Midwest

‘American Gothic’, famous piece by artist Grant Wood, is displayed to visitors at the Art Institute of Chicago

Published

2 years ago

September 28, 2024

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‘American Gothic’, famous piece by artist Grant Wood, is displayed to visitors at the Art Institute of Chicago

“American Gothic” is a famous piece of artwork by Iowa-born Grant Wood.

The painting by Wood depicts a man and a woman standing in front of a house.

The man, a farmer, wears overalls, with a pitchfork in his hand, looking straight at the viewer, where the woman’s head is turned slightly with a stern look on her face.

Grant Wood from Iowa is the artist of “American Gothic.” (Getty Images )

WHO WAS THE MONA LISA IN REAL LIFE? STORY BEHIND LEONARDO DA VINCI’S FAMOUS PAINTING

Though there is a clear age gap between the man and the woman in the painting, the relationship between them is unknown. The painting could depict a husband and wife, or a father and his daughter.

To create his famous work, Wood used his sister Nan, and his dentist, Dr. B.H. McKeeby, as models for the pair standing in front of the house in the painting, according to Britannica. The two posed separately as Wood worked on the painting.

The house in the background of the painting was inspired by one Wood saw in Eldon, Iowa, according to the Art Institute of Chicago’s website.

Many who view “American Gothic” have theories about the story behind the famous painting. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

WHO IS BANKSY? THE ENGLAND-BASED STREET ARTIST’S WORK IS WELL-KNOWN, BUT HIS IDENTITY IS A MYSTERY

The house was built in the Carpenter Gothic style, one that was popular in the 1880s.

The painting was completed by Wood in 1930. Upon completion, Wood submitted it to the Art Institute of Chicago, where it was accepted into a major show, according to the art institute.

Wood won the Norman Wait Harris Bronze Award for his painting and won $300 as his prize.

“American Gothic” is on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

The painting has remained at the Art Institute of Chicago to this day. When it was first put on display, it quickly grew in popularity.

Much of the public interest in the painting came from viewers trying to fill in the blanks of the story. Not much is known of the background story of the painting, so many have made their own guesses.

One popular belief of the painting is that it was meant to be a satirical take on the Midwest, according to the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood repeatedly rejected this throughout his life, according to Britannica.

The Art Institute of Chicago says on its website that Wood wanted to “convey a positive image of rural American values, offering a vision of reassurance at the beginning of the Great Depression.”

Ashlyn Messier is a writer for Fox News Digital.

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Detroit, MI

Approval poll: Do you approve of Lions GM Brad Holmes? (post-2026 draft)

Published

2 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Approval poll: Do you approve of Lions GM Brad Holmes? (post-2026 draft)

It’s been quite some time since we checked in with Detroit Lions fans regarding their opinion of general manager Brad Holmes. The last time we polled our audience was almost exactly a year ago, following the team’s 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, those poll results were lost to time (and a migration to a new content management system at SB Nation).

But as you can see below, Holmes has been an extremely popular figure among Detroit sports fans for pretty much his entire career.

Although, if there was a time when Holmes’ popularity took a hit, it was likely during the 2025 NFL season, when the Lions took their first clear step back since he and Dan Campbell came to town.

Since last year’s data was lost to time, this is a good opportunity to check back in with Lions fans. While Holmes certainly deserves a ton of credit for getting the Lions back to relevancy and helping them produce four consecutive seasons with winning records, there are some serious blemishes on his resumé now. The 2024 NFL Draft class has not lived up to his high standards through two seasons, some of his riskiest picks over the last few years have all failed to pay off, and last year’s roster just wasn’t good enough to withstand the injuries.

But Holmes is also coming off a very crowd-pleasing draft. Detroit addressed their two biggest needs with their first two selections, and there were no crazy head-scratching picks or expensive trade ups. Many have categorized his latest draft as “back to business as usual,” which could have some fans he lost back on his side.

However, that is all up to you. Vote on your thoughts about Holmes’ time in Detroit below, and share your extended thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the page.

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Milwaukee, WI

Food trucks in Milwaukee brace for new curfew

Published

3 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Food trucks in Milwaukee brace for new curfew

MILWAUKEE — Saturday is the start of the food truck curfew in downtown Milwaukee. That curfew was passed by the Common Council to address safety concerns after several violent incidents.

What You Need To Know

Alma Juarez is with Tacos Almita on Water Street in downtown Milwaukee. Juarez said since the city passed the curfew, she’s had just over two weeks to adjust

She said that means she may also have to start building up a news customer base

Last week Ald. Robert Bauman told Spectrum News that he’s aware of the economic burden the truck operators are facing. However, he said safety concerns are a bigger priority

He said he’s willing to take a hit on food trucks and prioritize the concerns of larger businesses

Alma Juarez is with Tacos Almita on Water Street in downtown Milwaukee. Juarez said since the city passed the curfew, she’s had just over two weeks to adjust.

“We’re trying to think what we’re going to do,” said Juarez. “Maybe we’re going to start in another place or move the food truck after 10 p.m., but that means we have to start over again.”

She said that means she may also have to start building up a news customer base.

“Moving the truck means that… we have to struggle,” said Juarez.

Juarez is not alone in worrying about her financial future.

Last Thursday, a group of owners took their concerns to city hall. Jennifer Martinez, who’s with the food truck known as Tacos El Pastorcito Mixe, was at that demonstration. She said the late-night hours make up roughly 75% of her revenue.

“During the day, I’ve tried opening very early in the morning — 8 a.m. 9 a.m. — it doesn’t make a difference. There’s no… we don’t have much sales throughout the day,” said Martinez.

Ald. Robert Bauman represents downtown and was the sponsor of the ordinance.

Last week he told Spectrum News that he’s aware of the economic burden the truck operators are facing. However, he said safety concerns are a bigger priority.

“And MPD (Milwaukee Police Department) has said on the record repeatedly that food trucks are a major contributing cause for the loitering and disorder that takes place on Water Street,” said Bauman, who represents District 4 in Milwaukee.

He said he’s willing to take a hit on food trucks and prioritize the concerns of larger businesses.

“If they feel that downtown is not safe anymore, they’ll either not come at all, or they’ll leave as soon as their event is over with and not spend any additional money in the downtown area,” said Bauman.

But Juarez said the city shouldn’t have to do that. She said she believes food trucks aren’t the cause of the problem.

“You can see it in any places, but not here,” said Juarez. “It can happen here, but not in front of the food trucks cause they are saying that a lot of violence, a lot of the things that are going on is in front of the food truck. You can see that all the shooting happens after 1 a.m. or 3 a.m. Last shooting, it was after 1 a.m.”

Food truck owners said they hope to continue to turn a profit after the ordinance starts, but they said they face a potentially tough financial future.

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