I’ve always enjoyed Grant Wood’s artwork, but was reminded of it again with my immersion into Iowa during the Great Depression. Wood’s art is compelling and whimsical at the same time.
This children’s book is a nice overview of of his growing-up years, how his gift was developed, and how he was received as an artist in his own time.
In the back is a section about “Drawing and Painting like Grant Wood,” leading to a handsome chicken. Those iconic chickens were a recurring theme in so much of his art.
Grant Wood’s work coincided with the Great Depression. I was interested in the designs he did for public murals, such as the ones in the library at Iowa State College (now University) at Ames, Iowa. He was state director of the Public Works of Art Project, an agency of the federal government to put artists to work. Remarkably, Wood donated his time for the project.
Eight staircase mural panels were painted in 1934, and were designed to reflect the different subjects taught at the land-grant college. Fourteen artists were hired to paint the murals. They used an old swimming pool at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where Wood was an associate professors, as a studio.
The murals are still an attraction in the Iowa State University Library.
This book, compiled by Joan Liffring-Zug, has many photos of Grant Wood’s work in color, stories behind the scenes, and quotes by people who knew and worked with Iowa’s favorite artist in bib overalls.
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This looks fascinating.
Anne, he’s the artist who painted the iconic “American Gothic”!
I worked my way through Iowa State by working at the Iowa State Library. Those murals are a treasure and one I enjoyed seeing daily. So life size and and wonderfully done.
ISU 1958-1962
I’ve only seen them once. Aren’t you amazed that they were actually painted at the U. of Iowa in an old swimming pool? I worked my way through SCI in the college library, but it was the brand new Donald O. Rod Library, so no historic murals.
I have enjoyed Wood’s work over the years. Thanks for sharing that dinner for the threshers image. My grandmother had to prepare dinner for the threshing crews in the early 1930s in South Dakota.
It’s from one end of a larger painting that’s probably my favorite. The details of the seating, overalls, kitchen on the other end, wallpaper, even the round covering in the wall where the stovepipe fits during the winter.
I’m only familiar with “American Gothic.” I need to check out more of Wood’s work! I was very relieved to read that the murals in the Iowa State University Library have been preserved. So much public art from the WPA has been lost in the name of progress.
There are a few remaining in Iowa post offices. Sure wish there were more. The Living New Deal tries to document all of them. (They asked to reprint my story about the Dexter Library a while back, as it was a WPA project, completed in 1939.) https://livingnewdeal.org/about/
Thank you for passing along the Living New Deal site, Joy. (I could spend the whole day there.) I found your story–very cool to see it featured!!
I know what you mean. Arthur Rothstein was one of the photographers during that era. His daughter has joined us on the Depression Era Iowa FB page. She’s an associate for the Living New Deal site! (I’m featuring his work in Wednesday’s post.)
I’ll look forward to your post!