Festival Honors Grant Wood in Anamosa

By Ashley Hinson, Anchor/Reporter

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By Ashley Hinson

Story Created: Jun 11, 2007 at 6:32 AM CST

Story Updated: Jun 11, 2007 at 6:52 AM CST

Organizers of the "Grant Wood Art Festival" say it's a celebration of both legacy and Iowa's heritage, and as it enters it's 35th year, we take a look back at the event's history, and what it's taken to keep it going.

It's a true celebration of creativity, and the festival brings thousands to downtown Anamosa.

"We have entertainment, we have antique tractor rides that will take them to the Grant Wood originals down at the library," said K.C. Kiner, who worked to organize this year's events.

Artists from all over the region make their way to Anamosa each June to showcase their wares, but the festival wasn't always downtown. For decades, it's home was at a haven Grant Wood created specifically for artists. It was called "Stone City."

"Grant Wood's colony was 1932 and 1933 and it was regional artists," Anamosa Mayor Jon Hatcher tells TV-9. "The ice wagons were used as housing because they had an overflow of students."

Eastern Iowa Artist John woodhouse is a part of this year's colony of artists. He works with mixed mediums to create his art. Woodhouse has a very personal tie to the festival, and Grant Wood.
"He was my mother's art teacher at the old Washington High School in Cedar Rapids."

More than 30 artists gathered in Anamosa to honor Grant Wood's legacy, and because he was so diverse in his art, you'll get a bit of everything when you go to the festival. You can also see Grant Wood's influence in much of the art being showcased. It's no wonder. Woods was quite the guy.

"One thing about grant...he dabbled in Jewelry, he dabbled in stonework, he dabbled in pottery, he designed his own furniture...but he'd always go back to the paintbrush," said Mayor Hatcher.

Every year the festival goes on, artists from Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and of course Iowa, continue to paint, sculpt and weave their way through his legacy, right here on Wood's home turf.

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