July 1976 - Dubuque's Bi-Centennial Celebration

Dubuque's celebration of the nation's Bi-Centennial included many activities. This week's post will look at Dubuque's "Festival '76" and highlight some other news of the day. Next week we hope to post the "Bi-Centennial Parade" (now being digitized) and the Five Flags Vaudeville show presented in the Spring of 1976. For now, enjoy these Bi-Centennial memories. 

The JayCee's dedicated the beautiful Washington Park Gazebo

Rehearsals were underway for "Get The Lead Out!" 

Iowa Public Television visited rehearsals at Five Flags and recorded several selections. Here's a sample -

"Steamboat Comin'

Dubuque TV audiences were anticipating the return of KDUB-TV

A controversial sculpture was also making news.

Battle brewing over sculptor’s ‘Man of War’

By DAVID FYTEN Telegraph Herald Staff Writer

Dubuque City Manager Gilbert Chavenelle reportedly has told his staff not to allow the city's sculptor-in-residence. Tom Gibbs. to create any more public art under the Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA). a federally funded program to employ the jobless.

Gibbs said yesterday he learned from a city employee that Chavenelle recently told Dubuque Recreation Director Terry Trueblood. whose department oversees Gibbs‘ work with the city. that he doesn't want Gibbs to make any more sculptures for public places. Gibbs said he believes that Chavenelle's directive stems from the controversy surrounding the first sculpture Gibbs created under the C ETA program. Trueblood would not comment yesterday. When asked whether he has issued such a directive. Chavenelle said. “Not yet.” and refused to comment further.

Gibbs. 33. of 1333 Kaufmann Ave. was hired by the city last November to create artworks for the public at a salary of about $700 a month. Under the initial CETA program. which expired last Thursday. Gibbs fashioned “Man of War," a 12-by-l4-foot steel' work that will be placed in an undetermined public place in the coming weeks.

After CETA was extended through next January for most employees. Gibb has announced plans to create another sculpture. Meanwhile. critical remarks about Gibbs‘ first work surfaced after a picture of it was published.

"I didn't quit teaching (at Arizona State University in 1973) to come back here to teach little old ladies to make beads, kids how to cut paper or to shuffle papers." Gibbs said. "I'm going to make sculptures. whether I do it for the city or not.

“What they (city officials) don't want any more of is trouble." he continued. “You can feel it. you can tell by the atmosphere that they don't want it (“Man of War'). They've got a problem on their hands and they don’t know what to do with it."

Gibbs said he'd like to meet with city officials to discuss the situation but added that "the way they're handling it now. they're making the decisions by themselves in dark little corners and letting it filter down to me."

He said he’s considering offering to buy “Man of War" from the city for $2.000. the cost of its materials. "I don’t want to force them into anything," he said.  

(Note: "Man of War" now resides on the grounds of Hempstead High)