Cedar Rapids, Iowa – my current home town. I’ve lived here for almost 27 years and worked downtown for the last eight.
Overhead view of Cedar River at flood stage, June, 2008
In 2008, our downtown was devastated by “the great flood” and it has taken a tremendous amount of vision, finances and hard work to rebuild. But I’m very proud of this little city and all it has accomplished in the last 8 years.
There are new buildings, new businesses and a new mindset – rebranding themselves into a destination spot, not just a place to live and work. I’ve enjoyed watching the changes, as I walk around over my lunch hour. NewBo, Czech Village, Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood and the downtown area itself have all been transformed. The city’s latest project is Overalls All Over – celebrating native son and celebrated artist Grant Wood’s 125th birthday. He lived in Cedar Rapids almost his whole life and created beautiful paintings in a style later known as Regionalism, where an artist paints what he/she lives with, in or around.
Probably Grant Wood’s most famous painting was “American Gothic,” created in 1930.
A cultural icon, it is displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood drew a picture of a small farm cottage near Eldon, Iowa, and placed in front of it the likenesses of his sister and a Cedar Rapids dentist (no, not a farmer). Trivia note: They never really stood in front of that house or even together.
The Overalls All Over project includes 25 life-sized statues of the American Gothic likeness and they are displayed all over Cedar Rapids (as well as one in front of the famous home in Eldon, Iowa).
Since I walk all over Cedar Rapids every weekday, I took a few snapshots of the various statues. Some are fun and quirky, others impressive and creative. I’m looking forward to finding a few more in the weeks ahead as the project continues until September.
On the Coe College campus, depicting local TV station, KCRG TV9
One of my favorites (so far) – in front of Czech & Slovak Museum, currently housing an Andy Warhol display
In front of Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust on 1st Avenue, NE
The CR Museum of Art has a permanent Grant Wood display
Couldn’t help myself. Had to get a picture with the “Go” statue. Go-go boots on her and “Do Not Pass Go” guy from Monopoly. This one is in front of the NewBo City Market.
Near Mercy Medical Center on 4th Avenue SE
Outside the Gazette Building across from Greene Square and CR Museum of Art on 5th Street SE
The man is a selfie of Grant Wood, standing outside his studio on 2nd Ave SE
Outside the new Iowa Brewing Company restaurant on 3rd St SE
The guardians of the Cedar Rapids Public Library
Take a fun few hours and visit our little city. Restaurants are great. Easy walking or biking trails can take you everywhere. And, we have overalls all over.
Ordinary Life Extraordinary Destiny 
