Local Iowa Authors Highlighted in University of Iowa Old Capitol Exhibit

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Local Iowa Authors Highlighted in University of Iowa Old Capitol Exhibit

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IOWA CITY - An Old Capitol exhibit recognizing children's authors across Iowa kicked off Sunday, expanding upon the "A Community of Writers: Creative Writing at the University of Iowa," exhibit that opened last October.  A Sunday afternoon  discussion panel featuring local children's book authors, followed by a children's workshop marked the event.  

"We had to find a way to bring the writing exhibit to the children's level," Assistant Director of the Old Capitol Shalla Wilson explained.  The workshop involved children with poetry, story writing, illustration and bookbinding, encouraging the youth to continue writing in their free time in a journal or diary.

"We're losing the written word," Wilson said.  "This concerns historians." American pioneer journals borrowed from the State Historical Society special collection and The Women's Archives were also be on display, allowing children a glimpse into the lives of Iowans over a century and a half ago.

The preceding panel, which featured such Iowan authors as Tess Weaver and Jeremy Jackson, discussed the influence the state of Iowa has had on the authors' writing, inspiration, and focus.  Following the discussion, the author's worked with the children during the course of the workshop to encourage their writing ability and lend a helping hand. 

The exhibit displays a wide range of Iowa children's book authors' work, featuring authors from Katherine House, to  Claudia Mcgehee and Tess Weaver.  The expansion highlights works ranging from children's tales, to preteen-level literature.  Both the panel and the exhibit were open to the public.

The Children's expansion accompanies the larger Writer's Workshop exhibit, located in the north end of the Old Capitol's ground level.  Open to the public since October, the exhibit highlights all six pillars of the Writer's Workshop, from nonfiction to poetry writing.  Visitors can find handwritten composition from writer's such as Paul Engle, the second director of the Writer's Workshop. 

A "Writer's at Work" display in the East wing of the exhibit displays handwritten drafts, scribbles and editing notes from writers such as the poet Donald Justice, while other displays use scanned excerpts to immortalize the praise and adoration the Writer's Program has received from publications such as Esquire and Mademoiselle.  Additional displays pay homage Writer's Workshop heavyweights, including Kurt Vonnegut.

The Writer's Workshop exhibit is part of the rotational exhibit program which began following the 2001 Old Capitol fire renovations. New exhibits are able to come and go in the wake of these renovations, encouraging visitors to return often.