On the web this week: ISU and Book Reviews

This week the American Gothic House Center hosted a bus tour of women from Iowa State University. The fifty well dressed ladies arrived bright and early and full of curiosity about the Center, the house, and the city of Eldon. The ISU Women's Club began many years ago as wives of faculty members meeting during the day. It has evolved to include female faculty and now incorporates a yearly bus tour. The group watched a video, Grant Wood’s America, in the media room, toured the gallery, enjoyed the gift shop, and took photos in costume. Beth Howard, tenant at the Gothic House, even allowed the inquisitive bunch to tour her home!

I have already referenced it multiple times, and this book just keeps coming to my attention. Grant Wood: A Life, by R. Tripp Evans, was released this Tuesday and has been reviewed by the New York Times and many more. Following are excerpts from several reviews paired with links to full articles. Evans is scheduled to speak in Ottumwa on November 9 and in Eldon on November 10 at 7 pm in the Eldon Library Hall.

“I hope people come to realize that Grant Wood was everything they think he was, but he was a whole lot more,” says Evans. “People look at his paintings and they see common people living simple lives, but many of those paintings have this power to unnerve us and we can’t put our finger on why. That shows what a talented artist he was.” --University of Iowa FYI, Tom Snee

“Wood clearly loved to hide things in plain sight. He also loved to create images that, like “American Gothic,” ensure that “the viewer doesn’t know whether to giggle or shiver.” Mr. Evans offers intensive analysis of “American Gothic” as well as many other Wood paintings, most notably “Parson Weems’ Fable” (1939), which rivals “American Gothic” for tacit but turbulent complexity and is so surpassingly strange and dreamlike that it is “a kind of Rosetta Stone to Wood’s inner conflicts.” --Review by NY Times reporter Janet Maslin

“No doubt there will be readers, whatever their motives, who see Grant Wood: A Life as a slander against the self-described “simple Middle Western farmer-painter” and his wholesome paintings. But Evans has done Wood a great service in saving him and his work from the one-dimensionality to which they have largely been consigned. He has rendered the artist and the art in all their ambivalence, disquiet, mischief, deceptiveness, and anguish. This is a deeply respectful and compassionate biography.” --Stephen Biel’s Review --Biel is the author of American Gothic: A Life of America’s Most Famous Painting (2005).

“Even today, the story of Wood’s sudden rise from obscurity to fame remains without precedent. No other American artist has ever achieved such sudden and lasting national fame from a small-town base, without ever showing his work in New York, and without even having an art dealer." --Henry Adams for Art and Antiques Magazine

On the web this week: A steady stream of visitors and their positive comments!

Fall tourism is picking up where summer’s travelers left off! Early this week the Center hosted 45 men and women from Monsanto Company out of St. Louis, Missouri. One traveler on the bus had previously visited the Center and suggested an impromptu stop as the group toured nearby fields. Many questions were asked and answered, and most members of the group posed for their own parody photo in front of the house.

The October schedule is filling quickly with tours from Iowa State University, car clubs, Red Hat Ladies, and other social groups. The American Gothic House Center was represented in a booth at the Travel Iowa Marketplace in Des Moines yesterday. Hopefully the event will lead to tour bookings for the coming year!

Delighted visitors write about their experience at the American Gothic House Center

I am fairly new to the Twitter world, and recently downloaded an application called TweetDeck. The application gives instant notices anytime someone mentions American Gothic in a message they send out (a tweet). I watch with pleasure as visitors I met only days (or sometimes just moments) ago post photos and short messages about their visit to the Center.

This blogger seems to be biking across the country with a cycle group. She shared what she learned about American Gothic while at the Center and posted photos taken during her visit.

Post about the blogger’s visit

Map of the cycle group’s travels

More on Upcoming R. Tripp Evans Lecture

Last week’s update noted the approaching lecture by R. Tripp Evans on his book, Grant Wood, A Life. Interested in learning more about the content of this book, I found a review done by Lambda Literary. Read what critic James Polchin has to say about the new book, which will be released in October. Evans speaks at the Eldon Library Hall on November 10 at 7 pm. Hope to see you there!

Book Review

On the web this week: Fall Events

I looked out my office window this morning to see five large vans pull into the parking lot, and tourists in matching attire began to pour out. Eighteen members of the Hawkeye Kountry Travelers are currently camping in Ottumwa and decided to make a morning jaunt to the Gothic House. They enjoyed the video and gallery, and then posed for photos in front of the house. The energy of that group was a great way to start the day!

I’m now about seven weeks into my work at the American Gothic House Center. Visitors sometimes wonder what I spend my days doing or imply that it might be lonely to be a ‘one woman show.’ In fact, it’s just the opposite! As proven by this morning, there’s always something happening at the Center. Here’s a schedule of events for the next two months.

September 25, 5-6:30pm: Volunteer Potluck

The volunteer contribution at the American Gothic House Center is immense. Our core of about thirty volunteers donated almost 200 hours of their time in August alone. So far in 2010, volunteers have helped at the Center for over 1,100 hours. Last week a volunteer offered to power wash the sidewalk and porch, another replanted a tree in the yard, and a third greeted visitors and managed the gift shop all afternoon so I could make phone calls and focus on office tasks. The Center will be thanking volunteers at a potluck dinner this Saturday, September 25 at 5 pm. If you would like to attend in support of the volunteers and all they do for the community, please bring a dish to share and tableware.

October 30, 2-3pm: Kids Gothic Halloween Party

Parents and children, join us this fall for a children’s Halloween party at the house that inspired artist Grant Wood. A spooky scavenger hunt for kids will lead to Halloween treats! Arrive in costume and make your own Gothic Halloween parody in front of the American Gothic House! Parents can bring cameras or purchase photos printed from the Center’s camera.

November 10, 7pm: Tripp Evans Grant Wood Lecture

R. Tripp Evans will be releasing his biography titled Grant Wood, A Life on October 5. Evans is touring the country from September through December and will be in Iowa during the month of November. Join us at the Eldon Library Hall on November 10 to meet the author and listen to him speak about his book. Copies of Grant Wood, A Life can be ordered through the Center for a special discounted price until October first.

Grand Wood, A Life

Wapello County Conservation Board: Fall Events Our friends at the Conservation Board have a great lineup of fall activities for those of you who enjoy the outdoors. Events include fly tying club, two Halloween hikes featuring bloodsuckers and parasites, and Run for the Ridge, a 5k run/walk.

See full calendar

Blog Update: A few weeks ago I posted a link to a blog written by a mother traveling with her children through Iowa. Her son remarked that the scenery looked just like a Grant Wood painting, and recently she posted photos comparing the scenery with paintings by Grant Wood.

Check it out!

Here's a link to the original post.

And finally, on a more personal note, minnemom’s most recent post is about a town I passed through many times during my childhood. I couldn’t resist mentioning the big pink elephant!

McGregor, IA

Thanks for reading. Hope you have a splendid weekend!

On the web this week: An Assortment of Information

It’s Thursday again, and time for another American Gothic House Center update. This one contains an assortment of information that has come up this week.

The asters are still blooming ferociously, the weeds are still fiercely growing (though I am just as fiercely fighting back—finally brought down those pesky invasive sunflowers and managed, using all my strength, to remove the giant flat grasses taking over the beds lining the sidewalk), and last week I discovered a brilliant pink hibiscus blooming among our native prairie flowers! I regularly post garden photos on our facebook page, so if you’re interested see the link below and become a fan of our page!

AGHC On Facebook

November 13: Herberger’s Community Day

You can help raise money for the American Gothic House Center, and add a little to your own wallet as well! Purchase a coupon booklet for $5 from the American Gothic House Center and receive a $10 coupon as well as several 20% discount coupons to be used at Herberger’s in Ottumwa on Saturday, November 13. All booklet sales go directly to the Center.

If you would like to help sell coupon booklets on November 13 at Herberger's or before (sales can begin any time), please call and I’ll get you a set of booklets.

American Gothic Experiences the Effects of Technology

One part of my job is to edit current and create new promotional materials for the Center. Lucky for me, the Center’s previous administrator applied for a grant from the Wapello County Foundation and received funds for the purchase of the Adobe Creative Suite. So I, like today’s featured blogger, am learning to use professional software for designing signage and brochures, updating the website, and editing photos.

At the Center we have an extensive collection of parodies, many of which have been computer generated using programs like Adobe Photoshop. Bill and Hillary Clinton are a favorite, their faces collaged overtop Nan and the dentists’ realistically enough to make visitors wonder if the Clintons stopped in Eldon. Giving the Gothic couple new faces is a popular parody, and so is giving them new clothing and accessories. With the help of Photoshop backgrounds they have travelled to Hollywood, taken a ride on a subway, and as you’ll see in Daisy’s blog, they have even attended rock concerts.

Just for fun, here’s a set of parodies created in Adobe Photoshop by a blogger named Daisy.

Rent the American Gothic House Center for your next party, meeting, or any occasion! The scenic gardens create the perfect setting for outdoor events on the lawn, porch or patio. Please call or email me if you would like details on rental possibilities at the American Gothic House Center.

On the web this week: American Gothic House Becomes a Home

American Gothic House Becomes a Home

The last few days at the American Gothic House Center have been full ones. We had a fantastic holiday weekend, hosting over 300 visitors! The weather has been superb as we shift into autumn; bringing more travelers and allowing me to enjoy working in the flower beds. Yesterday brought us Beth Howard, an Ottumwa native returning to southeast Iowa to take advantage of a rare opportunity.

The American Gothic House has been empty since 2008, when the last tenant moved on. Built in 1881, the house was first owned by Charles and Catherine Dibble in 1887. Ten years later, the house was purchased by E.P. Forest Howard, who used the front room as a candy and novelty store. From May 1917 to September 1933 Gideon and Mary Jones occupied the house, during which time Grant Wood visited Eldon.

More information about the house

Fast forward a few decades to 1991, when Carl E. Smith donated the house to the State Historical Society of Iowa. Since then, the house has been rented by various local people including postmasters, a school teacher, and now by writer and pie baker Beth Howard.

“I can’t wait any longer! I’m so excited to get there,” Beth wrote to me Tuesday. She arrived yesterday afternoon, smiling and excited to start a new adventure in Eldon as the tenant in the American Gothic House.

I’ll let Beth do the rest of the talking. Following is a link to her blog entry about her visit to the American Gothic House Center just two short weeks ago. She includes photos of Eldon, her own American Gothic Parody (as well as one by her two dogs), and a peek inside the house.

Get to know the new American Gothic House tenant

Check out her website as well, especially if you (like me) have a thing for pie.

The World Needs More Pie

Welcome, Beth!

Scenic Iowa and a Generous Donation

Is this heaven? No, it’s Iowa.

Iowans have an abundance of opportunities to appreciate the simple things in life. We are fortunate, most of the time, not to have to worry about hazardous air alerts or stressful commutes. We can enjoy the scenery free from distraction. And what worthy scenery it is! City dwellers escape from their towering concrete surroundings to take a deep breath in the land of Grant Wood, who has shown the world the beauty of the Midwest.

I once had a discussion with Florida high school students, who couldn’t seem to remember the difference between Iowa, Idaho, and Ohio. “Iowa? Is that the potato state?” They viewed Iowa as a state you fly over rather than as a destination. Fortunately, many do realize the value of our state. The refreshing blog entry featured in today’s e-news focuses on a child’s appreciation of an Iowa road trip, with some especially insightful comments about the artistic significance of our landscape.

Blogger appreciates Iowa, the land of Grant Wood

Autumn Approaches: Leaves, Sweaters and Homecoming

Another takeoff on Wood’s most famous painting has come home to Eldon. If you’ve been to the American Gothic House Center in the past month, you’ve definitely noticed a new addition to our collection. Standing about six feet tall and over five feet wide, a replica of the famed house with a projecting porch was created by an artist in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Originally purposed as the set of an Independence Day parade float, the replica may be displayed as part of a float in the local homecoming parade later this month.

Albert Lea donates American Gothic house replica

On the web this week...Marvin Cone and a note from AGHC's new administrator

Greetings from Eldon! As the new administrator at the American Gothic House Center, I would like to thank you for your interest in Grant Wood and American Gothic. I am excited to be part of the preservation of this important piece of American history, and have been fortunate in meeting many welcoming and dedicated supporters in my short time at AGHC. I invite you to continue to enjoy the Center, and look forward to your visit!

Hear parting words from previous administrator Jessica Strom in this great story by KTVO’s Matt Buhrman.

Grant Wood and Marvin Cone, two prominent Cedar Rapids artists, were close friends. They met as young men and traveled together to Paris, then worked together at the Stone City Art Colony. Both artists influenced the shaping of a truly American style of art, and the two friends influenced one another as well. On Monday, the Des Moines Register featured Cone in their Famous Iowans segment.

Learn more about Grant Wood’s close friend, Marvin Cone.

When travelling to the American Gothic House Center via highway 34, have you wondered about the black signs with a red bull you see on the roadside? As a newcomer to Southeast Iowa, I wanted to know more. A discussion with an AGHC volunteer informed me that Marvin Cone designed the Red Bull insignia when he was a member of the 34th Infantry Division during World War II. US 34 was designated the 34th Infantry Division Memorial Highway in honor of the unit.

Read about the 34th Infantry Division and Cone’s role in creating the insignia.

On the web this week...God Bless America Statue Moves Again

God Bless America statue moves to Indiana for the State Fair.

Read More

Blogger comments on Grant Wood and Regionalism.

Read More

On the web this week...House Fans

For those of you "House" fans, check out this new American Gothic Parody.

Read More

Wood Corn Room mural segments installed in Council Bluffs.

Read More

On the web this week...New Administrator Hired

After reviewing many applicants and interviewing a select three, the American Gothic House Center Board hired Molly Moser to begin work on August 3 as the new American Gothic House Center Administrator.

Originally from Guttenberg, Iowa, Molly graduated from the University of Iowa with a Studio Art Major, Business Administrator Minor and Museum Studies Certificate. While going to school, Molly worked at the Old Capitol Museum, Blank Honors Center Galleries, Office of the State Archeologist, University of Iowa Museum of Art, Des Moines Art Center and the Wilson Home of Guttenberg. Most recently, Molly spent this summer as a member of the Ginnell Artist Residency Program, which was recently highlighted by the Des Moines Register.

There will be an opportunity to meet Molly at the Humanities Iowa Lecture "Early Depression Dilemmas of Rural Iowa, October 1929 to November 1932" by Lisa Ossian at the Eldon Library Hall that has been rescheduled for Thursday, August 12 at 7 pm. Refreshments will be served after the lecture.

Read More Here about the Grinnell Artist Residency Program

Read More about Molly Moser at the Grinnell Artist Residency Program

In other news and in follow up to a previous story, the Grant Wood Cultural District in downtown Cedar Rapids is to be certified by the State Historical Society of Iowa.

Read More

On the web this week...History of an American Town...Stone City

As a follow up to the bus trip the center took this spring to Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Stone City, I thought this first article was appropriate. The writer chose to highlight Stone City as part of his American Town series. A discussion of Stone City couldn't be complete without talking about Grant Wood's painting of "Stone City" or the Art Colony he helped host there.

READ MORE

The second article is a very nice essay on Grant Wood. It contains a Grant Wood quote that is new to me: "Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, you all had great moments, but you never tasted the supreme triumph; you were never a farm boy riding in from the fields on a bulging rack of new-mown hay." –Grant Wood

READ MORE

On the web this week...Rededication of Memorial Window

Grant Wood's Memorial Window in Cedar Rapids has been restored and repaired, and is to be rededicated this weekend on Sunday, July 4.

READ MORE

In other news, Nan Wood Graham is remembered as the Mona Lisa of America by Riverside, California.

READ MORE

On the web this week...Grant Wood District

Downtown Cedar Rapids has been designated as a Grant Wood District by the State Historical Society of Iowa. The district includes the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and Grant Wood's Studio.

READ MORE

In other news, I have announced my resignation as Administrator for the American Gothic House Center as I prepare to move to northwest Iowa. The Courier did a short story on this, and I hope you will help me spread the word as the Center prepares to find my replacement.

READ MORE

On the web this week...Gothic Days

Don't miss out on this weekends festivities. See the article from the Ottumwa Courier about all of the activities taking place.

READ MORE

While you are in town for Gothic Days, stop by the visitor center to see the new exhibit on Grant Wood. KTVO did a short piece on it that can be viewed on their website at:

READ MORE

Upcoming events:

• Friday-Sunday, June 11-13 - Gothic Days
  • American Gothic House Art Contest
  • 5K Walk / Run
  • Bike Ride
  • and much more!

On the web this week...New Exhibit Opening

Today marks the opening of our new exhibit about Grant Wood. Join us tonight from 6-7 pm for the opening reception and meet Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret, publisher and editor of Nan Wood Graham's Biography on Grant Wood. KTVO posts the story here: READ MORE, and KTVO will have a sneak peak of the exhibit on tonights news, for those of you who won't be able to come to the exhibit.

Upcoming events:

• Friday-Sunday, June 11-13 - Gothic Days
  • American Gothic House Art Contest
  • 5K Walk / Run
  • Bike Ride
  • and much more!

On The Web This Week...Remembering Grant Wood

Last month the John Deere Corporate Art Collection took over the fourth floor of the Figge Museum in Davenport. Most note worthy for our readers is the fact that the collection includes a few Grant Wood peices--Fall Plowing being one of the most recognized. The collection represented all of the cultures and contries where John Deere did business. READ MORE.

Also last month, Iowa City hosted a Grant Wood symposium for scholars to take a deeper look into the person Grant Wood. They looked at religious themes in his paintings, his sexuality and alcoholism, and his relationship to the community as seen through his work. One of the scholars, R. Trip Evans, has a new biography on Grant Wood that will be released this fall. READ MORE.

Upcoming events:

• Friday, May 28 - New Grant Wood Exhibit Opening at the American Gothic House Center
• Friday-Sunday, June 11-13 - Gothic Days
  • American Gothic House Art Contest
  • 5K Walk / Run
  • Bike Ride
  • and much more!

On The Web This Week...Grant Wood's Window

While Grant Wood is most known for his paintings, he also designed the Veteran's Memorial Window in Cedar Rapids. The window suffered damage with the 2008 flooding and has since been undergoing restoration work. According to the article "As Repairs Are Made, Artist's Style Is Revealed" by Barb Ickes, the window had 150 cracks. The article describes the restoration process and is very interesting.

As some of you may know, when the window was completed in 1929, Wood received little recognition for this project. Wood had the window constructed in Germany, and the Daughters of the Revolution were so offended by this, they kept Wood from having a public unveiling of the window.The DesMoinesRegister.com Biz Buzz notes that a fitting unveiling will take palce after the completion of the restoration work.

Upcoming events:

• Friday, May 28 - New Grant Wood Exhibit Opening at the American Gothic House Center
• Friday-Sunday, June 11-13 - Gothic Days
  • American Gothic House Art Contest
  • 5K Walk / Run
  • Bike Ride
  • and much more!

On the web this week...going inside

Paul Anater has taken the house to a new place. Using Googles's SketchUp and images he found on-line (all of which look very familiar), he created a 3D model of the house, which can now be seen on Google Earth! There are a series of posts to his blog called Kitchen and Residential Design about this project. The end result was a presentation at a trade show in Chicago, for which he digitally renovated the house with a new kitchen!

• Help me Grant Wood
• Notes on renovating the American Gothic house
• American Gothic explained and renovated
• The American Gothic house is now on Google Earth

The Center feilds request to go inside the house every day, and now those of you who have desired to do so will soon have two digital opportunities. Tonight, Matt from KTVO presents a feature story with a look inside the house. The main story will be on the 10 o'clock news, with a sneak peak at 5 and 6.

The second opportunity comes from an Iowa photographer...but I'll save that story for later.

Upcoming events:

• Friday, May 28 - New Grant Wood Exhibit Opening at the American Gothic House Center
• Friday-Sunday, June 11-13 - Gothic Days
  • American Gothic House Art Contest
  • 5K Walk / Run
  • Bike Ride
  • and much more!

On the web this week...a Grant Wood Essay

Lane Brooks posted a neat little essay on Grant Wood to her blog "LIFE: CO-OPERATIVE--ART, ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN." She chose to write about Grant Wood because of the similarity between the times.

"You may ask, Grant Wood -- really? Why? It's true that I have a list of varied artists to write about and most aren't as traditional or realistic as Mr. Wood. It's also true that his national mega-popularity ended some years after the Great Depression . . . which actually fostered it. Ding Ding. It seems to me that we just may be living in a similar time as when Mr. Wood was painting."

This next link is to a photographers page on Flickr. He called his image of the American Gothic House Iconic. It's a very nice black and white photo taken at sunrise.

Upcoming events:

• Saturday, April 24 - Grant Wood Bus Trip to Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Stone City sites
• Friday, May 28 - New Grant Wood Exhibit Opening at the American Gothic House Center
• Friday-Sunday, June 11-13 - Gothic Days
  • American Gothic House Art Contest
  • 5K Walk / Run
  • Bike Ride
  • and much more!

On the web this week..."Goth-egg Parody and Story Telling"

An American Gothic Egg Parody won third prize and $300 (sound familiar) at the Iowa Egg Council's annual contest last year. Read the story and see a picture of the parody on the Dennison, Iowa News site. The egg is on display in the Dennison Library for the month of March.

"The idea initially came to her, Wietzel said, as a play on words “gothic” to “goth-egg.”"

This next piece has a bit of story telling to it about "American Gothic" and another famous American painting. If you were to tell the American Gothic story, how would you tell it?

"As the artist tells it he was in the chair braced with a few shots of whiskey waiting for the Novacain to do its numbing, studying Doc McKeeby’s face. He remembers thinking how his dentist must stare into teeth all day the way his neighbors stare down rows of corn all behaving themselves. Folks do a lot of staring here in Iowa. Byron McKeeby says to relax, then yanks out the misbehaving tooth."

Don't forget this Saturday's Spring Cleaning Sale! If you have any "American Gothic" gifts to buy, Saturday is the day to do it!

Upcoming events:

• Saturday, March 20 - Spring Cleaning Sale at the American Gothic House Center


• Thursday, March 25 - "When Tillage Begins: The Stone City Art Colony" lecture presented by Kristy Raine at the Eldon Library Hall at 7 pm


• Saturday, April 24 - Grant Wood Bus Trip to Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Stone City sites


• Friday, May 28 - New Grant Wood Exhibit Opening at the American Gothic House Center


• Friday-Sunday, June 11-13 - Gothic Days
  
  
  
  • American Gothic House Art Contest
  
  
  • 5K Walk / Run
  
  
  • Bike Ride
  
  
  • and much more!

On the web this week..."One goodbye is anothers hello"

If you haven't heard yet, the big American Gothic sculpture called "God Bless America" by J. Seward Johnson that were once in Key West, have left Chicago and are being installed in Mesa, AZ! Mesa seems very excited to have the sculpture. On their website you will find a short video of them installing it. You can also find out just how much it cost to bring it to town. The following quote is from the artist.

""I want to invite us all to look back at these images and discover what we've learned since they first became icons to us, and how our understanding or point of view may have shifted since then," Johnson was quoted as saying in a DMA press release. "Would they be embraced in the same way if they came to us today? Would we view them with more cynicism or can we still see purity at this stage of our social maturity?""

Folks from Chicago seem a bit sad to see it go. The first link has a video clip of people visiting the sculpture in Chicago and anther vido clip about the painting. The second link has a neat photo of the sculpture head and sholder pieces.

"Sadly, the American Gothic statues that graced Pioneer Court next to Tribune Tower for lo these many months has been dismantled and sent on its way. It was one of the best things Chicago has had going for it in the way of public art since the cows - even if some art critics bristled (at both)."

"All that's left of one of the Chicago's top public art attractions this morning is a bare platform."

On the web this week..."Kids and Art"

I discovered a teacher's blog for a 4th grade class in Waukee, Iowa. What I enjoyed about reading this short blog post was not simply that they were studying Grant Wood. The enjoyment came from reading the bits of information the kids learned and from seeing their creativity come through in their artwork.

"Last Thursday Connor's mom was nice enough to come talk to us about Grant Wood. We learned a lot about his life and his style of painting."

I'm also pleased to pass on a link to the Iowan article by Beth Wilson that was published in the January/February 2010 issue about the American Gothic House Art Contest. We have a copy of the magazine at the center, but for those of you who haven't had a chance to see and read it, I encourage you to check it out. It is a two page spread with some pictures of last years first place winners.

Life Immitates Art: American Gothic inspires in Eldon.

On the web this week..."Please Touch The Art"

For the blind, an art gallery can be a disappointing experience...until now.

"In July 2009, the Iowa Department for the Blind unveiled a public art installation created by Colorado-based tactile artist Ann Cunningham. Spread throughout the building's first and fourth floors, the seven pieces of artwork allow those who cannot see paintings experience them through touch. "

On another note, for those of you who live in the area, don't miss out on our annual Soup Smorgasbord this Saturday, February 13 from 11 am - 1 pm to be held at the Eldon KD Center on the 119th anniversary of Grant Wood's birthday. See the press release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Soup Smorgasbord Celebrating the 119th Anniversary of Grant Wood’s Birthday

Eldon— Join the American Gothic House Center for some belly filling soup and soul satisfying company Saturday, February 13 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Eldon KD Center.

The homemade soup smorgasbord will offer many to choose from, such as potato cheese, chili, chicken and rice, ham and bean, broccoli cheese, and vegetable beef. On the side, you will find a variety of freshly baked breads, crisp vegetables and crackers.

In celebration of the 119th anniversary of Grant Wood’s birthday top it off with a piece of birthday cake while sipping on a hot cup of coffee.

Free will donations benefit exhibits for the American Gothic House Center.

Who: American Gothic House Center
What: Grant Wood Birthday Soup Smorgasbord
When: Saturday, February 13, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Eldon KD Center
Contact: Jessica Strom, 641-652-3352, aghc@iowatelecom.net

On the web this week..."Board to Vote on Gothic House"

This week an article appeared in the Ottumwa Courier by Cindy Toopes titled "Board to vote on Gothic House." The article begins as follows:

"Rather than create an entity to operate and maintain the American Gothic House Center, the Wapello County Board of Supervisors and the Eldon City Council have decided they can do it together."

This statement created a bit of confusion in the community, so I decided to write about it this week to set your minds at ease. In short, this really isn't anything new.

The Wapello County Board of Supervisors and the City of Eldon established a 28E Agreement back in 2006/2007 just prior to the opening of the American Gothic House Center. What the Board voted on this last week was a revised draft of that same agreement. The City of Eldon is set to vote on it in February.

After two and half years of operation, it was discovered that the City and County were not interpreting certain parts of the agreement the same way. The original 28E Agreement wasn't able to clearly answer certain questions that came up, so it was decided to have a committee review the agreement and make the necessary changes.

The revised draft not only cleared up these issues, it also put into effect the establishment of a fund that both Wapello County and the City of Eldon will contribute to annually for future major building repair and maintenance needs.

Other issues that were resolved are as follows: the City will plow the driveway and parking lot, the County will be responsible for all special landscaping needs (think flowers, bushes and trees), the City will mow the lawn on a regular schedule, and the County will pay the City water / garbage utility.

On the web this week...Grant Wood's Studio

This week I want to bring your attention to an article written several years ago called "Where Grant Wood Lived and Worked" by Michael Judge of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Michael did such a great job describing 5 Turner Alley, Grant Wood's stuio and home for several years, I decided to share it with you.

"Once inside the studio, visitors are greeted by gentle arches and an abundance of natural light pouring in from oversized dormer windows and a magnificent cupola above. In perhaps the most dramatic modification to the hayloft, Wood replaced the metal vents of the cupola with six arched windows, adding height, a flood of light from above, and a cathedral-like appearance to the center of the small studio. The walls, a rustic plaster complete with trowel marks, bathe in light. "

I found the article above as I was searching for information to help me put together this years bus trip. This year we travel north to Grant Wood's roots.

On Saturday, April 24 at 9:00 am, we will travel on Ottumwa Transit buses to Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Stone Ctiy, Iowa. The itinerary is as follows:

Discover Grant Wood Country Bus Trip Itinerary
Saturday, April 24, 2010, 9:00 AM – 9:30 PM

9:00 AM – Leave from the American Gothic House Center.

11:00 AM – Eat sack lunch on bus. Bring a sandwich, and if you like, something to share for a sack lunch on the bus.

11:30 AM – Cedar Rapids Museum of Art for a docent-led tour of the following exhibits:

Grant Wood: In Focus
Permanent Collection
This single-gallery installation traces Wood’s entire career from his youthful creations until his death in 1942. It will serve as an overview of the artistic achievements of this important American painter.

The American Century
Permanent Collection
This exhibit demonstrates many of the movements and interests of art in America in the twentieth century, the century in which American art came to dominate the art world.

Less is More: The Vogel Gift of Minimal and Conceptual Art
January 23 - May 2, 2010
He was a postal clerk. She was a librarian. With their modest means, the couple built an important contemporary art collection—best known for its minimal and conceptual works. In 2008, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art was selected by the Vogels to be the Iowa recipient of a collection of 50 works as a part of The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection: Fifty Works for Fifty States initiative. Less is More will exhibit the entire Vogel gift to Iowa for the first time.

12:30 PM – Travel Time

12:45 PM – Grant Wood Studio with docent-led tour of studio:
Grant Wood’s home and studio was located at 5 Turner Alley from 1924 to 1935. Near downtown Cedar Rapids the studio is owned and operated by the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, which houses the world’s largest collection of works by Grant Wood. Grant Wood (1891-1942) was a prominent member of the Regionalist movement. His most famous painting, American Gothic, was painted in this studio in 1930.

1:45 PM – Travel Time

2:30 PM – Grant Wood Gallery: Photos of the Grant Wood Art Colony in Stone City and framed illustrations from Farm On The Hill are on display. An original chair designed by Grant Wood sits in one corner. A large collection of American Gothic parodies are on display as well as a life size cut out of American Gothic offering a fun photo op. The film “Early Life of Grant Wood” is available for viewing in a room that seats twenty. (Larger groups can be divided with a tour guide talking about his life and works in the main room.) The Gallery is staffed completely by volunteers.

3:05 PM – Travel Time

3:15 PM – Antioch Country School: Visit the school where Grant Wood attended until fourth grade. See a completely restored country school. Once ubiquitous across Iowa's landscape, one-room country schools are quickly disappearing. Luckily, many have been reused as country school museums, giving us a lesson in Iowa's educational history.

3:45 PM – Travel Time

3:50 PM – Anamosa Riverside Cemetery: See the burial sites of Grant Wood, his sister Nan Wood Graham and their parents Francis Maryville Wood and Hattie Weaver Wood.

4:00 PM – Travel Time

4:10 PM – St. Joseph’s Church & Stone City Quarry: A guide will tell you the story of the church and Stone City—its beginning as a company town to serve the needs of the quarry and its connection to native artist Grant Wood. From the church, tour the Stone City Quarry. See how the dolomite limestone quarried here is mined and find out why it’s so unique. If time permits we will visit some of the old buildings in Stone City.

5:30 PM – Dinner at the General Store and Pub: Enjoy a wonderful buffet style dinner in this historically restored General Store. Dinner is all-you-can-eat, and will include Chicken Marsalis, Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables, Rolls & Butter, Chocolate Cake, Coffee and Tea.

6:30 PM – Travel Time

9:30 PM – Arrive back in Eldon

Trip Fee: $45.00 - Fee includes Ottumwa Transit bus fare, bus driver gratuity, entry fees for the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Grant Wood's Stuio, Grant Wood Gallery of Anamosa, Antioch Country School, St. Joseph's Church, Stone City Quarry, Anamosa/Stone City area on-bus tour guide, dinner at the General Store and Pub in Stone City, which includes meal, drink, tax and gratuity.

Reservations will be accepted as long as space allows, but please sign up by Friday, April 9 if you can.

Maximum Group Size = 40 people

On the web this week...Recreating the Apron

This week we revisit an old story--the story of the American Gothic Ad--with a deeper look into the creation of the costumes.

"The problem of matching the pinafore fabric was also solved by Jessica, as she supplied me with a recreated swatch of the print and suggested a company called Spoonflower, who create custom fabric, to reproduce it for me. The resulting fabric was brilliant. Jessica also supplied us with photographs of the Gothic House in exchange for the completed black dress and pinafore...."

Also found on-line this week is a review of one of our favorite Grant Wood books, "Grant Wood and Little Sister Nan." This book, which can be found in our gift shop, provides you with a better understanding of Grant Wood's sister, Nan--the female model for his painting "American Gothic."

"This book adds a dimension to the woman in American Gothic. At age eighty three, Nan said the painting saved her life from being drab. Even though she didn't think the 'painted' lady looked anything like her when it was first displayed, she had now decided that: 'We look a lot alike. She's really become me.'"

On the web this week...

I stumbled upon a neat on-line resource this week. It is a Google site called "OSUN." It searches the web for PDFs, PowerPoints and Word Documents about the subject of your choice. Check out this link for a PDF search on Grant Wood. Like any on-line research, you will still have to sieve through some unwanted content, but you will find a lot of useful information you couldn't have found otherwise.

The second site I want to share came from one of my volunteers. It is an older article that was written in 2005. Most amazing is the picture of the house! You can check it out HERE.

This may be my last post for the year, so I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year!

On the web this week...

The American Gothic House made the KTVO news!

The holiday season is coming alive across the Heartland. By Matt Buhrman Saturday, December 05, 2009 at 9:28 p.m. ELDON, IOWA -- A number of events are held in Eldon, Iowa during the first weekend in December. The town is famous for the American Gothic House, as depicted in Grant Wood's 1930 painting. READ MORE and SEE VIDEO CLIP

The PBS show "Saddle Up With Dennis Brouse" Episode 205 airs on IPTV this Saturday morning, December 12 at 8:00 am. READ MORE about the show on the IPTV website. If you don't get a chance to watch the show live, stop by the Visitor Center. We have a copy to play in our media room!

To round out this week with some more video clips, here are a couple of ads that were recently created--one using our "American Gothic" and the other made by the same group of the worlds first most parodied painting, the "Mona Lisa."

Christmas in Eldon this Weekend

Eldon— There may not be snow on the ground, but the first weekend in December brings Santa and other Christmas festivities to Eldon with the entire community working together for the celebration. Saturday, December 5 hosts a day full of activities, including the Christmas Tree Wanderland, Rock Island Depot, Christmas Dinner, Gingerbread Houses for the Kids, Santa, and a Soup Supper to complete the day.

The McHaffey Opera House hosts the annual Christmas Tree Wanderland with over 100 trees decorated by community organizations and individuals. The event will take place on Friday, December 4 from 9 am to 5 pm; Saturday, December 5 from 9 am to 7 pm; and Sunday, December 6 from 11 am to 3 pm. Complimentary snacks will be served and the gift and goody booth will be open for holiday shopping.

The Eldon Depot will open its doors for the weekend as well. Here you will find toy trains running and the Depot decorated for the Christmas Holidays. Enjoy coffee and cookies and a chance to win a door prize. It will open Friday, December 4 from 5-9 pm; and Saturday, December 5 from 9 am to 9 pm.

Join Gothic Area Tourism of Eldon (G.A.T.E.) for a traditional Christmas Dinner at the KD Center on Saturday, December 5 from 11 am – 1 pm. Turkey with all of the trimmings, ham, mashed potatoes, salads and desserts will be served. Free will donation supports G.A.T.E. as it in turn supports the community of Eldon.

Bring the kids for a stop by the American Gothic House Center on Saturday, December 5 between 1-4 pm to decorate their very own Graham Cracker “Gingerbread” House. They will get their hands tastefully dirty while they create their own masterpiece. You might even be able to get a picture of them with it before it disappears into their bellies!

Here comes Santa Claus at the “Rock” Island Park in downtown Eldon on Saturday, December 5 from 2-3 pm for children ages 12 and under.

The day will wrap up with the Boy Scout Soup Supper at the KD Center from 5-7 pm.

Don’t miss out on Christmas in Eldon!

When: Saturday, December 5, 2009

Where: Eldon, IA 52554

Contact: Jessica Strom, 641-652-3352, aghc@iowatelecom.net

On the web this week...

Anybody speak French (I think)? This weeks find is a link to the following article: "Histoire culturelle: Vous avez dit icône? (American Gothic: The extraordinary odyssey of America’s most loved—and reviled—painting)" If you scroll down you will find it in English. I thought it was very neat to find our house and painting discussed and promoted internationally.

The story of American Gothic begins with a trim white cottage in Eldon, Iowa, that Wood, an Iowa-born artist with European training, spotted from a car window in August 1930.* He decided to paint the house—built in the“carpenter Gothic” style, which applied the lofty architecture of European cathedrals to flimsy American frame houses—along with “the kind of people I fancied should live in that house.” READ MORE.

On the web this week...

I have a few photos to pass on. This first one is called "Tourists at the American Gothic House," but it isn't of your typical tourist. You can check it out here on Flickr.

The second set of images are of a local Barn Quilt using our Gothic Window as a model. They will even take custom orders if you are interested in having your own.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend!

On the web this week...

This first link is to a well written essay about the American Gothic House and its significance. David K Leff visited this last summer. He is an essayist, poet and lecturer, and according to his blog, he likes to discover the commonplace world at hand, while exploring wonders hidden in plain sight. Here is "Stepping in the Picture."

On a recent trip to Iowa I visited a familiar place to which I’d never been. Though it’s hidden on a back road in the sleepy town of Eldon, it’s a place most Americans and many people around the word would recognize almost instantly. READ MORE

This second piece comes from Jolen Whitworth from Leeds, England. She visited earlier this week, and shared that she had written a poem inspired by "American Gothic." This may not be what you would think of when thinking of our favorite painting, but it is interesting to see the different inspiration it produces. Here is "A Murder of Crows (Through the Crosshairs)."

Marblesque eyes along the copper horizon. READ MORE
*Note about the poem - a "murder" is what a group of crows is sometimes referred to as.

On the web this week...

This first blog entry was in response to the blog entry I shared last week.

Grant Wood, American Gothic. 1930, oil on board.

My fellow art history blogger N.C. recently wrote an excellent post on Grant Wood's ubiquitous American masterpiece. It inspired me to feature it myself.

This is probably the American Mona Lisa, or at the very least Edvard Munch's The Scream. You've seen this pose parodied inThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, on Green Acres, and if you've ever been to Washington, DC on postcards featuring the President and First Lady (whomever they may be at the time). It's disgusting; wait about five hundred years and someone will take a print of American Gothic, draw a mustache on the wife and give it a catchy title that implies that the farmer has a hot ass. (If you're one of those smart alecks who's crying out "Hey, that's his daughter, not his wife!" then your concern will be addressed soon.) READ MORE

This next blog entry wasn't posted this week, or even just discovered this week, but I thought you might enjoy it as well.

AMERICAN GOTHIC PARODIES
A COLLECTION OF PARODIES OF THE 1930 GRANT WOOD PAINTING, AMERICAN GOTHIC, BASED ON MY GRANDMOTHER'S COLLECTION. SHE USED TO TAPE THEM UP IN HER BASEMENT AND ASKED ME TO SHARE THEM WITH THE WORLD.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2009
Mortgage Foreclosure American Gothic

SEE IMAGES

On the web this week...

KTVO came out and did a short story on our Halloween Party this weekend, and a blogger chose "American Gothic" for her blog "Inadvertently Art."

Festivities were held around the American Gothic House in Eldon, Iowa on Saturday.

By Matt Buhrman

Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:04 p.m.

ELDON, IOWA -- The iconic house is a prominent feature in Grant Wood's 1930 painting, "American Gothic," and today the structure is a historic landmark. Throughout Saturday afternoon, young trick-or-treaters took part in games and enjoyed an array of treats. READ MORE.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009

Grant Wood fills you with questions.

All right, if you tell me you have never seen this picture, or at least a reference to this picture... you either are lying are live in a shoe box. If you just haven't seen it, here's your chance. I present to you.....American Gothic, enjoy as you will never be the same. READ MORE.