01/02/09

33rd Annual Grant Wood Art Festival June 12, 2005 in Stone City, Iowa.

The Grant Wood Art Festival has always been special to me.  My parents took me for many years and since I moved back to the area, I've been taking my own family.

This event is held annually on the grounds of Grant Wood's artist colony in Stone City, Iowa.  The art colony was here from 1932-1933.  There is a lot of history in the area.  The valley is the location of Wood's famous painting Stone City.  The landscape and the buildings are easily recognizable.  I've always enjoyed this festival and it's connection to Grant Wood.  The festival will be changing after this year and will most likely be moving to Anamosa.  The event has had some logistical issues with parking and access.  Hopefully it can grow into a larger event with the move.

Since it was the last year at this location, I was excited to be exhibiting at this event.  I was ready for this one.  I felt a lot more organized than I was at DubuqueFest.  It was also a lot closer to home (20 miles) and only a single day event.

After a week of pessimistic weather forecasts, the day broke warm and sunny.  As the day went on it got downright hot!  But no rain, and no wind to speak of, so it was all in all a great day to be outside at an art festival.

The quality of art was excellent as always with a good representation of 2D and 3D art works;  watercolor, acrylics, pottery, stained glass, photography, oils, and sculpture were well represented.  There were also tie-dyed clothing and jewelry that was well made.

There was good food and great music all day long.  Attendance was pretty good - about average for the past few years.  Sales were steady throughout the day, but nothing spectacular.  The people really seemed to enjoy the works and appreciated it even if they did not purchase.  You really couldn't feel bad about sales since everyone was having such a good time.  It was fun talking to people and seeing their smiles as they looked over your works.  I brought a 7-foot long alligator (thanks to Ralph for the bolt cutters) and placed it along one side to draw people over to my booth.  It worked pretty well!  Kids especially liked it and adults would often point and try to identify the items that I used to construct it.

I didn't have any notion of winning anything so I was quite surprised to hear my name over the loudspeakers.  I received a third place Best-Of-Show Award, the Mary Ann Peet Award, and my alligator won the Peoples' Choice Award!  These really made my day!

This was a great day and I am looking forward to next year to see the changes.  Hopefully it will become a bigger and better event in Anamosa!

3rd Place Best of Show	Setting up the display	Display
Leanne looking over things.	Dream Date?	This guy really likes the birds and the alligator.
Peoples' Choice Award	Dave as Woman With Plant.	Some of the booths.
Alligator with his award.	Replica of an artist's ice wagon. The artists at the art colony would live in these wagons. They would decorate them with art.	Shelby as Woman With Plant.
Some of the entertainment on stage.