Looking in at Iowa

New information from the Iowa Data Center (PDF). Excerpt here of Iowa and surrounding states:

Business Bankruptcies by State: 2000-2005

Area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Illinois 1,270 1,547 1,240 991 912 1,042

Iowa 214 289 354 323 360 455

Minnesota 1,492 1,887 1,729 1,379 1,374 1,721

Missouri 369 505 394 378 354 438

Nebraska 115 144 152 238 207 296

South Dakota 133 164 119 110 108 196

Wisconsin 685 734 856 722 742 820

From The Aspen Times:

[Tomás] Lasansky is the youngest of six children — the oldest is some 20 years Tomás’ senior — and from that vantage point, art was not only a constant, it was fun and a way to bond with his family members. Lasansky says there was never any pressure on him to create; the word he uses is he was “invited” to work on the various projects undertaken in Iowa City, which the Lasanskys called home.

So at 4, Tomás helped one brother make a steel sculpture of a horse and rider 10 feet tall — big enough that, when it was sold, a wall had to be knocked out of the house to relocate it. Lasansky later spent 10 years helping his father make prints.

“Growing up was fabulous,” said Lasansky at Magidson Fine Art, where his first solo exhibit in Aspen opens Saturday, Feb 23. “We had this old Victorian house and everyone used it as a studio. I had a basement full of anything I wanted — pottery, wax, steel, prints. I used to hold classes for the neighborhood kids.” …

“Geronimo with Flag” acrylic on canvas