Paula Rego: Jane Eyre Lithographs
March 4 – May 23

(MILWAUKEE, WI) The Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University will present Paula Rego: Jane Eyre Lithographs March 4 – May 23, 2004. The exhibition features a series of 25 new lithographs based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë. The exhibition will open with the lecture "Telling Stories: The Art of Paula Rego," by Gillian Forrester, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Yale Center for British Art. The lecture is at the Haggerty Museum Thursday, March 4 at 6 p.m. A reception will follow at 7 p.m. in the Museum.

Rego’s art focuses on the experiences of women and their relationships with others. She draws inspiration for her work from books, films, legends and fairytales. The prints in the Haggerty exhibition are grouped into five series: "Getting Ready for the Ball," a triptych nearly two meters long; "Sensuality of the Stone," seven delicate but vigorous stone lithographs; "The Guardians," a group of nine larger single figures; "Poetry and Story," six narrative images related to the story; and "The Fearfulness of the Night," a diptych of dark images as Jane goes into the night.

"Because of its rich literary base in the writings of Charlotte Brontë, Rego’s works invite the attention of visual arts and literary audiences," said Dr. Curtis L. Carter, director of the Haggerty Museum of Art.

The Jane Eyre series was the result of an invitation to Rego by Stanley Jines of the Curwen Press near Cambridge, England. There, the artist was exposed to different lithographic techniques. The series employs various artistic techniques including drawing on stone, film, and transfer paper. The exhibition comes to the Museum from Marlborough Galleries in New York. Prior to that it was exhibited at Yale University Museum.

Rego uses paint and printmaking techniques and also collage in her work. However, drawing is the basis of her art as she makes numerous sketches before embarking on the ultimate piece. During the past seven years, she has favored the use of pastels in her works. Recent exhibitions of Rego’s work have been held in London, Madrid and Lisbon. Paula Rego was born in Lisbon in 1935. She studied at the Slade School in London and has lived there since 1976. An only child, Rego used drawing as a companion during her early years, building on her imagination to express her moods and observations.

In conjunction with the exhibition the Haggerty Museum will host Rego, Rhys and Bronte: Scenes and Monologues from "Jane Eyre" and "Wide Sargasso Sea" Tuesday, March 30 at 7 p.m. at the Museum. This performance features Terry Tuttle and David Ferrie and is directed by Maureen Kilmurry of Marquette University’s Department of Performing Arts.

The Haggerty Museum and the Marquette University English Department will sponsor a poetry reading by Chris Forhan, Assistant Professor of English at Auburn University Monday March 29th at 3:30 p.m. at the Museum. Forhan has published two full length collections and is the recipient of the Katherine Bakeless Nason, Samuel French Morse and Pushcart prizes. These events are free and open to the public.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Stackner Family Foundation.

The Haggerty Museum of Art is located at North 13th St. and West Clybourn Avenue on the campus of Marquette University. Museum hours are Monday - Wednesday, Friday - Saturday, 10 am-4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 am-8 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.. Free parking is available in the Mary B. Finnigan Parking Lot (enter on 11th St. through Marquette Lot J). For more information on the exhibition or the Haggerty Museum, call 414/288-1669.