CEDAR FALLS -- Pop quiz: What Iowa artist designed U.S. Army artillery camouflage during World War I?

(Hum the "Jeopardy" theme song to yourself …).

Time's up. Need a hint? He painted the "American Gothic."

Answer: Grant Wood.

For the casual observer, camouflage -- the art of protective concealment -- is commonly connected with the military and hunting gear -- or fashionistas who aren't particularly interested in "hiding in plain sight," but rather standing out in a crowd wearing a rainbow of camouflage designs.

All aspects of camouflage, including artistic, military, scientific, natural, psychological, magical, fashion-related and ironic aspects of concealment and deception, will be explored at a one-day international conference Saturday on the University of Northern Iowa. It is open to the public.

More than 30 artists, scientists and other scholars from throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Australia will gather for "Camouflage: Art, Science and Popular Culture," sponsored by the UNI Department of Art, at the Kamerick Art Building.

Marvin Bell, Iowa's first poet laureate, will open the conference at 8:30 a.m. with the first public reading of a new poem from his "Dead Man" series, on the subject of camouflage written expressly for the conference.

"He was always here, always there, right in front of us, timely.

For it was not in the dead man's future to be preserved.

It was his fate to blend in, to appear in the form of, to become …"

It is the first conference of its kind, founded and organized by camouflage expert Roy Behrens, professor of art at the University of Northern Iowa. He will present a chronology of camouflage from the 19th century to present day, beginning at 8:45 a.m.

His most recent contributions on the subject appear in the hefty two-volume "Disruptive Pattern Materials: An Encyclopedia of Camouflage," which covers all aspects of camouflage from military, nature, science and art to skateboards and the fashion scene.

"I think it's a compelling subject. We live in a time when it is increasingly easy for people to be tricked and deceived. Camouflage is a visual medium we're not supposed to see. It deceives and tricks the eye and the mind," Behrens explained. "Camouflage is about making the visible 'invisible.' The military used camouflage, as we know it now, to confuse and conceal ships and aircraft from observation, but it has been adapted in a vernacular way for other uses."

Throughout the day, concurrent sessions will take place on a broad range of topics from the obvious to the obscure, including art and architecture to photography, philosophy, computer science, British camouflage, presented by a scholar from the Royal College of Art, and the eccentric "lozenge" pattern on German aircraft during the final year of World War I.

"NUMB3RS Meets the Da Vinci Code: Information Masquerading as Art" will be presented by Eugene Wallingford, UNI associate professor of computer science, who will discuss encrypted information in a relatively open medium and hiding information in a file.

"The intersection of art and science fascinates me. Each influences the other," Wallingford said. "I chose my presentation because more and more information is being posted on the Internet, but the content is not intended for everyone to see."

Go & Do

What: International conference on "Camouflage: Art, science and popular culture"

Poet Marvin Bell will open the public event, followed by 30-minute concurrent presentations by artists, scholars, architects, historians, scientists and others from around the world. The day will end with a panel discussion at 8 p.m. There also will be camouflage exhibits, films, student presentations and a camouflage-themed gift shop selling items designed by UNI students.

When: All day, beginning at 8:30 a.m., Saturday.

Where: Kamerick Art Building, University of Northern Iowa campus, Cedar Falls.

Cost: Cost to attend is $20 per person. Seating is limited; pre-registration is requested.

To register: Send name and mail/email contact information and a check made out to the UNI Department of Art and mail to Camouflage Conference, UNI Art Department, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0362.

For more details: Contact Roy Behrens at ballast@netins.net.