Celebrating Grant Wood's Legacy

The impact of Grant Wood’s work is far reaching, and this year Iowa will be celebrating 125 years of Grant Wood’s life and legacy. Across the state you will find exhibits, programs, lectures and more all in honor of Wood’s 125th anniversary.

The American Gothic House Center will host several events in 2016 to mark the occasion, beginning this week with the opening of our new exhibit, “The American Scene:  Prints from the 1930s and 1940s”, as well as our annual Grant Wood’s Birthday Soup Smorgasbord.  

“The American Scene” features a selection of prints from the 1930s and 1940s depicting a variety of rural and urban scenes from across America. The Great Depression had a significant impact on the American art community. Many artists pushed to develop art with a social context and appeal to a broad demographic. Many highly recognized artists became a part of this movement, including John Steuart Curry, Thomas Hart Benton, Isabel Bishop, and Grant Wood. The pieces featured are on loan from the Indian Hills Community College Fahrney Collection. The exhibit will be open from February 13-April 30.

Grant Wood’s Birthday Soup Smorgasbord will take place Saturday, February 13 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm at the KD Center in Eldon. You can enjoy an amazing array of soups, homemade bread and some birthday desserts. Free will donations from the event will support exhibits and educational activities at the American Gothic House Center. Come celebrate Grant Wood, have a wonderful meal, and support a worthwhile cause at the same time.

Please visit our website for a complete list of our 2016 events and be sure to check back as more events are added.

More upcoming events:

Woodblock Printmaking workshop

Saturday, March 19, 12:00-4:00 pm
Cost: Free
Pre-registration required; limited to 10 participants

Easter Egg Roll at our “White House” 

Saturday, March 26, 1:00-3:00 pm
Open to children; free admission

Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau presents Tom Milligan
Grant Wood: Prairie Rebel

Saturday, April 30, 2:00 pm
McHaffey Opera House
Free admission