Sara J. Pinkham – Main Library Gallery news

Cecil Campbell joins Main Library Gallery team

The University Libraries is excited to welcome Cecil Campbell as the first exhibition and engagement student lead for the Main Library Gallery. This new student position was created to be a key member of the gallery’s team. Cecil will assist with a little bit of everything, including exhibition preparation and installation, campus and community outreach,Continue reading “Cecil Campbell joins Main Library Gallery team”

Bringing exhibitions to life: behind the scenes of ‘A Roll of the Dice’ with designer Lauren Coghlan

A portrait of Lauren Coghlan. She is a blonde white woman with glasses and is wearing a green shirt. Her left hand is at her cheek as she props her left elbow on a work table. She is smiling and looking at the camera. In the background is an art poster asking "are we there yet?"

By Sara J. Pinkham and Krista Hershberger As the creative coordinator for the University of Iowa Libraries, Lauren Coghlan manages visual design across all seven libraries, creating everything from print materials to signage. As an artist, Lauren is always especially excited about one of the more unique challenges of the job: creating the look andContinue reading “Bringing exhibitions to life: behind the scenes of ‘A Roll of the Dice’ with designer Lauren Coghlan “

Main Library Gallery seeking 2027–2028 exhibit proposals

A woman with long blonde hair measures the area between two informational text panels on a white wall inside a gallery.

The Main Library Gallery at the University of Iowa Libraries is now seeking exhibition proposals for spring 2027, fall 2027, spring 2028, and fall 2028. Iowa faculty and staff from all areas of expertise are invited to submit initial statements of interest for consideration during round one of the selection process through April 7, 2025.Continue reading “Main Library Gallery seeking 2027–2028 exhibit proposals”

A Roll of the Dice: new Main Library Gallery exhibit explores one poem’s worldwide influence

Curator Rich Dana stands in the middle of an art gallery filled with book arts and a plexiglass art piece hanging from the ceiling.

The Main Library Gallery’s spring 2025 exhibition, A Roll of the Dice: Symbolism in the Sackner Archive, highlights a series of captivating artworks from the Ruth and Marvin Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry. From laser-etched plexiglass panels hanging from the ceiling to a knit sweater with real dice for buttons, the artworks coverContinue reading “A Roll of the Dice: new Main Library Gallery exhibit explores one poem’s worldwide influence”

‘Making the Book’ virtual tour: discover book art and history from anywhere

A spacious gallery with two white portable walls in the center, connected. The face of the walls gives the exhibit title of Making the Book, Past and Present in black vinyl.

The spring 2024 Main Library Gallery exhibition, Making the Book, Past and Present, is an experience featuring global book art and rare books from Special Collections and Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries. Classes and community visitors have enjoyed visiting in person this semester, and now the exhibit is available to view online. ClickContinue reading “‘Making the Book’ virtual tour: discover book art and history from anywhere”

What we share with the past: a Q&A with ‘Making the Book’ exhibition curators Emily Martin and Eric Ensley

Two people, the exhibit curators, stand in front of a sign that says Making the Book Past and Present, curated by Eric Ensley and Emily Martin, 2024. Emily is a 70-something artist with short gray hair and wears black glasses and a black shirt. Eric is a 30-something librarian with short brown hair and wears a teal sweater. They are both smiling.

by Sara J. Pinkham Books have the extraordinary power to turn their stewards into time travelers. A roughly sewn leather cover on a medieval book or a centuries-old doodle can reveal a lot about a book’s owner and its use. Minuscule notes scribbled in the margins of a plague-year calendar can hold weightier sway overContinue reading “What we share with the past: a Q&A with ‘Making the Book’ exhibition curators Emily Martin and Eric Ensley”

Hey, Buddy: check out this virtual tour

An older man with a white beard and friendly smile sits behind a coffee pot. A sign on the pot says "Coffee 25 cents per cup."

The Main Library Gallery’s fall 2023 exhibition, Hey Buddy, I’m Bill, is now available to explore online. Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content The tour features 360° photos of the Main Library Gallery, which allow the viewer to move from area to area. The text panels and the items onContinue reading “Hey, Buddy: check out this virtual tour”

Spring Main Library Gallery exhibit highlights book history

A medieval text in Latin in handwritten gothic calligraphy.

A new exhibition in the Main Library Gallery this spring showcases a global selection of rare historic books and modern book art. Making the Book, Past and Present explores the intersections of history, art, and practicality through items from Special Collections & Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries. The exhibition asks what we canContinue reading “Spring Main Library Gallery exhibit highlights book history”

‘Hey Buddy, I’m Bill’: new Main Library Gallery exhibit celebrates a local legend

Bill sits in his coffee shop at a table with a cup of coffee. He wears an engineer's cap and suspenders.

By Sara J. Pinkham, exhibition and engagement coordinator, Main Library Gallery The fall 2023 Main Library Gallery exhibition, Hey Buddy, I’m Bill, shares the story of Bill Sackter, an Iowa City legend and advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. Curated by Jen Knights, marketing and communications manager for Performing Arts at Iowa in the CollegeContinue reading “‘Hey Buddy, I’m Bill’: new Main Library Gallery exhibit celebrates a local legend”

Curator Q&A with Jen Knights and Brad Ferrier

By Sara J. Pinkham, exhibition and engagement coordinator, Main Library Gallery The story of Bill Sackter is familiar to many who have lived in Iowa City for a long time. Perhaps some will remember buying a cup of coffee from him at Wild Bill’s Coffee Shop in North Hall in the University of Iowa SchoolContinue reading “Curator Q&A with Jen Knights and Brad Ferrier”