AUGUST 22 – DECEMBER 16, 2022

The International Writing Program (IWP) has brought close to 1,600 writers from more than 150 countries to the University of Iowa since 1967. In celebration of the program’s 55th anniversary, the exhibition A Hub, a Network, an Archive: 55 Years of International Writers in Iowa City tells the story of IWP’s genesis, its role in cultural diplomacy, Iowa City as a site of literary praxis and global networking, and the images of Iowa that writers have carried home with them as represented in their work.

Curated by Nataša Ďurovičová and Lisa Gardinier, the exhibition includes University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives materials such as the Paul Engle Papers, the International Writing Program Records, the Toothpaste/Coffee House Press Records, and more. Items from the University of Iowa Libraries circulating collection, IWP’s Shambaugh House, and friends of IWP also make an appearance, in addition to a selection of large portraits of writers by photographer Thomas Langdon.

View the Exhibit Guide for A Hub, a Network, an Archive (PDF)

Explore the LibGuide

 

Virtual Exhibit


Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content

 

Curator Highlights

Learn more about select items from the exhibition by clicking on each curator highlight below for additional commentary and photos.

A book is open to a typed page. The chapter title is: Under the Blue Sky of Iowa.

“Under the Blue Sky of Iowa”

The Fall of Language in the Age of English, by Minae Mizumura. Chapter: “Under the Blue Sky of Iowa.”
A poster features a winged hand reading out of an open book and holding a pen. In the background there is a hot air balloon. The poster has over a dozen autographs on it and is for Book Wings in Moscow, 2012. A black book sits in front of the poster and f

Book Wings

Book Wings memorabilia, 2012-2013.
A brown construction paper brochure cover with several colorful construction paper squares together in a spherical shape. Text below says International Writing Program.

International Writing Program brochure by Fernando del Paso

Handmade paste-up model of International Writing Program brochure, designed and signed by Fernando del Paso, 1971. Paul Engle Papers [msc 514], Special Collections & Archives.
A horizontal flyer with silhouettes of people in a crowd looking at several papers filled with writing in Chinese. The flyer says: Sy Yinchow. Sept. 16, 1988. Theoretical Aspects of Translating Poetry from English to Chinese. Sponsored by the Internationa

IWP Event Flyers

A selection of promotional flyers from over the years.
A red and cream striped spiral-bound notebook with various scribbles and a cocktail recipe written on the cover.

José Donoso’s Iowa City Notebook

José Donoso’s notebook while in Iowa City, 1965. José Donoso Papers [msc 340], Special Collections & Archives.
In the foreground a small gray booklet is titled Translating Manuel Becerra. In the background is an artist's book which folds out and upward like an accordion. The pages are white with black type.

La escritura de los animales distintos / Writings on the Other Animals

La escritura de los animales distintos / Writings on the Other Animals. Manuel Becerra, 2021. Iowa Authors Collection [PQ7298.412.E244 E73 2021], Special Collections & Archives.
A green metal Olympia typewriter with green plastic keys.

Paul Engle’s Typewriter

Paul Engle’s typewriter, 1960s.
A light pink booklet displays its cover, a large white snowflake spraypainted on top. The title and author are shown. A draft sheet of a typed poem has the word

Tomaž Šalamun’s Snow

An exploration of one book’s journey to publication. Items from the Paul Engle Papers [msc 514], Toothpaste/Coffee House Press Records [msc 461], Special Collections & Archives.

 

Credits

Exhibition Curation

Nataša Ďurovičová
Senior Editor, International Writing Program
Adjunct faculty, MFA Literary Translation

Lisa Gardinier
Curator of International Literature, University of Iowa Libraries

Preparation & Conservation
Bill Voss, Conservator Technician & Exhibit Preparator 
Giselle Simón, University Conservator 

Design
Kalmia Strong, Creative Coordinator

Exhibition Coordination 
Sara J. Pinkham, Exhibition and Engagement Coordinator

Installation
Bill Voss, Kalmia Strong, Sara J. Pinkham, Jennifer Beall

Exhibition Technology
Will Brown, IT Consultant (LIB IT) 
Chris Clark, Senior IT Support Consultant (LIB IT) 

Touchscreen
Ethan DeGross, Web Developer, Digital Scholarship & Publishing Studio
Alyssa Varner, Creative Coordinator, Digital Scholarship & Publishing Studio

Publicity & Website
Sara J. Pinkham 
Ken Clinkenbeard, Web Services Specialist

Virtual Exhibit Assembly & Photography
Sara J. Pinkham

Financial Support
Friends of the University of Iowa Libraries

Special Thanks

Aron Aji, Takako Arai, Timothy Arnold, Mark Anderson, Paula Balkenende, Ben Barreras, Jenny Bradshaw, Michael Conley, Beth Cox, John Culshaw, Hualing Nieh Engle, Eric Ensley, Hugh Ferrer, Brian Fotsch, Cheryl Graham, Tsuyoshi Harada, Kendall Heitzman, Atsuko Horiuchi, Daniel Johnson, John Kenyon and the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature, Thomas Langdon, David McCartney, Christopher Merrill, Lindsay Moen, Janalyn Moss, H Pedelty, Jen Provorse, Pilar Quintana, Timothy Shipe, Paul Soderdahl, Rita Soenksen, Chris Swart, Kelly Taylor, Min Tian, Linda Walton, Elena Lan-Lan Wang, Muhua Yang, and all IWP participants past and present.