[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING PORTRAIT OF MAQUOKETA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE L. BRALEY

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 4, 2009

  Mr. BRALEY of Iowa. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Rose 
Frantzen, her husband Charles Morris, the Frantzen family, and the 
entire Maquoketa, Iowa community on the premier of Ms. Frantzen's 
Portrait of Maquoketa at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. 
This work will be on display from November 2009 to July 2010.
  Portrait of Maquoketa is a compilation of 180 individual oil 
portraits of Maquoketa residents painted between July 2005 and July 
2006. Ms. Frantzen's exceptional skill is evident in each portrait, but 
the paintings are more striking when displayed together.
  Ms. Frantzen describes Portrait of Maquoketa as ``an unfiltered 
representation of this small Iowa community at this time in history.'' 
Unlike many portraits that are commissioned or collected by people with 
a distinct interest in art, Ms. Frantzen took a democratic approach to 
her work and opened her store front studio to any Maquoketa who wished 
to pose for her. She painted children, adults, seniors and adolescents. 
During the sittings she conducted informal interviews and later made 
audio recordings of her neighbors' stories, ideas, and beliefs. Many of 
these recordings are part of the installation at the Portrait Gallery.
  The individuals in Portrait of Maquoketa don't look distinctly Iowan. 
There are no clues in the paintings indicating they have any 
relationship to each other. Together, though, we recognize these 
individuals are also a community with a shared identity and future. In 
each portrait Ms. Frantzen expresses the dignity and beauty in her 
neighbors, and together her paintings proclaim the dignity and beauty 
of Maquoketa.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to visit the National 
Portrait Gallery to see Portrait of Maquoketa. It is an inspiring 
interpretation of American life.

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