One of Iowa's Treasures is the Isabel Bloom Studio in Davenport Iowa. Here artisans create concrete sculptures continuing the legacy of artist Isabel Bloom. Isabel Scherer was a successful dress designer in Davenport when she happened to pick up a brochure telling about the summer art school given by Grant Wood in his Stone City, Iowa Art Colony. Although the Stone City school only lasted 2 years, it was here that Isabel Bloom got her start as a sculptress. She also met John Bloom, an artist from DeWitt, Iowa, who was working as the groundskeeper at the Artist Colony in exchange for free tuition and room and board. John and Isabel were to wed several years later. Isabel's Sculptures are strongly influenced by Victorian bronze garden sculptures with their green patina. Isabel developed a method of painting her sculptures and then wiping away the paint to give them the green patina effect. You start the factory tour with a short informational video and the are given a tour of the entire facility. Each step in the process is demonstrated by the various artisans and questions are welcomed. Our tour guide Lynn is a longtime artisan at the studio. At the end of the tour you will be permitted to buy sculptures and everybody is given a copy of the "Hugs"poem. This is a must see tour for anyone in the Davenport area. The tour is free by you must make a reservation. You can visit Isabel Bloom Studios online at Videos are at bottom of page.  |
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