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The Story Behind This Photo - Traveling Giant American Gothic Statue

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The Story Behind This Photo - Traveling Giant American Gothic Statue

I was visiting Chicago in January, 2008 and saw this on Michigan Avenue. This Giant American Gothic Statue, a 25-foot-tall version of the farm couple from Grant Wood's painting, "American Gothic." moves from place to place; it's already spent years in Chicago, Dubuque, Des Moines, Elkhart, and Anamosa (Grant Wood's hometown).

Because of its wild popularity among camera-ready tourists, J. Seward Johnson Jr.'s God Bless America sculpture towered for more than twice as long as the usual rotating exhibit.

Despite some art critics' best efforts, the farmer, a woman, a pitchfork and a suitcase became one of the biggest art draws in a city that boasts the Bean (aka Cloud Gate), the Picasso sculpture and Calder's Flamingo.

The sculpture has moved to another city so American Gothic fans can flock to the Art Institute of Chicago, just blocks away, where the original Grant Wood painting is on display.