gothic
300 American Gothic St | Eldon, IA 52554 | 641-652-3352 | theamericangothichouse@gmail.com

Thursday, February 7, 2013

It’s birthday party time at the American Gothic House

In case anyone missed the numerous blog notes, Facebook posts or, for those who live close to Eldon, the posters, this Saturday, Feb. 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the American Gothic House Center is hosting a birthday party for Grant Wood—what would have been his 122nd—perhaps the only one of its kind anywhere. It will be held at the KD Center in Eldon.

Grant DeVolson Wood was born on a farm four miles east of Anamosa, Iowa on Feb. 13, 1891. It was a Friday. He was the second child of four of Francis Maryville and Hattie DeEtte Weaver Wood and joined his brother Fran
k who was born in 1887. Another brother, John, was born in 1893 and then a sister, Nan, (short for Nancy) came along in 1899. Given the time and place—an Iowa farmstead in the late 19th century—it was a tight fit for the six of them but as most did in rural Iowa the family made do.

As with any month in any given year there are notable dates—many involving a "first" of some sort—and February of 1891 is no different. Besides Wood's birth (a first, especially for Grant Wood), there were others, some noteworthy, others not so much, unless you are partial to vegetables and buffalo.

Earlier that month and a half of continent away, on Feb. 6, the now-famous Dalton Gang perhaps should have taken a hint when their first train robbery, near Alila, Calif., went awry and three of the brothers, Bob, Grat, and Bill rode off empty handed. Evidently their luck picked up later—at least for a while.

A couple days after Wood was born, on Feb. 15, was another notable, to some anyway, occasion as the first shipment of asparagus arrived in San Francisco (I have no idea from where). Young children have been ecstatic ever since.

Later in the month and also in San Francisco, on Feb. 26, the first buffalo was purchased for the Golden Gate Park. And for those who follow such things on the 28th Oscar Grunden set the world ice skating record in the 500m (50.8 seconds).
In a nod to custom, for those who were at least one-year-old on that day, or any day in 1891, “Happy Birthday” wasn't sung around the table, as the now-traditional song was written in 1893. The melody and lyrics were written by two sisters - Mildred J. Hill (born 1859) and Patty Smith Hill (born 1868). The melody was composed by Mildred and the lyrics were written by Patty, but it was originally for a classroom greeting song titled "Good Morning to All." It wasn’t until the 1920s the lyrics were changed to what we know today. Given that, Wood could have been in his mid-30s before anyone sang it in his honor.
There is no guarantee it will be sung this Saturday but Wood would overlook it given the soups (after all it isn't called the Grant Wood Birthday Soup Smorgasbord for nothing) that will be served up. Minestrone, chicken and wild rice, cheddar potato, seafood gumbo, bean soup, chili, vegetable beef, taco and beef tortellini, all prepared by volunteers, will grace the table. Alongside the soups will be fresh bread and numerous cakes with plenty of coffee, iced tea, lemonade and water to wash it all down with. All this for only a donation. What a deal.

“Happy Birthday” might not be heard but there will no shortage of music as the Indian Hills Community College Chamber Singers will perform in concert at noon. As with any performance by the superb vocalists from IHCC, it will be one not to miss.

To wind up the party, at 1 p.m., there will be a drawing for the American Gothic House Print by local photographer Chris Abigt. This unique print of the American Gothic House is framed by M&J Art and Frame Gallery in Ottumwa with reclaimed wood and glass from the porch. Ticket prices for the print are $1 or six for $5 and can be purchased at the center, online until 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 at www.AmericanGothicHouse.net or in person at the birthday party on Saturday.

So if you have some free time on Saturday swing by the KD Center—located just east of the railroad depot—for some good food, music and a chance to win a one of a kind framed print. Hope to see you there.

Brian Chambers
Media Coordinator
American Gothic House Center
641-652-3352
wapellocountymediacoordinator@gmail.com

The American Gothic House Center strives to become financially independent through gift shop revenue, sponsorships, and by establishing an endowment fund. Funds raised in this campaign will be used to match the Iowa Cultural Trust Endowment Challenge Grant and will become endowment funds to support the Center's annual operations. As a subscriber to the weekly newsletter, you have already shown support for the American Gothic House Center. I invite you to strengthen your role in the valuable experience we provide the community by making a contribution to our fund drive. Click here to give your tax deductible gift, or head to our website for more information. Thank you to all who have donated so far!
Our Mission: Integrating the puzzle pieces of American Gothic