American Gothic in Stitches

The American Gothic House Center has many great events scheduled for the coming months, but we are most excited to announce our upcoming exhibit: American Gothic in Stitches: Quilts inspired by the famous painting. The exhibition will feature nine works by skilled quilters from around the world who have created their own masterpieces influenced by the famous painting. The quilts will be on view at the American Gothic House Center from June 1-October 18 during regular hours. 

An opening reception will take place Friday, June 5 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. As a special addition for the opening, Grant Wood’s baby quilt will be on display with thanks to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Jacqueline Falco-Smith, Registrar of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, will be present during the opening to answer questions regarding the quilt.

Admission to the exhibit is free and is sponsored by APQS-American Professional Quilting Systems and the Ottumwa Area Arts Council. For information regarding the exhibit, or any other upcoming events, please call 641-652-3352, or email TheAmericanGothicHouse@gmail.com.

Upcoming events:

Tours of the American Gothic House

April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8, September 12, and October 10 from 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Lecture series: Joni Kinsey, Professor, School of Art and Art History “Grant Wood at the University of Iowa: Community and Controversy”

Sunday, May 3, 2:00 pm at the American Gothic House

New exhibit:  American Gothic in Stitches:  Quilts inspired by the famous painting

Exhibit open June 1-October 18

“American Gothic in Stitches” Exhibit Opening

Friday, June 5, 4:30-6:30 pm

American Gothic 5K Walk/Run

Saturday, June 13, 7:30 am (Registration begins at 6:45 am)

American Gothic House Art Contest

Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14; Submissions due with entry forms by 5 pm on Tuesday, June 9

American Gothic House Quilt/Fabric Art Challenge

On display July 1-October 18; Entries due by June 26

Grant Wood always liked a good party

          It is almost time again for our Grant Wood Birthday Soup Smorgasbord! Every now and then someone asks if I think Grant Wood would like us having a party in his name. I always respond that I think so…Grant Wood always liked a good party.

          In My Brother, Grant Wood, Nan Wood Graham shares several stories about the enjoyment Wood had from gatherings of friends. She writes, “Grant constantly threw parties on the spur of the moment. He would come home with a load of steaks and buns and Brie and say, ‘Mom, a gang is coming. Put the coffee pot on.’ The conversation always was lively—about what everyone was doing and the latest plays they’d seen. I never knew of any of Grant’s parties to be a failure.”

          We’ll be sure to have the coffee pot on at our celebration Saturday, February 7 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm at the KD Center in Eldon. You can enjoy an amazing array of soups, homemade bread, and birthday desserts, made by our wonderful volunteers (who are also great cooks!). Door prizes will be awarded throughout the event. Free-will donations will support educational programs at the American Gothic House Center. Come celebrate what would be Grant Wood’s 124th birthday, have a wonderful meal, and support a great cause at the same time.

Gingerbread house decorating tomorrow at AGHC

Winter has definitely come quickly to the American Gothic House this year!  Though the house is beautiful when in snows (which has happened a few times already), we think it could have waited at least a few weeks.  The one benefit of this weather is that it has definitely put us in the holiday spirit! 

Some of that holiday fun awaits tomorrow, Saturday, December 6 when we host our annual gingerbread house decorating activity.  Children of all ages are invited to this free event from 1:00-4:00 p.m.  Graham crackers, candy decorations and gooey frosting will be provided for participants to make their sugary creations. For more information please contact the American Gothic House Center at 641-652-3352 or email TheAmericanGothicHouse@gmail.com.

Though this will be our last event of 2014, we are very excited to share our 2015 Calendar of Events with you soon!  You will find more programs, workshops, and a new amazing exhibit unlike anything we have hosted before.  We hope to have a few final programs confirmed shortly and the calendar shared in the coming weeks.  

The leaves are changing and a chill is in the air, which is getting us very excited once again for our American Gothic House Halloween Party! 

The festivities will take place Saturday, October 25 from 2-4 p.m. on the American Gothic House Center grounds. Children from preschool through fifth grade are invited to attend and admission is free. Participants will play Boo Bowling, make creepy crafts, decorate monster cookies, and much more. A Mad Scientist will also perform fun experiments and the Eldon Public Library will feature a Spooky Story Walk on the trail. Children are encouraged to come in costume for a fun photo-op in front of the house!



Upcoming events:

Saturday, October 25: American Gothic Halloween Party
2:00-4:00 p.m. at the American Gothic House Center
Ages: Preschool – 5th grade. Small children should be accompanied by an adult.
Free admission

Celebrate Halloween in front of the American Gothic House! Arrive dressed in your costume, make your own spooky American Gothic Parody, make fun crafts, play games and enjoy delicious treats.

Sunday, November 9: Lecture series:  “Iowa History in a Cloth Bag”  
1:00 p.m. at the American Gothic House
All ages welcome, free admission

This program explains how cloth bags and the revolutionary idea of marketing to women helped Iowans survive the Great Depression and the shortages of World War II. Flour sacks, feed sacks and seed sacks will tell the story from relief work by Herbert Hoover to clothes and quilts in the 1950’s.

Saturday, December 6: Gingerbread House Building at AGHC
1:00-4:00 p.m. at the American Gothic House Center
Open to children, free admission

Join in a great holiday tradition for the family!  Arrive early to create your own gingerbread house made out of graham crackers, frosting and candy while supplies last!

The American Gothic House Center strives to become financially independent through gift shop revenues, sponsorships, and by establishing an endowment fund. Funds raised in this campaign 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 pieces of American Gothic

300 American Gothic St | Eldon, IA 52554 | 641-652-3352 | TheAmericanGothicHouse@gmail.com

Celebrate Iowa Museum Week by attending the Southeast Iowa Museum Crawl

Museums across Iowa are participating in Iowa Museum Week, which runs from June 9-15.  Iowa Museum Week was created to highlight the importance of museums in Iowa.  To celebrate this event, the American Gothic House Center has teamed up with other area museums for the inaugural Southeast Iowa Museum Crawl. 

The event will take place Saturday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are four museums being featured on this year’s Museum Crawl: Davis County Historical Complex (Bloomfield), Maasdam Barns (Fairfield), Pearson House (Keosauqua) and the America Gothic House Center (Eldon). As a part of this Museum Crawl, “Star Passports” will be available.  People having their “passport” punched at all four locations will be eligible to win a Southeast Iowa Museum Crawl gift basket.

Highlights at each of the locations include:

American Gothic House Center, Eldon

·        Exhibit of Grant Wood original works on loan from Indian Hills Community College

·        Art station to sketch your own version of the iconic house

·        Tour the American Gothic House Center

·        Strike a pose for your own “American Gothic photo” (costumes, pitchforks and glasses available)

Davis County Historical Complex, Bloomfield

·        Rededication of Civil War Medal of Honor at 11 a.m.

·        Activities throughout the day: spinning wheel, quilting, blacksmithing, dutch oven cooking, butter making, cream separating, and more

Maasdam Barns, Fairfield

·        Youth activities from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. – egg gathering, tug of war, hay stacking, wheelbarrow races, egg toss

·        Demonstrations – putting up hay at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., milk separating

Pearson House, Keosauqua

·        Quilting demonstrations showing technique and revealing the hidden meaning of some blocks

·        Old Time Revival Sing with performances at the top of every hour

·        Guided tours of the complex

·        School-in-Session at the one-room schoolhouse

·        Free refreshments- sorghum and molasses cookies, butter cookies, and glasses of Ginger Switchell

Whether you attend the museum crawl, or stop by your hometown favorite, we hope you take the time this week to visit and celebrate Iowa museums!

American Gothic Days Approaching!

It is almost time again for Eldon’s annual American Gothic Days!  The Center is hosting three events in conjunction with American Gothic Days, which take place June 13-15.   

The American Gothic 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday, June 14 at 7:30 a.m.  Early bird registration is $15 if paid by May 23, or $18 after.  Registration includes a t-shirt, map of the route, and awards for winners in different age/gender categories.  This event is sponsored by Libertyville Savings Bank and Crossroad Graphics.

The American Gothic Bike Ride 18 mile bike ride takes place Sunday, June 15 at 7:30 a.m.  Early bird registration is $15 if paid by May 23, or $18 after.  Registration for the 18-mile ride includes a t-shirt, map, and post-ride pizza.  This event is sponsored by Libertyville Savings Bank, Riverside Cyclery, and AJ’s Bicycle Shop.

Amateur and professional artists are invited to enter the American Gothic House Art Contest.  There will be cash awards for first and second place winners in each division, and registration is free.  This event sponsored by GATE.  Entries must be received by June 10 and entries will be on display at the Center during American Gothic Days.

An entire schedule of events for American Gothic Days can be found here.  For more information, or for registration forms, please call 641-652-3352 or visit www.AmericanGothicHouse.net.

The American Gothic House Center strives to become financially independent through gift shop revenues, sponsorships, and by establishing an endowment fund. Funds raised in this campaign 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 pieces of American Gothic

300 American Gothic St | Eldon, IA 52554 | 641-652-3352 | TheAmericanGothicHouse@gmail.com

A new connection to the Wood family

I recently had the privilege of talking to Debbie Beilstein, the great niece of Frank Wood, Grant Wood’s brother.  Frank served very much as a grandfather figure to Debbie and she also shared a close relationship with Nan Wood Graham as Nan resided nearby in Riverside, California.  As none of the Wood siblings had any immediate descendants, it has been a joy to speak to Debbie about her memories.  To the right is a photograph from 1960 of Debbie and Frank when she was 3 in his backyard in San Diego.

Debbie has started a Facebook page where she is sharing photographs and stories about Frank and Nan.  I welcome you to visit and follow her page to learn more:  www.facebook.com/nanwoodgrahamandfrankmwood

One of my favorite things Debbie shared with me is a recipe for cheese bread that Nan Wood Graham would bring to every family gathering.  Debbie’s family has kept the tradition alive and still makes “American Gothic cheese bread” today.  To join in the tradition, I plan to make Nan’s recipe this weekend to serve at our lecture series event on Sunday.  Be sure to join us Sunday at 2:00pm for a great presentation by Mark McWhorter on “Regionalist Art During the Great Depression” and try some of Nan’s cheese bread for yourself!

Holly Berg, Administrator
American Gothic House Center

Upcoming Events:

Friday, April 4: New exhibit:  Fruits, by Grant Wood
5:00pm-7:00pm at the American Gothic House Center
All ages welcome with free admission.
In his last few years of work, Grant Wood turned his focus to the print medium.  Fruits is an important piece of this work.  The American Gothic House Center is pleased to display this work as part of the Center’s permanent collection.  View the work and learn about the history behind this series of lithographs and its relationship to the Great Depression. The acquisition of this work made possible with funding from Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation, City of Eldon, and John Deere Ottumwa Works.

Sunday, April 6: Lecture series: “Regionalist Art During the Great Depression”
2:00pm at the Eldon Library Hall
All ages welcome with free admission.
Join us as Mark McWhorter, director of the Indian Hills Art Gallery discusses the implications the Great Depression had on the Regionalist art community.  Several works from the IHCC collection will be on display, including works by Grant Wood.

Saturday, April 19: Easter Egg Roll at our “White House”
Easter Egg Hunt at 1:00pm
1:00pm-3:00pm on the American Gothic House grounds
Open to children and free admission.
Join us for our annual Egg Roll!  A popular tradition at the White House, this event will be sure to please!  Spring themed crafts and activities to accompany the event.  Sponsored by the American Gothic House Center and GATE.

Saturday, May 3: Wildflower Pastel Class
1:00pm-2:00pm on the American Gothic House grounds
Open to children K-6 grade
$9.00 fee for supplies
Pre-registration needed, limited to 15 participants
Celebrate May Day with a stroll through the Center’s wildflower gardens!  Students will learn about of the flowers and create their own with pastel chalk.  Local artist Chris Abigt will host the class and guide the students in their creations.

The American Gothic House Center strives to become financially independent through gift shop revenues, sponsorships, and by establishing an endowment fund. Funds raised in this campaign 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

Celebrate Grant Wood on February 8

The chill in the air must mean it’s almost time again for our annual Grant Wood Birthday Soup Smorgasbord.  The celebration will take place Saturday, February 8 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm at the KD Center in Eldon. You can enjoy an amazing array of soups, homemade bread, and birthday desserts.  Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who help make this event possible—their cooking is out of this world!

Door prizes will be awarded throughout the event, donated by the following businesses:  Chommy’s, Just A’little Junk’e in the Trunk, Libertyville Savings Bank, and Ostrander Flowers and Greenhouses.

Free will donations will support educational programs at the American Gothic House Center. Come celebrate what would be Grant Wood’s 123rd birthday, have a wonderful meal, and support a worthwhile cause at the same time.  Be sure to mark your calendars!

Don’t forget to take a look at all of the great events we have coming up this year at the American Gothic House Center.  Visit our website to see our Calendar of Events:   

http://www.americangothichouse.net/plan-your-visit/calendar/

All aboard for an Iowa rail adventure!

Thank you to everyone who attended our Halloween Party last weekend.  Despite the strong winds we had a wonderful turnout and the kids had a great time.  Pictures of the event can be viewed on our Facebook page here:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152007157211449.1073741829.80025816448&type=3    

It always seems as we finish one event it is on to the next!  Please join us for a special presentation by “Iowa’s Super Conductor” Rudolph Daniels on Sunday, November 10 at 1:00pm at the Eldon Library Hall.  Daniels will describe the past, present and future of the Hawkeye State’s railroads. The program will explore Iowa’s unique position in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad and Iowa’s great contribution to railroad safety.  Daniels will highlight the famous steamliners that rode Iowa’s rails.

The presentation is free and open to the public. After the presentation the Eldon Depot Museum will be open for tours.  

This event is held in partnership with the Eldon Depot Museum and funding for this presentation is provided by Humanities Iowa.  All aboard for an Iowa rail adventure!

 

 

 

 

Upcoming events:

 

November 10: Humanities Iowa Lecture by Rudolph Daniels: “Trains Across Iowa”

All ages welcome

Free admission

1:00pm at the Eldon Library Hall

 

Eldon, Iowa is known for being the home of the American Gothic House, but it also is home to the historic Eldon Depot, which boasts a rich history of railroad life. Join us as Rudolph Daniels describes the past, present and future of the Hawkeye State’s railroads. The program explores Iowa’s unique position in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad and Iowa’s great contribution to railroad safety. The talk also describes the famous steamliners that rode Iowa’s rails. All aboard for an Iowa rail adventure!

After the presentation the Eldon Depot Museum will be open for viewing.

This event held in partnership with the Eldon Depot Museum.

 

 

December 7: Gingerbread House Building

1:00-4:00pm at the American Gothic House Center

Open to children

Free admission

Join in a great holiday tradition for the family! Arrive early to create your own gingerbread house made out of graham crackers, frosting and candy while supplies last!

 

 

 

Holly Berg

Administrator
American Gothic House Center
TheAmericanGothicHouse@gmail.com

Volunteers an important "piece" of the museum

The American Gothic House Center hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Potluck this past Saturday.  This year’s potluck theme was “Volunteers are an important piece of our museum.”  It was a very fitting theme as the Center would not be able to operate without the help of our dedicated volunteer staff. 

Though the weather did not cooperate to have it outside, we hope everyone had an enjoyable time! As not everyone could attend, I would like to take this time to thank all of the volunteers at the Center for their hard work and dedication and we greatly appreciate your continued efforts.

 

 

 

Upcoming events:

 

October 26: Children’s Gothic Halloween Party

2:00-4:00pm at the American Gothic House Center

Ages: Preschool – 5th grade. Small children should be accompanied by an adult.

Free admission

Celebrate Halloween in front of the American Gothic House! Arrive dressed in your costume, make your own spooky American Gothic Parody, make fun crafts, play games and enjoy delicious treats.

 

November 10: Humanities Iowa Lecture by Rudolph Daniels: “Trains Across Iowa”

All ages welcome

Free admission

1:00pm at the Eldon Library Hall

Eldon, Iowa is known for being the home of the American Gothic House, but it also is home to the historic Eldon Depot, which boasts a rich history of railroad life. Join us as Rudolph Daniels describes the past, present and future of the Hawkeye State’s railroads. The program explores Iowa’s unique position in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad and Iowa’s great contribution to railroad safety. The talk also describes the famous steamliners that rode Iowa’s rails. All aboard for an Iowa rail adventure!

After the presentation the Eldon Depot Museum will be open for viewing.

This event held in partnership with the Eldon Depot Museum.

 

December 7: Gingerbread House Building

1:00-4:00pm at the American Gothic House Center

Open to children

Free admission

Join in a great holiday tradition for the family! Arrive early to create your own gingerbread house made out of graham crackers, frosting and candy while supplies last!

Learning extends past the classroom at AGHC

Museum internships provide students hands-on, in-depth educational experiences which cannot be found in the classroom.  Over the past year the American Gothic House Center has been developing an internship program to provide these opportunities to help fulfill our educational mission.  The Center was privileged to have an intern as part of our team the past few months.  Amanda Baker, a student at Central College in Pella, Iowa, spent her summer immersed in the Center’s collections of artifacts, newspaper clippings, and photographs. 


The Center was able to receive a grant from the Wapello County Foundation to purchase a laptop, software, and scanner for Amanda to use during her time here.  With their assistance we were able to teach Amanda many new aspects of museum collection care and management.  She learned the ins and outs of museum software and helped add new artifacts to our database.  She also organized our archives and scanned old letters and newspaper clippings making them more accessible to researchers and historians.  Amanda said she especially enjoyed assisting with the installation of our new exhibit “Parodies of a Portrait:  An American Icon’s Place in Pop Culture.” 


Most importantly, Amanda was able to experience the daily operations of a museum and the fascinating job of working with a diverse public.  However, one aspect she did not enjoy was being on camera--somehow she always managed to disappear every time a television crew stopped by!  Luckily, we were able to at least take a few snapshots of her working in the collection.
The Center was fortunate to have Amanda’s help this Center and are excited to have her back during her winter break.  We also plan to continue developing our internship program and are arranging to have a social media intern this fall.

Holly Berg

Administrator
American Gothic House Center
theamericangothichouse@gmail.com

AGHC says thanks to military families

We hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day.  Thank you to our volunteers who kept the doors of the American Gothic House Center open for the holiday!

The Fourth of July is a time to reflect and appreciate the great efforts of men and women who have fought, and continue to fight, for our freedom.  One small way museums such as the American Gothic House Center are saying thanks and giving back to these individuals and their families is by participating in the Blue Star Museums program.

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America including many right here in Iowa. The program runs through Labor Day, September 2, 2013.

The free admission program is available to active duty U.S. military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps - and up to five family members.
To find out which museums are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning.    


Holly Berg
Administrator
American Gothic House Center
TheAmericanGothicHouse@gmail.com

Center gears up for new exhibit

The drums are rolling and the tension is building in preparation for the unveiling of a new exhibit at the American Gothic House Center—“Parodies of a Portrait: An American Icon’s Place in Pop Culture.”

The exhibit will premier from 6 to 7 pm on Friday, May 24, and, of course, will remain on display indefinitely. It proves to be a compelling—and fun—look into contemporary America using American Gothic as the backdrop.

Beginning with Gordon Park’s photograph of Ella Watson, a cleaning woman employed by the Farm Security Administration in 1942, and traveling forward through time, the exhibit will showcase how the iconic image has been used to bring attention to cultural and societal issues.

Many of the parodies will be familiar, such as the 1963 Saturday Evening Post cover featuring Jed Clampett and Granny—aka Buddy Ebsen and Irene Ryan—of The Beverly Hillbillies. Some might say this parody, along with the shot in the opening credits of Green Acres of Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor (Oliver Douglas and his wife Lisa in the series), was the seminal moment for parodies of American Gothic. From that point on parody became an art form of its own.

Predictably the parodies on display in the new exhibit will feature celebrity-type characters. However, once in a while local (if not to Eldon, then to the area targeted), people will be the characters in the parody.

Such is the case with one particular parody that should hit home to many local Eldon citizens—Tom and Roseanne Arnold pictured near the site of their planned mansion in Eldon.

As anyone who remembers the story knows, this endeavor of Tom and Roseanne’s didn’t fare so well. Steven Biel, in his book, American Gothic, accurately sums up the outcome of the Arnold’s Eldon peccadillo.

“But this gothic house [Tom and Roseanne’s mansion] was never built. Roseanne and Tom split up, the cornfield was leased to a farmer, the ‘loose meat’ restaurant they had opened in Eldon didn’t survive, and the local community college took over the property.”

In case you are not aware of the story, an article in the April 21, 1997 edition of People magazine provides a good overview. To read the article click here.

Tom and Rosanne’s parody reflects all parodies of American Gothic, as it takes a topical issue and satirizes it to drive home a point. In the case of the Arnold’s their excess (the multi-million dollar mansion and their jet-setting style), was in sharp contrast to the modest ways of a small town—and of the characters in the painting. Such is the nature of parody.

This is a taste of what will be in store for visitors at the American Gothic House Center beginning next Friday. It will be worth the trip.

Also, don’t forget about the other upcoming events at the Center during Eldon’s American Gothic Days, the art contest, the 5K walk/run and the 20-mile bike ride. For details on these events click here.

One more thing:

This morning, while reviewing the National Public Radio website (and my kids say I lead a boring life), I ran across an interview and song that I wanted to share.

It is not upbeat, funny, or soul-lifting, but it is a story that any parent who has lost a child carries with them daily. It is about the aftermath. Specifically, it is the story of a soldier and his dad. If you would, take time to listen to the story and the imbedded song, but be warned, it will cause a tear to drop. In my case, it was a flood. Please click here: A Songwriter And An Army Dad Share One Touching Story.

Take care.
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

Some parallels are hard to ignore

The story of Grant Wood finding the house in American Gothic, as well as the two models, his sister Nan Wood Graham and his dentist Dr. Byron McKeeby, is well known. Especially Nan Wood Graham, as she remained an active promoter of her brother for decades. But how much is known about an equally famous portrait and a woman named Monika Pon-su-san?

I will be the first one to admit until the other day I had no idea who Monika Pon-su-san is, but, upon discovery, the parallels with Nan Wood Graham are too close to dismiss.

Pon-su-san’s story begins two decades later than Wood’s and in a much different location—Cape Town, South Africa, in 1950. Pon-su-san was working in her uncle’s launderette when she was spotted by Russian expat and artist Vladimir Tretchikoff.

Tretchikoff (who I wasn’t much aware of either prior to this research) saw something in the young lady and asked her to model for him. The result was Chinese Girl, one of the highest selling art prints in the 1950s and 60s. Don’t see the connection? Read on.

According to an article in The Huffington Post, “Vladimir Tretchikoff's iconic painting ‘Chinese Girl,’ said to be one of the most reproduced in the world, is coming home to South Africa after more than half a century in a private Chicago collection.”
In a recent interview with BBC News, Pon-Su-San recounted the story of how she came to be a model for the iconic portrait and comments on the final product.

“A lot of people ask me: ‘What is that stern look you had on your face? What were you thinking about?’"

Stern face? This is much like the review Nan Wood Graham received after American Gothic became known, as one person was said to remark, “her face would sour milk.”

Granted, the style of Tretchikoff and Wood differ greatly (Wood, to my knowledge, didn’t paint any green faces) but nonetheless both paintings have been reproduced extensively and found their way into pop culture, with Chinese Girl featured on “mugs, T-shirts, posters and wallpaper,” according to The Huffington Post.

I am not aware of any American Gothic wallpaper out there but it has been plastered on mugs and T-shirts for decades, as well as a host of other venues. Both paintings also hold the title—depending on whom is doing the talking—of the most reproduced painting in the world. In short, both are notable in the own right and are similar in popularity.

There is another parallel between the two artists and their paintings that must be mentioned. Wood, in certain circles, was never considered a serious artist. Early in his career, and for decades after his death, Wood and his work was often labeled “sentimental,” and not worthy of intellectual examination. Evidently, Tretchikoff suffered much of the same criticism, at least for Chinese Girl.

As per The Huffington Post, “’Chinese Girl’ sometimes is called the ‘Mona Lisa of kitsch,’ angering Tretchikoff who insisted he was a serious artist.”

One more parallel: Both artists, regardless of their critics, will live long in the public’s eye. So much for the art critics.

Things to remember

This Sunday, May 12, Orchestra Iowa’s will perform “American Gothic,” an original composition by three-time Grammy Award-Winner Michael Daugherty, at the Bridge View Center at 3 p.m. Admission is free.

On Friday, May 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the American Gothic House Center, a new exhibit, “Parodies of a Portrait: An American Icon’s Place in Pop Culture,” will premier. Stop by and check out how American Gothic has been portrayed in pop culture. Some may even surprise you!

Register and enter the American Gothic Days festivities at the American Gothic Center on June 8-9: the art contest, 5K run/walk and the 20-plus mile bike ride. Click here for more details.

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

American Gothic now set to music

It was only a matter of time when it would happen. After all, American Gothic has been the focus of numerous parodies, advertising gimmicks and the backdrop for social commentary, so why not set it to music? Composer and Cedar Rapids native Michael Daugherty decided to do just that.

This weekend, May 4 and 5, Iowa Orchestra (formerly the Cedar Rapids Symphony) will give a world premiere performance of Daugherty’s “American Gothic,” a 20-minute tribute to Grant Wood and American Gothic, at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids on May 4 and at West High School in Iowa City on May 5.

A trip to the Iowa City area doesn’t fit into your travel plans? Not to worry as Orchestra Iowa, along with the premier of Daugherty’s “American Gothic,” will be at Bridge View Center in Ottumwa on Sunday, May 12 for a 3 p.m. performance. Cost a concern? Shouldn’t be as admission is free at the Bridge View Center.

According to an article by Diana Nollen in Hooplanow.com, Daugherty composed the arrangement as a “homage to Eastern Iowa’s most famous artist, Grant Wood.”

Shortly after being commissioned by Orchestra Iowa to write the piece, Daugherty, a professor at the University of Michigan and Grammy-award winning composer, took some time off and revisited his roots—Eastern Iowa, what he calls “Grant Wood country.”

According to the article, he also visited the Art Institute of Chicago to view the original painting, which influenced his final composition.

“‘The thing about the painting is that it’s a mystery. No one really knows what it means. People never really understood Grant Wood as an artist either,’” he says. “‘Some people took him seriously, (some critics) thought he was an amateur, partly because he was using the Midwest as his inspiration.

‘I thought it would be interesting to explore, ‘what does it mean to be a composer like myself, coming from Iowa,’ and also, ‘what are some of those hidden secrets in that painting’ — to explore that in a musical way.’”

As reported in the Hooplanow article, the result is a musical rendition of Wood and American Gothic.

“Daugherty’s musical artwork paints sonic images in three movements, beginning with “On a Roll,” which he describes as ‘a rollicking melody with colorful orchestration,’ evoking the rolling hills of Jones County, so prevalent in Wood’s paintings.

The middle section, “Winter Dreams,” is inspired not only by Wood’s black-and-white lithographs, but also by the bleak winters of Willis Daugherty’s rural Iowa youth, marked by soaring snowdrifts. It features the haunting sounds of alto flute and violins.

The final movement, “Pitchfork,” reflects the dour look of the duo in “American Gothic” and Wood’s wit. Daugherty kicks up the tempo with ‘very fast and very, very way-out bluegrass music.’ He calls it ‘a window into my contemporary musical vision of ‘American Gothic.’ ”

To view and listen to Daugherty and violinist Luke Witchger perform a preview of the final movement of the composition click here.

At Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Ottumwa, Orchestra Iowa will also perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “The Rock” and Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 in D Minor in addition to Daugherty’s “American Gothic.” For ticket and additional information to the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City performances click here. For additional information to the performance at Bridge View Center click here. Remember, the concert at Bridge View is free.

Time to make plans for June at the American Gothic House Center

As mentioned last week, there are three events at the Center that are rapidly approaching.

In conjunction with “American Gothic Days” in Eldon, the American Gothic House Center is holding an art contest, a 5K run/walk and a 20-plus mile bike ride. Registration for the run/walk and bike ride can be done on the day of the event (the run /walk on Saturday, June 8 and the bike ride on Sunday, June 9) but to save a few bucks early registration is in order.

If registered for the 5K run/walk and the 20-mile bike ride by May 24, registration is $15; afterwards the fee is $18. Click on either event for more information and the entry form.

As for the art contest, there is no entry fee but the artwork must be submitted with entry form by Tuesday, June 4. For more information and the entry form click here.

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

Spring has sprung, the grass riz…

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
              -Robert Frost

One month ago I wrote in this space about spring finally arriving. How foolish. In the past four weeks we have had wind, snow, torrential rains and biting cold worthy of a January morning. So much for spring. But things are finally changing. Maybe.

Frost’s poem is one I recite when spring is noticeable to the eye, which it is now. It is one of two poems that cross my mind this time of year (more about the other one later).

I was introduced to this poem a few years ago and was struck by the paradoxes it presents: “green is gold…leaf’s a flower.” Which is not really a paradox, rather the truth. Some, but not all, trees and shrubs (the forsythia for example) have a show of gold for a short time, or as Frost states, “only so an hour.” Others, such as the magnolia tree, start with a flower which soon turns into a leaf. I find the way Frost captures spring compelling, but it is his parallel to Eden that draws me in.

His reference to Eden sinking in grief intrigues me. Upon study I found Frost was referring to felix culpa, loosely translated as “fortunate fall.” Meaning that an unfortunate event, or a series of them, leads to a better outcome. In Biblical theology the fateful circumstances of Adam in the Garden of Eden in the long run caused good to happen.

Such as with spring. The gold and flowers are pleasing to the eye, but only last a short while as they succumb to the leaf which provides shade for the plant allowing it to live.

The poem also speaks of life. To put this thinking into practice I will use the birth of a child as an example. When born, the child is new and fresh, but, as any parent that has guided a child to adulthood knows, it isn’t for long. It seems this precious time lasts, in Frost’s words, “only so an hour.”

Grief, not as severe as Eden’s perhaps, also exists. Children cause and suffer grief, but, as every parent knows, this heartache, in the form of whatever it may be, also builds character and helps mold and shape the child. Although difficult to navigate at the time this grief results in a “fortunate fall,” eventually leading to a better person and a more-rounded adult. At least that is the hope.

In my interpretation the only line in the poem that does not offer hope, but speaks volumes about life, is the last, “Nothing gold can stay.” Flowers, gold buds and dawn, as well as life, is not forever. In time all come to an end—at least for awhile. Sad, but real. However the poem doesn’t make me sad, rather it provides incentive to pay attention to the early buds and flowers of spring and to drink in life, hug my children and grandchildren, revel in their accomplishments and appreciate what I—they—have been given. Ah, the power of a poem.

To lighten the mood, earlier I mentioned another poem that crosses my mind this time of year. Actually it is not a poem, but rather a ditty. I remember it playing on the radio sometime in the 70s and it has stuck with me since:

“Spring has sprung, the grass has ris, I wonder how my spark plug is?”

I know, silly, and not exactly literary. I believe it was an ad by a spark plug manufacture to prompt homeowners to replace the spark plug on the lawnmower before the mowing season starts. I have no idea how effective it was but it stuck with me. The things one remembers.

Upcoming events:

There will be more on this in later posts but a heads up is in order in case anyone wants to make plans. On Friday, May 24 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. a special exhibit opening is planned for “Parodies of a Portrait: American Gothic’s Place in Society.” As most know. American Gothic continues to be one of the most parodied paintings in the world. “Parodies of a Portrait” explores the history of these parodies and how this iconic painting is interpreted in society.

On June 8 and 9, in conjunction with American Gothic Days in Eldon, the Center will sponsor an art show, a 5k run/walk and a 20-plus mile bicycle ride. Details about that weekend’s activities can be found at the website: www.AmericanGothicHouse.net.

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