“The composition of the poems was guided by a single principle:  A poem about a work of art should affect the way that art is viewed, just as the artwork informs the poem.  The relationship is symbiotic.  I like to think that anyone viewing the Grant Wood mural or ‘Left-Sided Angel’ after reading my poems about them will see those works through the lens of the poems.  Conversely, the poems depend on the artwork for any full understanding of their meaning.” –Neal Bowers

As part of the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums has commissioned a diverse array of poetry by Iowa writers. Through various poetic forms and styles, these poems invite readers to contemplate and appreciate the beauty and complexity of language, while sparking new perspectives and connections within the vibrant campus community. If you wish to learn more about the works of public art featured in these poems or learn where they are located on campus, please click the links below for the University Museums’ eMuseum digital database and digital map.

eMuseum Database- https://emuseum.its.iastate.edu/collections

Art on Campus Digital Map- https://isugisf.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=0d5d698e522845bca81f5f53f1338ae5