Eyes Closed Eyes Open
Presented by the International Writing Program and the UI Department of Dance.
As we strive toward ideals of justice and equity, diversity, and radical inclusion, we find ourselves in a precarious moment, moved by hope yet also by trepidation, seeking possibilities while recognizing the obstacles that stand in our way. This duality is reflected in the prompt given to the writers and the dance-makers for their collaboration: when I close my eyes, I see the future / when I see the future, I close my eyes, a phrase inspired by the title of an exhibition by the Egyptian multimedia artist Heba Y. Amin.
The longstanding collaboration between the International Writing Program and the Department of Dance will result in a virtual concert of works, with selected texts by international writers choreographed and performed by the artists listed in the program below. Brief moments of live commentary and audience talk-back will frame the performance of these premieres.
This event is part of the series Art and the Pursuit of Social Justice sponsored by Iowa Arts at the University of Iowa.
Program
Eyes Closed Eyes Open
Learn more about each work, read the writing that inspired the work, meet the collaborators.
The International Writing Program (IWP) is a unique conduit for the world’s literatures, connecting well-established writers from around the globe, bringing international literature into classrooms, introducing American writers to other cultures through reading tours, and serving as a clearinghouse for literary news and a wealth of archival and pedagogical materials. Since 1967, over fifteen hundred writers from more than 150 countries have been in residence at the University of Iowa.
The International Writing Program and the Department of Dance owe thanks to the outstanding staff who have helped us with our prompt, with wrangling our artists, with our online presence and video editing and marketing: Hugh Ferrer, Shelly Criswell, Jill Tobin, Kristan Hellige, and Alex Bush, and grad student Nick Coso,
to those who assisted with translation: Nataša Ďurovičová, Kaylee Lockett, Raghaib Al Lawati, Kathleen Archer, and Shelly Criswell,
to Nic Arp for hosting this webinar and contributing the resources and support of his office,
to George de la Pena for assistance with production,
to Alan MacVey and the Division of Performing Arts for financial and other support,
to our panelists Rebekah J. Kowal, Department of Dance and Christopher Merrill, International Writing Program,
to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, who made the participation of the international writers possible, and Jill Staggs, Program Officer.