Restoration of a writer
1
By ELIZABETH TIMMINS e-mail [email protected] They work their respective corners of the Albuquerque street. On one corner, adobe walls encircle two bungalows that make up a monastery. On the other sits one of the oldest drugstores in town. After a car crash paralyzed Mary Swan- der, she visited this street, seeking the help of two local healers: a monk and a curan- dera. Tonight, Swander will describe this experience and others as she reads from two of her memoirs, Desert Pilgrim and Out of This World: A Jour- ney of Healing , at Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St., at 7 p.m. The Iowa Writers’ Workshop alum has had a less-than-ordi- nary life. She is an Iowa State University professor, National Public Radio commentator, banjo player, contributor to the Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company, and neighbor to the Amish. She has recovered from two major medical situations that catapulted her into award-winning memoir writ- ing. In Out of This World: A Jour- ney of Healing , Swander describes a severe food allergy that landed her in the isolation ward of a hospital for a month. The allergy drastically changed her lifestyle, requir- ing the consumption of only organic food. In the book, she discusses her adaptations since the discovery of her aller- gy, her life in a one-room schoolhouse north of Kalona, and raising her own food. The conversion of the one- room schoolhouse to a home was a spontaneous decision for Swander but one she said she does not regret. “It’s a complete cultural experience,” she said. “The Amish have a completely dif- ferent culture from ours. While all my friends have been globe- trotting around the world, liv- ing in this country and that, I’ve been living in another country, too. As a neighbor, I’m really, really privileged, because I have experienced their culture in a deeper way than probably most have in the country.” Before living in the Amish community, Swander spent a semester teaching in New Mexico. In Desert Pilgrim, she writes about a debilitating car crash she endured and her conse- quential search for alternative medicine. As a result of the accident, a lesion formed on her spinal chord and an infec- tion caused permanent neuro- logical damage, a condition similar to polio. Following doc- tor’s orders, Swander moved to a climate that might help her condition. While teaching in New Mexico, she yearned for the assistance of local healers. Through the help of a student, Swander discovered a monk and a curandera, a Latina healer. The memoir details her recovery from the accident. “It relieved a lot of pain, physical pain, spiritual pain, and set me off on a spiritual pilgrimage of my own,” Swan- der said. “It deepened my rela- tionship and my sense of the divine in a really profound way.” Today the healers still work the colorful corner, and Swan- der returns almost every year, seeking restoration. The Daily Iowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 17, 2008 - 7A Each week, the DI serves its mission of being Iowa City’s hot spot for culture (which includes fashion) by bringing our fabulous readers DI Trendspotter. This week, the rain is falling, and we’re there to block the splash. When the weather turns wet and gloomy, all trends wash out with the exception of one. Just as bright umbrella domes ascend above every head, students sport a splash of color on their feet as well: flashy, plastic rain boots in candy-neon patterns. The footwear can’t help but make you feel like a grownup in elementary-school wear — the trend is pretty much directly inspired by kids leaping into puddles as they bound off the school bus. And not only are these rain boots fun, they just make sense. “They look cool and they’re prac- tical,” said sophomore Caitie Kuempel, who was wearing her blue and brown leaf-patterned boots at the Old Capitol Town Center. Kuempel got hers last year at Target, which sells nearly 70 differ- ent varieties of its $25 rain boot. “They make a statement.” Now, just pull on some stirrup leggings, and it will be just like kindergarten in 1992. — by Claire Lekwa PLASTIC RAIN BOOTS TRENDSPOTTER By REBECCA KOONS [email protected] Conducting is a musical art form that has its roots planted in the Middle Ages. Musicians needed some form of guidance that would allow them to come together as one unit to produce remarkable, harmonious sounds. Since then, the role of the conductor has come to be mandatory, and with it comes scores of brilliant artists as essential as the orchestra itself. And some graduate-student conductors are learning first- hand just how important their role is. The UI Philharmonia Cham- ber Orchestra is composed exclusively of undergraduate musicians who audition for a place in the ensemble. The Phil- harmonia performs two or more concerts per semester, each led by graduate students under the direction of William LaRue Jones, the director of orchestral studies. The group will perform a free concert at West High, 2901 Melrose Ave., Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. When it comes time to decide which musical pieces the stu- dents will immerse themselves in, Jones makes his decisions with the utmost care. Variety and interest, in addition to the musical development of the students, play a key role in the selection process, he said. The musical pieces often range from the Baroque period to contem- porary orchestral numbers. “I want the students to gain insight and knowledge of the repertoire they’re studying, showcasing it and bringing it to the university community,” Jones added. Pieces selected for the Oct. 19 concert include “Crown Imperial,” by William Walton, the intermezzo from Act III of Manon Lescaut , by Giacomo Puccini, two intermezzos from The Jewels of the Madonna, by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, a suite from The Water Music , by George Frideric Handel, and On the Beautiful Blue Danube, by Johann Strauss Jr. The concert will showcase the talent of graduate students Yuichi Ura, Christopher Fashun, Jeremy Starr, and Andrea Molina, who had to go through an audition process of their own, consisting of written exams and conducting tryouts. “It is really complete involve- ment with music-making,” Jones said in describing his personal philosophy on conducting. “Conductors must be very well-versed in theory, history, and the style and peri- od of music they are directing.” Starr believes that it is “much like the role of theater director or dance choreogra- pher,” ultimately bringing the group together “on one expres- sive and technical plane.” For Starr, studying under the direction of Jones was almost fate — his father had previously attended the Con- ductors Workshop of America, led by Jones, who encouraged the younger Starr to study with him. “He impressed me with his precision and enthusiasm for people as much as the music,” Starr said. This enthusiasm has proven itself contagious; Starr has a bright outlook not only on the program but also on the par- ticipants who gain so much from the experience. He and his fellow students are focus- ing on matching, and even surpassing, the success of con- certs past, he said. “It should be a fun, enjoyable, and diverse concert,” Starr said. “We also hope [the audi- ence members] gain further appreciation of the extra time and efforts all of the students have devoted in preparation for the performance.” By JARRETT HOTHAN [email protected] Two international writers share their stories and a glimpse into their past at a free reading today at 5 p.m. in the Shambaugh House. Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike As the video camera flicked on to record the interview, mechanical clicks and buzzes whirring, the writer couldn’t help but crack a joke. “I hope I’m not wanted any- where,” Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike said. “I would hate for someone to see this video and know where I am.” Umezurike is a wanted man, though not for breaking the law. The Nigerian writer was invited to participate in the International Writing Program after his poetry and short fic- tion crept out of his home coun- try and into the writing world at large. He will read from a selection today. It started in 1996 with a book of Shakespearean sonnets, a collection that found its way into Umezurike’s hands at a young age and never really left. Busy exploring the possibilities that poetry provides, he didn’t take short fiction into consider- ation until only four years ago. “I was always more con- cerned with poetry,” he said. “It was easier for me to write in a very short and concise form. I could express my feelings and show how I felt about ideas, cir- cumstances, and happenings.” This is the basis of Umezurike’s writing, the docu- mentation of impression. A majority of his writing deals with his origins, especially the former capital of Nigera, Lagos. The dangerous traffic, the swarms of people, the intimidation of an urban jungle — the author uses his senses as his motives. After time spent with poetry and short prose, the author hopes to finally write a novel. He says he will leave Iowa City with a “skeleton” of what could become his first long- form narrative, planning to return next year with “flesh on the bones.” Time spent with the other authors in the pro- gram has also given him a new perspective to leave Iowa City with. “I’ve gained so much from the other poets,” Umezurike said. “The rhythm of their poet- ry and the motives and sym- bols. This is the first opportuni- ty I’ve had to meet so many writers from different countries with distinctive styles. It affirmed my belief of what I can do as a writer and other things I can explore.” Kim Gyeongmee As she speaks with quiet, calm voice, it’s obvious South Korean writer Kim Gyeongmee would prefer to let her writing do the talking. The award-winning poet, essayist, and scriptwriter has always used literature as a form of escapism from the darker side of things, and she will showcase her work at a reading today. “When I was young, my fami- ly was very unhappy because they didn’t get along with each other,” Kim said. “My family wasn’t poor, but they usually fought a lot with each other, and it made me unhappy and miserable. At the time, poets made me happy, and I liked reading very much.” As Kim started to write more, she received praise from her primary-school teachers about her work. It made sense at that point to become a writer, combining her lifetime joy with her new favorite practice. To make a living, Kim began writing for the JoongAng Daily newspa- per, a lifestyle filled with deadlines that allowed only a scant creative-writing sched- ule. “I was interested in novels, but I didn’t have much free time,” Kim said. “That’s why I write poetry.” With three volumes of poet- ry published, she has also cre- ated two collections of photo essays. She worked with established South Korean photographers and wrote essays about their snapshots. Subject matter of her own work travels the emotional spectrum; sometimes drawing on personal strife and hard- ships, other times highlighting the transcendent qualities of food and eating. Her inquisi- tive thought process is obvious, noting how what we eat and how the manner in which one eats can tell a lot about an indi- vidual. BECKY MNUK/THE DAILY IOWAN Graduate-student conductor Jeremy Starr rehearses with the Iowa Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra at West High on Thursday. Starr studies under William LaRue Jones. READING Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike and Kim Gyeongmee When: 5 p.m. today Where: Shambaugh House Admission: Free READING Mary Swander When: Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque Where: 7 p.m. today Admission: Free ON THE WEB Don’t miss the latest installment of video features on the International Writing Program participants at dailyiowan.com. ON THE WEB Check out exclusive video of the UI Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra rehearsing for its graduate-student-conducted per- formance on Oct. 19 at dailyiowan.com. Grad students take reins Classical music comes to life with the help of the UI Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra and graduate-student conductors. Restoration of a writer Writers’ Workshop alum Mary Swander will read from her memoirs today at Prairie Lights Books. The two books detail her recovery from life-changing medical ailments. Different voices coming together Arts&Culture dailyiowan.com for more arts and culture JOE SCOTT/THE DAILY IOWAN International Writing Program member Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike of Nigeria sits in his bedroom on Wednesday. Umezurike began writing poetry after reading a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
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Mary Swander reads from her books at Prairie Lights Bookstore
Transcript of Restoration of a writer
By ELIZABETH TIMMINSe-mail [email protected]
They work their respectivecorners of the Albuquerquestreet. On one corner, adobewalls encircle two bungalowsthat make up a monastery. Onthe other sits one of the oldestdrugstores in town. After a carcrash paralyzed Mary Swan-der, she visited this street,seeking the help of two localhealers: a monk and a curan-dera.
Tonight, Swander willdescribe this experience andothers as she reads from two ofher memoirs, Desert Pilgrimand Out of This World: A Jour-ney of Healing , at PrairieLights Books, 15 S. DubuqueSt., at 7 p.m.
The Iowa Writers’ Workshopalum has had a less-than-ordi-nary life. She is an Iowa StateUniversity professor, NationalPublic Radio commentator,banjo player, contributor to theEulenspiegel Puppet TheatreCompany, and neighbor to theAmish. She has recovered fromtwo major medical situationsthat catapulted her intoaward-winning memoir writ-ing.
In Out of This World: A Jour-ney of Healing , Swanderdescribes a severe food allergythat landed her in the isolationward of a hospital for a month.The allergy drasticallychanged her lifestyle, requir-ing the consumption of onlyorganic food. In the book, shediscusses her adaptationssince the discovery of her aller-gy, her life in a one-roomschoolhouse north of Kalona,and raising her own food.
The conversion of the one-room schoolhouse to a homewas a spontaneous decision forSwander but one she said shedoes not regret.
“It’s a complete culturalexperience,” she said. “TheAmish have a completely dif-ferent culture from ours. Whileall my friends have been globe-trotting around the world, liv-ing in this country and that,I’ve been living in anothercountry, too. As a neighbor, I’mreally, really privileged,because I have experiencedtheir culture in a deeper waythan probably most have inthe country.”
Before living in the Amishcommunity, Swander spent asemester teaching in NewMexico.
In Desert Pilgrim, she writesabout a debilitating car crashshe endured and her conse-quential search for alternativemedicine. As a result of theaccident, a lesion formed onher spinal chord and an infec-tion caused permanent neuro-
logical damage, a conditionsimilar to polio. Following doc-tor’s orders, Swander moved toa climate that might help hercondition. While teaching inNew Mexico, she yearned forthe assistance of local healers.Through the help of a student,Swander discovered a monkand a curandera, a Latinahealer. The memoir details herrecovery from the accident.
“It relieved a lot of pain,physical pain, spiritual pain,and set me off on a spiritualpilgrimage of my own,” Swan-der said. “It deepened my rela-tionship and my sense of thedivine in a really profoundway.”
Today the healers still workthe colorful corner, and Swan-der returns almost every year,seeking restoration.
The Daily Iowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 17, 2008 - 7A
Each week, the DI serves itsmission of being Iowa City’s hotspot for culture (which includesfashion) by bringing our fabulousreaders DI Trendspotter. Thisweek, the rain is falling, andwe’re there to block the splash.
When the weather turns wet andgloomy, all trends wash out with theexception of one. Just as brightumbrella domes ascend aboveevery head, students sport a splashof color on their feet as well: flashy,plastic rain boots in candy-neonpatterns. The footwear can’t helpbut make you feel like a grownup inelementary-school wear — the trendis pretty much directly inspired bykids leaping into puddles as theybound off the school bus. And notonly are these rain boots fun, theyjust make sense.
“They look cool and they’re prac-tical,” said sophomore Caitie
Kuempel, who was wearing her blueand brown leaf-patterned boots atthe Old Capitol Town Center.Kuempel got hers last year atTarget, which sells nearly 70 differ-ent varieties of its $25 rain boot.“They make a statement.”
Now, just pull on some stirrupleggings, and it will be just likekindergarten in 1992.
— by Claire Lekwa
PLASTIC RAIN BOOTS
TRENDSPOTTER
By REBECCA [email protected]
Conducting is a musical artform that has its roots plantedin the Middle Ages. Musiciansneeded some form of guidancethat would allow them to cometogether as one unit to produceremarkable, harmonioussounds. Since then, the role ofthe conductor has come to bemandatory, and with it comesscores of brilliant artists asessential as the orchestra itself.
And some graduate-studentconductors are learning first-hand just how important theirrole is.
The UI Philharmonia Cham-ber Orchestra is composedexclusively of undergraduatemusicians who audition for aplace in the ensemble.The Phil-harmonia performs two ormore concerts per semester,each led by graduate studentsunder the direction of WilliamLaRue Jones, the director oforchestral studies. The groupwill perform a free concert at
West High, 2901 Melrose Ave.,Oct. 19 at 8 p.m.
When it comes time to decidewhich musical pieces the stu-dents will immerse themselvesin, Jones makes his decisionswith the utmost care. Varietyand interest, in addition to themusical development of thestudents, play a key role in theselection process, he said. Themusical pieces often range fromthe Baroque period to contem-porary orchestral numbers.
“I want the students to gaininsight and knowledge of therepertoire they’re studying,showcasing it and bringing it tothe university community,”Jones added.
Pieces selected for the Oct. 19concert include “Crown
Imperial,” by William Walton,the intermezzo from Act III ofManon Lescaut, by GiacomoPuccini, two intermezzos fromThe Jewels of the Madonna, byErmanno Wolf-Ferrari, a suitefrom The Water Music, byGeorge Frideric Handel, andOn the Beautiful Blue Danube,by Johann Strauss Jr.
The concert will showcasethe talent of graduate studentsYuichi Ura, ChristopherFashun, Jeremy Starr, andAndrea Molina, who had to gothrough an audition process oftheir own, consisting of writtenexams and conducting tryouts.
“It is really complete involve-ment with music-making,”Jones said in describing hispersonal philosophy on
conducting. “Conductors mustbe very well-versed in theory,history, and the style and peri-od of music they are directing.”
Starr believes that it is“much like the role of theaterdirector or dance choreogra-pher,” ultimately bringing thegroup together “on one expres-sive and technical plane.”
For Starr, studying underthe direction of Jones wasalmost fate — his father hadpreviously attended the Con-ductors Workshop of America,led by Jones, who encouragedthe younger Starr to studywith him.
“He impressed me with hisprecision and enthusiasm forpeople as much as the music,”Starr said.
This enthusiasm has provenitself contagious; Starr has abright outlook not only on theprogram but also on the par-ticipants who gain so muchfrom the experience. He andhis fellow students are focus-ing on matching, and evensurpassing, the success of con-certs past, he said.
“It should be a fun, enjoyable,and diverse concert,” Starrsaid. “We also hope [the audi-ence members] gain furtherappreciation of the extra timeand efforts all of the studentshave devoted in preparation forthe performance.”
By JARRETT [email protected]
Two international writersshare their stories and aglimpse into their past at a freereading today at 5 p.m. in theShambaugh House.
UUcchheecchhuukkwwuu PPeetteerrUUmmeezzuurriikkee
As the video camera flickedon to record the interview,mechanical clicks and buzzeswhirring, the writer couldn’thelp but crack a joke.
“I hope I’m not wanted any-where,” Uchechukwu PeterUmezurike said. “I would hatefor someone to see this videoand know where I am.”
Umezurike is a wanted man,though not for breaking thelaw. The Nigerian writer wasinvited to participate in theInternational Writing Programafter his poetry and short fic-tion crept out of his home coun-try and into the writing worldat large. He will read from aselection today.
It started in 1996 with a bookof Shakespearean sonnets, acollection that found its wayinto Umezurike’s hands at ayoung age and never really left.Busy exploring the possibilitiesthat poetry provides, he didn’ttake short fiction into consider-ation until only four years ago.
“I was always more con-cerned with poetry,” he said. “Itwas easier for me to write in avery short and concise form. Icould express my feelings andshow how I felt about ideas, cir-cumstances, and happenings.”
This is the basis ofUmezurike’s writing, the docu-mentation of impression. Amajority of his writing deals withhis origins, especially the former
capital of Nigera, Lagos. Thedangerous traffic, the swarms ofpeople, the intimidation of anurban jungle — the author useshis senses as his motives.
After time spent with poetryand short prose, the authorhopes to finally write a novel.He says he will leave IowaCity with a “skeleton” of whatcould become his first long-form narrative, planning toreturn next year with “fleshon the bones.” Time spent withthe other authors in the pro-gram has also given him anew perspective to leave IowaCity with.
“I’ve gained so much fromthe other poets,” Umezurikesaid. “The rhythm of their poet-ry and the motives and sym-bols. This is the first opportuni-ty I’ve had to meet so manywriters from different countrieswith distinctive styles. Itaffirmed my belief of what I cando as a writer and other thingsI can explore.”
KKiimm GGyyeeoonnggmmeeeeAs she speaks with quiet, calm
voice, it’s obvious South Koreanwriter Kim Gyeongmee wouldprefer to let her writing do thetalking.The award-winning poet,essayist, and scriptwriter hasalways used literature as a formof escapism from the darker sideof things, and she will showcaseher work at a reading today.
“When I was young, my fami-ly was very unhappy becausethey didn’t get along with eachother,” Kim said. “My familywasn’t poor, but they usuallyfought a lot with each other,and it made me unhappy andmiserable. At the time, poetsmade me happy, and I likedreading very much.”
As Kim started to writemore, she received praisefrom her primary-schoolteachers about her work. Itmade sense at that point tobecome a writer, combiningher lifetime joy with her newfavorite practice. To make a
living, Kim began writing forthe JoongAng Daily newspa-per, a lifestyle filled withdeadlines that allowed only ascant creative-writing sched-ule.
“I was interested in novels,but I didn’t have much freetime,” Kim said. “That’s why Iwrite poetry.”
With three volumes of poet-ry published, she has also cre-ated two collections of photoessays. She worked withestablished South Koreanphotographers and wroteessays about their snapshots.
Subject matter of her ownwork travels the emotionalspectrum; sometimes drawingon personal strife and hard-ships, other times highlightingthe transcendent qualities offood and eating. Her inquisi-tive thought process is obvious,noting how what we eat andhow the manner in which oneeats can tell a lot about an indi-vidual.
BECKY MNUK/THE DAILY IOWANGraduate-student conductor Jeremy Starr rehearses with the IowaPhilharmonia Chamber Orchestra at West High on Thursday. Starr studiesunder William LaRue Jones.
READINGUchechukwu PeterUmezurike and Kim
GyeongmeeWhen: 5 p.m. today
Where: Shambaugh HouseAdmission: Free
READINGMary Swander
When: Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque
Where: 7 p.m. today Admission: Free
ON THE WEBDon’t miss the latest installmentof video features on theInternational Writing Programparticipants at dailyiowan.com.
ON THE WEBCheck out exclusive video of theUI Philharmonia ChamberOrchestra rehearsing for itsgraduate-student-conducted per-
formance on Oct. 19 at dailyiowan.com.
Grad students take reinsClassical musiccomes to life withthe help of the UIPhilharmoniaChamberOrchestra andgraduate-studentconductors.
Restorationof a writerWriters’ Workshop alum Mary Swanderwill read from her memoirs today atPrairie Lights Books. The two booksdetail her recovery from life-changingmedical ailments. Different voices coming together
Arts&Cultureddaaiillyyiioowwaann..ccoomm for more arts and culture
JOE SCOTT/THE DAILY IOWANInternational Writing Program member Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike ofNigeria sits in his bedroom on Wednesday. Umezurike began writing poetryafter reading a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
