NewBo festival debuts ‘American Gothic’ public art projects

CEDAR RAPIDS - Grant Wood's 'American Gothic” pitchfork pair is instantly recognizable, but by the time regional artists put their imaginations to life-size fiberglass recreations this winter, the dour duo could be transformed into superheroes.

On Sunday afternoon, however, the first of the 6-foot-tall statues that will dot downtown Cedar Rapids next summer was getting its first coat of paint - in full view of anyone attending the ninth annual NewBo Art Festival.

With brushes in hand, artist Elizabeth Rhoads Read, 65, and her daughter, Katherine Read, 28, both of Cedar Rapids, set about adding the first layer of color to the white statue parked in the shade outside NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE.

The elder Read is no stranger to public art projects. She and local artist Tom Newport collaborated on the first Overalls All Over statue when the project debuted 14 years ago.

'We did the first one in 2001, so why not do the first one in 2015,” she said.

A fiber artist by trade, Read also put her creative stamp on six Herkys last year, and more the previous time Iowa City paraded whimsical statues of the University of Iowa's mascot around town.

'I do the public art,” she said, 'because I think it's a good way to get people to interact with sculptures that are out on these public areas for everyone to enjoy.”

The Grant Wood project is making its return in honor of the artist's 125th birthday next year. He was born Feb. 13, 1891, in rural Anamosa and moved with his family to Cedar Rapids in 1901. During his career, Wood taught in Cedar Rapids schools; created his most-famous paintings in his home studio at 5 Turner Alley; co-founded a summer art colony in Stone City; and taught painting at the UI from 1934 to 1941. He died Feb. 12, 1942, one day before his 51st birthday.

The 10th NewBo Art Festival will reflect Wood's influence.

'We already have a ton of ideas for next year,” said Kristie Wetjen, executive director at NewBo City Market and one of the art festival organizers. 'Because of the Grant Wood theme, we have a lot of ideas that are tying into that.”

Jennifer Pickar, director of communications for the Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said reviving the Overalls project after 15 years is 'a fun way” to mark the artist's birthday anniversary. And bringing the first statue to the festival will help generate excitement.

'If you can show the artist actually working on it, it's much more interesting than just all of a sudden, they show up done,” she said.

The white statues will arrive from Chicago in January, to be painted by Iowa artists whose designs are chosen by the various sponsors. The completed works will be placed around the city from May 1 through Labor Day weekend 2016.

'We just want to move people throughout the community, and this is a really fun way to do that,” Pickar said, hinting that some statues might find their way to Jones County and to the 'American Gothic” house in Eldon, which served as the backdrop for the iconic painting. She's also hoping other area attractions and organizations will help celebrate the 'Year of Grant Wood,” as well.

But on a sultry Sunday, when the public could stroll among more than a dozen tents offering wares by professional artists, see the work of emerging young artists, duck inside the market and the Cherry Building to see more art, run in an early morning race, play lawn games, hear music, gather information from area organizations and put together giant jigsaw puzzles, visitors also could leave their mark on another Wood-borne project: Art All Over.

Several 4-foot-by-8-foot panels were propped up outside the market with paints and brushes beckoning all ages to unleash their inner artist.

Stefanie Anderson, 24, and Korbin Paul, 26, both of Decorah, filled in some of the green space on one panel.

'It just seemed like a refreshing thing to do,” Anderson said.

Paul didn't see the picture of the suggested design in the upper corner until after she had painted an 'Aztec rootball dreadlocks man,” saying her contribution just 'felt right.”

Those panels will join others painted by the pros, popping up in empty spots around the Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District.

Festivals and art go hand-in-hand in casting a favorable light on any city.

'Events are really one of the reasons people travel, so every event we have in this community that helps celebrate something ... is always fun, and they do attract people,” Pickar said, noting she had spoken to a couple from Oregon that morning, who were in their third week of traveling from the West Coast to the East Coast.

'We're a stop in the middle, so we love to hear that,” she said. 'Events like this encourage people to stick around a little bit longer and spend a few more dollars, which we love for our local businesses.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com