Gallery Opportunity: Art Inspires Writing

The University of Iowa Writing Center is introducing a gallery opportunity for student artists. Each semester, up to two artists’ installations, one two-dimensional and one three-dimensional, will be selected for display in the Main Writing Center, room 110 English Philosophy Building. The artists will also be able to plan openings or receptions for their exhibits, which will be publicized by the Writing Center. While the art is exhibited, writers in the Center will be invited to use the art as inspiration for their writing. These responses may be shared with the artist at the end of the semester.

The winning artists will be selected by a committee that includes a Writing Center tutor and one of the Writing Center’s professional staff (Director or Assistant Director) and may also include a student writer who has been enrolled in the Writing Center’s tutoring program.

To apply, please submit a portfolio of your work (images of at least 4 and no more than 20 pieces in electronic format) along with a short written response (not more than a double-spaced page) to the following prompt:

Please describe how you will benefit from exhibiting your art in the Writing Center. Especially consider the significance of your art serving as inspiration for writing that may be shared with you at the end of the semester.

Your response to the prompt will be displayed along with your art.

Include your name, e-mail address, telephone number, and a title for your proposed exhibit. Send submissions as e-mail attachments to with the subject line “GALLERY OPPORTUNITY.” Submissions are accepted until February 6 for the spring semester, 2012. Selections will be made by February 10. The selected artists should plan to install their art by February 17.

Questions may be directed to Mitch Nakaue: 335-0188 or .

The selected artists will agree to exhibit art for at least 10 weeks of the 16 week semester. If selected, an artist must agree to repair (e.g. fill and sand holes) and paint any damage to the walls and structures in the Writing Center that occur as a result of installing the art. Any changes to surfaces or structures in the Writing Center must be reversed so that the space is returned to its previous condition. Wall paint will be provided, but all other costs associated with the installation are the responsibility of the artist. Art must be removed and repairs made before the start of the Summer Semester, 2012. Neither the Writing Center, the Rhetoric Department, nor the University of Iowa will be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged art.

Photos of the gallery space: