ARTIST IN IOWA

A friendly, appreciative portrait of Grant Wood both as an artist and a native Iowan. This is the story of his life, rather than aesthetic criticism, though the origins and background of Wood's paintings and other works, the furor of controversy engendered by American Gothic, Daughters of Revolution, Woman with Plants etc. is discussed. Iowa born and raised by a widowed mother, in youth he knew a life of few luxuries, he drew early and experimented in metalwork, decorating, constructing of gadgets; he served in the last war; and he found he was winning growing appreciation locally among the people of Cedar Rapida. His friend the undertaker was one of his first appreciators and purchasers; he won prizes in state shows, but it took violent storms of antagonism to bring nationwide fame. This is a detailed story of an artist's life, -- teaching, running a summer school, making and losing friends, marriage and divorce -- finally death from cancer. His varied interests, his theories and method of work, make this of general interest.