In a Time of Witness

in a time of witness

The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art announces the September 2023 release of In a Time of Witness, a publication highlighting the Museum’s celebrated collection.

Beyond a traditional exhibition catalog, the book pairs stunning imagery from the Stanley collection with original literary responses to showcase an innovative vision for art interpretation.

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"If we are to love these institutions, we must bear witness to their hard truths fully, especially if there is anything like repair to be won. After all, isn’t ‘real love’ about doing the work of reconciling the good with the bad?"

Homeland, Sacred, Freedom

Writers in this book reflect the times. In a Time of Witness is organized into three sections that correspond with the tenets this generation eyes with its love: homeland, sacred and freedom. Editor Derek (DK) Nnuro argues, "if we are to love these institutions, we must bear witness to their hard truths fully, especially if there is anything like repair to be won. After all, isn’t ‘real love’ about doing the work of reconciling the good with the bad?”

Literary pieces appearing in each of the three sections range in theme, tone and resolution, coming together to tell more complete narratives of each idea. Similarly, their associated artworks range in artistic period, media and geography, collectively flattening art historical distinctions for more rounded understandings. In a Time of Witness serves as an invitation for readers to engage with works in the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art collection to continue their own story.

“The writers offer a refreshing opportunity for readers to engage with works from the Stanley collection in new ways, making art interpretation accessible and meaningful for a wider audience,” said Nnuro. “These interpretations not only add new thought leadership to the canon of these works of art but demonstrate the boundlessness of using a work of visual art for literary creation.”

“Readers are urged to bear witness to hard truths about love and invited to engage in the work required for real, committed love: reconciling the good with the bad,” said Stanley Museum of Art Director Lauren Lessing. “Powerful and intimate, the stories and poems in this publication seem to have been written with the artists rather than about them and their work.”

“Powerful and intimate, the stories and poems in this publication seem to have been written with the artists rather than about them and their work.”

Contributing Writers

Foreword by Marilynne Robinson

Efe Duyan

Jamil Jan Kochai

Annie Janusch

IfeOluwa Nihinlola

Andrea Rosenberg

Juan Felipe Herrera

Sterling HolyWhiteMountain

Yiyun Li

Aron Aji

Margaret Ross

Lan Samantha Chang

Romeo Oriogun

Mark Levine

Danielle Evans

D. A. Powell

Adam Haslett

Carmen Maria Machado

A. M. Homes

Joy Harjo

Srikanth Reddy

V. V. Ganeshananthan

Shane McCrae

Minae Mizumura

Rita Dove

Anaïs Duplan

Esther Dischereit

Tàde Ipàdeolá

Pola Oloixarac

Tameka Cage Conley

De’Shawn Charles Winslow

Laurel Taylor

excerpts

press features

A photo of the oil painting "Ocean Park, No. 17" by Richard Diebenkorn

Why This Art: Art As Muse

A poem inspired by Richard Diebenkorn’s "Ocean Park, No. 17."

Richard Diebenkorn (American 1922 - 1993), Ocean Park No. 17, 1968, oil on canvas, 80 x 72 inches (203.2 x 182.88 cm). Purchased with the aid of funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and matching funds from The University of Iowa Foundation, 1970.38.

A photo showing George Rickey's sculpture, "Two Lines Oblique" in front of the entrance of the Stanley Museum of Art.

Non-Euclidian Space is Dangerous

An International Writing Program alumnus from Turkey shares a poem inspired by a sculpture at the Stanley Museum of Art and his own Iowa love story, which is featured in the museum's new book, In a Time of Witness.

George Rickey (American, 1907–2002), Two Lines Oblique, 1967–1969. Stainless steel, 300 in. (762 cm). Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Shulman, 1969.526.

Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Mick Jagger, 1975. Silkscreen on paper, 43 3/4 × 29 in. (111.1 × 73.7 cm). The University Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, Museum purchase, 1976.5. © 2023 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Eating Oysters with Andy--a fictional interview based on real events

A.M. Homes responds to "Mick Jagger" by Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Mick Jagger, 1975. Silkscreen on paper, 43 3/4 × 29 in. (111.1 × 73.7 cm). The University Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, Museum purchase, 1976.5. © 2023 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

In a Time of Witness