Artwork related to W. D. Snodgrass

Collection

Identifier: GRA 0120

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection of artwork by American painter and poet DeLoss McGraw comprises ten pieces of original artwork reflecting the artist's collaboration with, creative responses to, and inspiration drawn from the works of American poet W. D. (William De Witt) Snodgrass.

McGraw first encountered Snodgrass's poetry in 1976; McGraw began a correspondence with Snodgrass when he sent the poet examples of his work inspired by Snodgrass's poetry. Their collaborative relationship flourished, and McGraw continued to draw inspiration from Snodgrass's verse. McGraw's paintings have been reproduced alongside Snodgrass's poems in volumes such as The Kinder Capers: Poems (1986),W. D.'s Midnight Carnival (1988), andThe Death of Cock Robin (1989).

Included are three framed collages, six framed gouache paintings, and one unframed gouache painting. The unframed painting "Mr. Evil" is an oversize gouache painting on paper embellished with decorative papers cut in the form of a wolf-like creature with outstretched arms.

Dates

Creation: circa 1986-1998

Creator

McGraw, DeLoss (Person)
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

DeLoss McGraw

Painter and poet DeLoss McGraw (born 1945) is known for incorporating literary texts into his artwork, which has resulted in collaborations between the artist and various authors, most notably American poet W. D. Snodgrass. McGraw's works draws upon influences from folk art.

SOURCES:

"DeLoss McGraw." I. Wolk Gallery. http://www.iwolkgallery.com/galleries/artists/deloss_mcgraw.php (Accessed November 1, 2013)

W. D. Snodgrass

Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet W. D. (William De Witt) Snodgrass (1926-2009) published over 30 volumes of poetry, criticism, and translations. Snodgrass was one of the early practitioners of the confessional style in American poetry with his first volume Heart’s Needle (1959), which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1960.

Snodgrass held faculty positions at several universities, including the University of Delaware, where he was Distinguished Professor of creative writing and contemporary literature from 1980 to 1994.