Lawrence Weschler
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Weschler is an author of works of creative nonfiction
.
A graduate of Cowell College of the University of California, Santa Cruz
(1974), Weschler was for over twenty years (1981–2002) a staff writer at The New Yorker
, where his work shuttled between political tragedies and cultural comedies. He is a two-time winner of the George Polk Awards—for Cultural Reporting in 1988 and Magazine Reporting in 1992—and was also a recipient of Lannan Literary Award (1998). Beginning in 1999, his "Convergences" essays appeared regularly in McSweeney's Quarterly
; a collection of these essays, Everything That Rises: A Book of Convergences, was published in 2006 and received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism.
Since 2001, Weschler has been the director of the New York Institute for the Humanities
at New York University
. He taught throughout the 1990s at Sarah Lawrence College
in New York
.
In 2003, Weschler organized and edited a pilot issue of Omnivore, a prospective periodical described by Steven Heller
as a "biannual (but hoping to be quarterly) magazine of writing and visual culture
from The New York Institute of the Humanities at New York University
." As of 2007, no subsequent issues of Omnivore have been published.
In February 2006, Weschler took on the position of artistic director for the Chicago Humanities Festival
.
Weschler is the grandson of the composer Ernst Toch
and the brother of the women's-health author Toni Weschler
. His wife Joanna Weschler is a human rights' activist.
With his work Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder, Weschler was a finalist in the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
Creative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction is a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contrasts with other nonfiction, such as technical writing or journalism, which is also rooted in accurate fact, but is not primarily written in service...
.
A graduate of Cowell College of the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
(1974), Weschler was for over twenty years (1981–2002) a staff writer at The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, where his work shuttled between political tragedies and cultural comedies. He is a two-time winner of the George Polk Awards—for Cultural Reporting in 1988 and Magazine Reporting in 1992—and was also a recipient of Lannan Literary Award (1998). Beginning in 1999, his "Convergences" essays appeared regularly in McSweeney's Quarterly
Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern
Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern is a literary journal, first published in 1998, edited by Dave Eggers. The first issue featured only works rejected by other magazines, but thereafter the journal began to include pieces written with McSweeney's in mind. McSweeney’s has since published works by...
; a collection of these essays, Everything That Rises: A Book of Convergences, was published in 2006 and received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism.
Since 2001, Weschler has been the director of the New York Institute for the Humanities
New York Institute for the Humanities
The New York Institute for the Humanities is an academic organisation affiliated with New York University, founded by Richard Sennett in 1976 to promote the exchange of ideas between academics, professionals and the general public. The NYIH regularly holds seminars open to the public, as well as...
at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He taught throughout the 1990s at Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
In 2003, Weschler organized and edited a pilot issue of Omnivore, a prospective periodical described by Steven Heller
Steven Heller (graphic design)
Steven Heller is an American art director, journalist, critic, author, and editor who specializes on topics related to graphic design....
as a "biannual (but hoping to be quarterly) magazine of writing and visual culture
Visual culture
Visual Culture as an academic subject is a field of study that generally includes some combination of cultural studies, art history, critical theory, philosophy, and anthropology, by focusing on aspects of culture that rely on visual images.- Overview :...
from The New York Institute of the Humanities at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
." As of 2007, no subsequent issues of Omnivore have been published.
In February 2006, Weschler took on the position of artistic director for the Chicago Humanities Festival
Chicago Humanities Festival
The Chicago Humanities Festival is a foundation which organizes an annual series of lectures, concerts, and films in Chicago. The main festival takes place in the first and second weeks of November. The festival was started in 1990 by the Illinois Humanities Council and became an independent...
.
Weschler is the grandson of the composer Ernst Toch
Ernst Toch
Ernst Toch was a composer of classical music and film scores.- Biography :Toch, born in Leopoldstadt, Vienna, into the family of a humble Jewish leather dealer when the city was at its 19th-century cultural zenith, sought throughout his life to introduce new approaches to music...
and the brother of the women's-health author Toni Weschler
Toni Weschler
Toni Weschler is the author of the bestselling book on women's health and fertility, Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health as well as the new "Cycle Savvy: The Smart Teen's Guide to the Mysteries of Her Body...
. His wife Joanna Weschler is a human rights' activist.
With his work Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder, Weschler was a finalist in the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
Articles
- "The Talk of the Town: Notes and Comment" The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
60/49 (21 January 1985): 21-22. Talk piece on disarmament. - "The Talk of the Town: Notes and Comment" The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
60/52 (11 February 1985): 27-28. Talk piece on Polish political situation. - "The Paralyzed Cyclops: Mediating a Vivid, Decades-Long Argument between Two Giants of Contemporary Art" The BelieverThe Believer (magazine)The Believer is a United States literary magazine that also covers other arts and general culture. Founded and designed in 2003 by the writer and publisher Dave Eggers, it is edited by Vendela Vida, Heidi Julavits and Ed Park...
6/9 [58] (November/December 2008): 23-25. Robert Irwin & David Hockney.