8/10: American Gothic

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You know the painting. It’s the one of the dour farmer dressed in denim overalls staring firmly through his round spectacles, while prominently holding a pitch fork. His apron-clad spinster daughter– often mistaken to be his wife– stands at his side. She gazes longing towards the distant horizon knowing that she will never marry or leave the farm. Behind the pair is a trim, white house with a small lancet window– an architectural feature generally reserved for Gothic cathedrals.

Grant Wood’s American Gothic is instantly recognizable today and was a huge success at its debut in 1930. Some critics said the painting exemplified the fortitude and integrity of the “true American spirit.” Others found it to be satiric because of the extreme severity and over-emphasized Puritanical qualities. American Gothic rapidly rose to become a symbol of the American Midwest and the subject of endless reproductions and parodies.

One of the earliest parodies came from native-Kansan Gordon Parks. In 1942, he photographed Ella Watson, a gaunt, short-haired, African-American woman, for his picture, also titled American Gothic. She posed with a mop in her left hand and a broom in her right, while standing in front of an American flag. Her strong, but weary, stare is framed by a pair of round glasses.

American Gothic, 1942

Ella Watson was a cleaning lady at the Farm Security Administration building in Washington, D.C. She told Parks about the indignities she suffered throughout her life due to racism. The photo soon hit the front page of The Washington Post and it became an immediate symbol of the injustices of the pre-civil rights era.

Both versions of American Gothic became cultural icons and reflect a nation deeply interested in what it means to be American. The strength of vision displayed by these Midwest artists has not diminished as the discussion of American values and identity continues today.

For more on Gordon Parks, visit Wichita State University, as it is the proud home of the Gordon Parks Papers.

Local Art Happenings

Labor Party: OPEN CALL TO ARTISTS, DESIGNERS & CREATIVE TYPES

Final Friday, August 26, the Labor Party will present “Fortunes Unknown,” a group art show in downtown Wichita.
A $10 registration fee gets you a fortune cookie and 12”×16” masonite substrate. The fortune you receive will serve as inspiration for your piece, which may be created using any medium, as long it’s presented on the substrate provided.

To register, contact or stop by The Labor Party at 216 N. Mosley.
For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/fortunesunknown or contact Kenton Hansen at 712.4623

Midwest Center for Photography, Center Gallery:  OPEN CALL FOR 2011 HOT NEW PICS SHOW

Open to all artists nationwide who have created work within the discipline of the photographic medium. This exhibition celebrates the range of creative exploration in photography. Each photograph will be considered based on the merit of the single image. Submission postmark deadline is AUGUST 31, 2011.
For submission information, please visit: http://mwcponline.org