2012 Between the Lines

This year marked the debut of BTL Russia, in which Russian and American students came together to experience the literary culture of Iowa City while stretching their own writing and reading muscles in new ways. In addition, they went on field trips to the Quad Cities as well as to a working farm, where they enjoyed a hayride and a dinner with dishes from both Russia and the US. Our fifth BTL Arabic session welcomed students from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Palestinian Territories (Gaza and West Bank) along with students from the US and Canada. Some of their activities included trips to Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, where they participated in an Iftar meal held at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids. We did our best to make it a great experience for all involved!

 

IWP 2010 alum Chandrahas Choudhury discusses writing from his home in India. BTL Russia instructor Alan Cherchesov (IWP '11, Russia) checks on students' work.
BTL Russian instructor Camille T. Dungy reads at Prairie Lights. Dinner at ZJ Farm in Solon, Iowa.
On the track at Michael's Fun World in Davenport, Iowa. The official BTL Russia mascot: Cheburashka.
BTL Russia's first class. Front, L to R: Tatiana Siatchikhina, Hannah Meshulam, Jacob Oet, Danila Trofimov, Alexander Gubarev. Back, L to R: Annie Rydland, Leonid Kuzmenko, Alexandra Samarina, Margaret Shultz, Darya Kotova, Sofiko Labzhaniya, Yuliya Taransenkova (chaperone), Margarita Shcheglova, Patricia Kelly, Rhowen Dalrymple, Anastasia Dyachenko, Elena Kudryavkina. BTL Arabic students learn about playwriting from guest instructor Kim Euell.
Striking a pose at the Devonian Fossil Gorge, Coralville, Iowa. BTL Arabic instructors Marcus Jackson and Iman Humaydan (IWP '11, Lebanon) smile for the camera.
Sharing impressions with poet Rae Bryant. Paddling at Lake Macbride, Solon, Iowa.
Mingling with art at the Sculpture Garden, Des Moines, Iowa. The BTL Arabic class of 2012. 1st row, L to R: Fawzi Zghyer (West Bank), Youssef Smaoui (Tunisia), Mohammed Albaz (Gaza), Tarpley Hitt (United States), Isobel McHattie (Canada). 2nd row, L to R: Ali Alawi (Bahrain), Faris Zubari (Bahrain), Ikram Gagaoua (Algeria), Hiba Kahouli (Tunisia), Alyssa Cokinis (United States), Salma Ammar (Egypt). Back row, L to R: Kecia Lynn (coordinator), Imane Kasraoui (Morocco), Audrey Cleaver-Bartholomew (United States), Billie Flaming (United States), Amira Ali Bouaouina (Algeria), Lucy Heller (United States), Rawan Yaghi (Gaza), Chourouq Nasri (Morocco; chaperone), Lahoucine Oumansour (Morocco), Bill Aossey (president, MIDAMAR Corporation), Newman Abuissa (chair, Council for International Visitors to Iowa City).

Happening Now

  • In addition to becoming the Berlin LitFest’s first curator-in-residence, Helon Habila has also just received Kaduna Books and Art Festival’s KabaFest Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his "exceptional writing and significant contributions to the development of literature globally."

  • Congratulations to Enah Johnscott, whose film Half Heaven won three awards at the Cameroon International Film Festival—best film, best director, and best cinematographer.

  • We regret the passing, on April 11, 2024, of the distinguished Romanian author and critic Dan Cristea, who served as the editor in chief of the Luceafărul de Dimineață cultural monthly. In addition to being an alum of the 1985 Fall Residency, Cristea received his PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Iowa.

  • Our congratulations to 1986 Fall Residency writer Kwame Dawes, who has been named the new poet laureate of Jamaica.

  • Congratulations to our colleagues Jennifer Croft and Aron Aji, who are among those serving as judges for the National Book Awards this year, in their case in the category of translated literature.

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