Contact:
Jeff Morgan, Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov, (515)
281-3858
DES MOINES
– After capturing the imagination of guests and visitors for more than a
year, the State Historical Museum’s "The Good Old Days: Folk Carvings
of Fred W. Stice" exhibit will close Jan. 2.
The exhibit opened in August
2004 and showcases the intricate wood carvings of Fred Stice. Set in 50 miniature
dioramas, the carvings explore topics ranging from everyday social and work traditions
of the past (ice skating and blacksmithing) to biblical themes (“Flight
into Egypt” and “Last Supper”). Stice also captured popular
Americana (minstrels, covered wagons) and historical figures and events (Abraham
Lincoln, Will Rogers, Iwo Jima, President Kennedy’s funeral).
“The Stice collection
has been extremely popular with visitors young and old from around the world,”
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Anita Walker said. “The quality
of the work and the craftsmanship is outstanding; the carvings truly capture the
way Iowans lived and looked at life in the mid-20th century. We’re very
thankful to the Stice family for sharing these amazing pieces of art and history
with us. I strongly encourage anybody who hasn’t seen them to visit the
museum next week and see for themselves.”
Stice began woodcarving
while recovering from a broken leg in the 1930s and continued until his death
in 1977. Around the time of World War II, his daugther, Mildred, started collecting
and making dolls. Eventually a close collaboration grew between father and daughter.
What started out simply
as a hobby rapidly became all-consuming. In the 1940s, Fred and Mildred set up
some of the carvings in a small gift shop they called the Trading Post outside
Montour. In 1954, they moved the shop to Le Grand on the Lincoln Highway and renamed
it the Doll Museum and Trading Post to acknowledge Mildred’s collection
of dolls. The enterprise attracted thousands of curious passersby for more than
three decades.
Mildred, along with Fred’s
second wife, Gladys, continued to operate the museum after Fred’s death
until 1988 when it became apparent the family could no longer care for the collection.
In 1995, they donated the entire collection – 53 scenes comprising more
than 1,200 pieces (people, animals, wagons, furniture, tools, and so forth) –
to the State Historical Society of Iowa.
"To some people, the
thought of carving may seem a little silly, but it takes a lot of hard work. I
was always interested in history and this is one way to preserve it. The scenes
are interesting for the children who haven’t seen them, and for the older
folks who remember them." – Fred W. Stice
The exhibit can be seen
at the State Historical Museum, 600 E. Locust Street in the heart of Des Moines’
Historic East Village. Museum hours are Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday
Noon-4:30 p.m. The museum will be open regular hours through the holidays, except
December 25, 2005 when it will be closed. Admission is free. Please visit www.iowahistory.org
or call 515-281-5111 for more information.
The State Historical Museum
is operated by the State Historical Society of Iowa, a trustee of Iowa’s
historical legacy and an advocate for understanding Iowa’s past. It identifies,
records, collects, preserves, manages and provides access to Iowa’s historical
resources. Its dual mission of preservation and education serves Iowans of all
ages, conducts and stimulates research, disseminates information, and encourages
and supports historical preservation and education efforts of others throughout
the state.
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