Louise Steinman

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Teaching "The Souvenir" This past spring, at Lane Community College in Eugene, OR, a community joined together to read and discuss "The Souvenir" as it relates to issues of war reconciliation on many levels. Art teacher Kathleen Caprario focused her art classes around "The Souvenir" and Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried." Her students designed posters based on these works which were displayed on Eugene city busses. April 19, 2008 To whom it may concern: Louise Steinman’s book, “The Souvenir: A Daughter Discovers her Father’s War,” is a remarkable effort not only for its notable literary merit but also for its ability to convey a sense of time and history and to connect with the reader’s own experiences. It is that ability, that connection, that makes Steinman’s book a natural choice for an interdisciplinary curricula at the community college or high school level. This academic year, I am using “The Souvenir…” as part of my Basic Design: Foundations ART 115 and Basic Design: Color ART 116 curricula with much success. Steinman writes visually and expressively in a way that my students have positively responded and related to as they designed their own interpretations of selected passages from “The Souvenir…” Their compositions take the form of text/images interfaces, i.e., posters that are then reproduced and placed throughout our local bus system—an “art on the bus” opportunity—that has gained in popularity as it promotes both the chosen author and the college’s art program. Placing Steinman’s book in an interdisciplinary, academic setting is perfect; even though the war she describes is from the time of the traditional student’s grandparent’s age, current events make the topic of conflict and resolution salient and very real for those young adults. They are not just interested, but hungry to relate to and read about the past as they struggle to make sense out of the present and the future that will someday be their history. This book is relevant, challenging and very human in its approach and can be integrated easily into a studio arts, language arts, history, philosophy, etc. curricula. Thank you. Sincerely, Kathleen Caprario, Instructor Art Department Lane Community College 4000 Est 30th Avenue Eugene, OR 97405

Events ALOUD at Central Library Tues, July 22, 2008 Rick Loomis: Photographer on the Battlefield in conversation with Louise Steinman, curator ALOUD reservations: www.aloudla.org

Selected Works 1. Non-fiction THE SOUVENIR: A DAUGHTER DISCOVERS HER FATHER’S WAR In 1945, an American G.I. mailed home a Japanese flag. Fifty years later, his daughter unfolds the past. 2. Essays on performance THE KNOWING BODY: THE ARTIST AS STORYTELLER IN CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE “…a dazzling and deeply impressive study of the performing arts.” -Jonathan Kirsch, The Los Angeles Times Quick Links Read an author interview about THE SOUVENIR on North Atlantic Books website Los Angeles Times Nov 11, 2007 "Louise Steinman: Talking about L.A." Eugene Reads Together '07/08 city-wide reading program Silicon Valley Reads 2006-07 ALOUD at Central Library series Adopt-a-Village in Guatemala I've volunteered with this terrific grassroots organization aiding the Maya in northwest Guatemala. I highly recommended their work. E-mail me

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