Juan de Julio Escura

jdejulioescura22@coe.edu
PR-205 Public Relations
Exam #2: Take home essay

Exam #1: Take home essay

Assignment Part #1:

The main dilemma lies in the utopia of Public Relations: getting everyone to be satisfied
with a decision. Humans are plural and complex, so consensus on large scales is inconceivable.
Therefore, the dilemma aims to convince as many people as possible that the right decision has
been made.

Assignment Part #2:

It is commonly conceived that money brings happiness, but many times, a large amount
of money can mean a lot of problems if it is not managed correctly. In this case, we are talking
about large amounts, and we are not only talking about an economic factor but also the human
and symbolic part.

Grant Wood was an American painter who was a key figure in the Midwestern
Regionalism style that was popular in the 1930s in the United States. He was born on February
13, 1891, close to Anamosa, Iowa, and passed away on February 12, 1942, in Iowa City, Iowa.

In addition to painting, Wood received training in design and crafts. He returned to Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, where he was commissioned to create a stained-glass window in 1927, after
spending a year (1923) at the Académie Julian in Paris. He traveled to Germany in search of
craftsmen who could help him despite his lack of knowledge about stained glass. He was greatly
affected by the intricately detailed paintings of several 16th-century German and Flemish
painters while he was there.

Woman with Plants (1929), a portrait of his mother in this manner, remained unnoticed,
but his American Gothic generated a stir when it was shown at the Art Institute of Chicago in

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 Juan de Julio Escura
jdejulioescura22@coe.edu
PR-205 Public Relations
Exam #2: Take home essay

1930. The painting's stark, cold realism and the subject's honest, direct, earthy nature were rare in
American art. The painting reportedly depicts a farmer and his daughter in front of their
farmhouse, modeled for Wood by his dentist, B.H. McKeeby, and Wood's sister, Nan. The picture
has become one of the most well-known symbols of American art as a revealing portrayal of the
Midwest's somber and industrious rural people.

Grant Wood Studio is located at 810 Second Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, near
downtown. Because of a donation from the Esther and Robert Armstrong Charitable Trust,
admission is free during regular Studio hours. The Armstrong Visitor Center (ground floor) is
disability accessible; however, the Studio (second floor) is not. The Cedar Rapids Museum of
Art holds the world's largest collection of Grant Wood works. The CRMA is a member of the
Historic Artists' Homes and Studios program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Grant Wood's "Daughters of the Revolution" is a satirical depiction of three women from
the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Wood was commissioned to
design a stained glass window at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in
1927. He was dissatisfied with the quality of local glass suppliers, so he traveled to Europe and
conducted studies before deciding to use glass manufactured in Germany.

Germany had been an ally of the United States during World War I, and opposition to
utilizing their glass developed. Because Wood disliked the DAR's aristocratic attitude, the
window was not dedicated until 1955, after his death.

Wood dressed his models in his mother's clothes and incorporated a lace collar and an
amber pin he bought for her in Germany. During World War II, an Allied bombing strike
destroyed the original "Washington Crossing Delaware." Some critics have claimed that Wood
depicted males dressed as women rather than genuine women.

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 Juan de Julio Escura
jdejulioescura22@coe.edu
PR-205 Public Relations
Exam #2: Take home essay

Given the choice between the two options, the Chamber of Commerce should donate the
artwork to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art for a permanent exhibition. Although they would
not get any compensation for the artwork, this alternative has significant advantages.

First, art enthusiasts and the community as a whole will hold the Chamber in high regard
if the artwork is presented to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art to be permanently displayed. This
is because they will be regarded as supporting the arts, and the community will view them
favorably as a consequence. Furthermore, the Chamber’s perception as a community-minded
organization will elevate its reputation in the eyes of the general public.

Second, Grant Wood is a well-known artist whose works are increasingly popular. The
painting will undoubtedly attract more people to Cedar Rapids, providing the city with more
tourism money. However, it is crucial to recognize that, while Grant Wood's paintings are
well-known, they are not the only attractions in Cedar Rapids. There are plenty more exciting
things to see and do in the city, and visitors should not be afraid to explore everything Cedar
Rapids has to offer.

Third, the Chamber could capitalize on the painting's exposure to promote the
organization and its objectives. The artwork might be utilized to engage the community and
pique people's interest in what the organization does. The artwork might be utilized to collect
money..

Fourth, the Chamber would be able to establish contacts with the Cedar Rapids art
community, which may be advantageous in the future. They might assist the art community by
offering tools and chances for networking.

Finally, by keeping the picture in the state, the Chamber would escape the public outcry
that would ensue if it were sold out of state.