Who: Ron Headings, 41, of Union Township, a consumer researcher at Procter & Gamble and collector of parodies of the famous Grant Wood painting “American Gothic.”

        Where: Throughout the bright yellow, farm-theme kitchen in the home he shares with wife Linda, 41, and sons Jake, 7, and Luke, 4.

        On display: Dozens of lampoons of the original “American Gothic” featuring pop icons such as Kermit and Miss Piggy, characters from The Beverly Hillbillies, Ohio-born comedian Drew Carey, and FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully from The X-Files.

Linda and Ron Headings of Anderson Township. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Undergrad giggle: Mr. Headings' interest in “American Gothic” began 20 years ago when he was a student at Bethel College in North Newton, Kan.

        “One of the art students drew this poster of the college president and his wife,” Mr. Headings says pointing to a framed black-and-white portrait. “They were sent out to all of the students asking them to color it in. He was an outstanding president and a wonderful character.”

        Hunting season: After that, Mr. Headings started looking for more “Gothic” parodies. “My favorite is a (Jim) Borgman cartoon from the 1988 presidential election,” he says pointing to a Gothicesque cartoon of George Bush, Bob Dole, Jesse Jackson, Al Gore, Paul Simon and Michael Dukakis he cut out of The Cincinnati Enquirer and framed. “Something special happened to everyone in that picture.”

        Biff and Buffy: Another favored item is a T-shirt Mr. Headings picked up on a trip to Chicago. It bears a parody of the painting in a nautical motif. The man is wearing a blue yacht club blazer, a captain's hat and is holding an anchor instead of a pitchfork. The woman is wearing a lime green top with a pink sweater tied across her shoulders and a string of pearls.

        (By the way, Chicago is home to Mr. Woods' original, which is part of the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago; see the painting at the Institute's Web site.)

        Ho-ho-ho! The funniest item in the collection is a photo of Mr. Headings' mother and father-in-law, Henry and Elaine Schumacher of Winton Place dressed in “American Gothic” garb. “It was a surprise Christmas gift,” he says with a laugh. “They posed in front of their barn.”

        What's really important: “The original painting has a lot of deep meanings,” Mr. Headings says. “I think that most Americans who latch onto it don't understand what it's all about. Those are very sad expressions on their faces, and I think they're sad because they worked so hard and didn't have a lot of fun.”

        They are now, judging from some of the situations they are in on the Headings' kitchen walls.

        What are your prize possessions? Show them off, by writing to Marsie Hall Newbold, c/o Tempo, Prize Possessions, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., 45202 or e-mail marsolete@aol.com.

Summer movie scene
Conlon brings life to long-forgotten opera
DEMALINE: Ovation unveils Tolkein fantasy
Reality check
A giving spirit
Concert review
CSO branches out in summer program
Fighting cancer with cuisine
DAUGHERTY: Everyday
KENDRICK: Alive and well
May Findlay Market's honeymoon never be over
Prize possessions
Teach kids skills to avoid stupid stunts
Theater review
Wineries welcome diners and sippers
Get to it