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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2008

Almost Alice: New Illustrations of Wonderland by Maggie Taylor opens July 15 at the Harn

GAINESVILLE, Fla. –— A provocative new interpretation of a classic tale will be presented at the Harn Museum of Art when Almost Alice: New Illustrations of Wonderland by Maggie Taylor opens July 15. The exhibition will feature 45 digital inkjet prints illustrating Lewis Carroll’s famous work “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

The prints on display are innovative in both content and technique. They are composite images that usually begin with an original photographic portrait—often a daguerreotype or tintype from the mid-19th century. The artist then uses 21st century digital processes and Photoshop montage techniques to layer multiple images to create the final prints, which are simultaneously historic and contemporary. Taylor’s radical manipulation of her source images but retention of photographic realism results in an ironic visual surrealism that perfectly complements the verbal wit and irony of Carroll’s writing.

Additionally, University of Florida Library’s Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature is lending a number of books, some almost 150 years old, that are related to Carroll’s novel. The books will be on display in the exhibition and in the Harn’s Bishop Study Center.

Maggie Taylor lives in Gainesville and has a MFA in photography from the University of Florida. She is one of the most innovative and respected artists working in digital imagery. Her work is in the collections of numerous museums including The Art Museum, Princeton University; The Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University; Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, California; and The Museum of Photography, Seoul.

“Taylor’s surreal vision is ideally suited to depicting the fantasy world created by Carroll and is sure to challenge, delight and sometimes even disturb viewers both young and old who might have thought they knew Carroll's classic story,” said Tom Southall, curator of photography.

Almost Alice: New Illustrations of Wonderland by Maggie Taylor will be on display until Oct. 19. Following its debut at the Harn Museum, the exhibition will travel nationally. A new edition of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” featuring Taylor’s illustrations will be released in early August by Modern Books.

Related events include a gallery talk by Tom Southall on Sunday, July 20 at 3 p.m. and a lecture and book signing by the artist on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 3 p.m. with a high tea reception following. Seating will be limited. Visitors to Family Day on Saturday, July 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. will explore and create pop-up books after touring the exhibition.

Almost Alice: New Illustrations of Wonderland is made possible by a gift from a generous donor with additional support provided by the Londono Family Endowment.

Admission to the Harn Museum of Art is free. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.

Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
The Harn Museum of Art at SW 34th St. and Hull Rd. is one of the largest university art museums in the country with nearly 7,000 works in its collection focusing on African, Asian, modern and contemporary art and photography. The museum enhances the activities of the University of Florida and serves a culturally diverse audience through educational programming. Admission is free. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free on weekends. The Camellia Court Café is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum and café are open until 9 p.m. Thursdays for Museum Nights during the UF Academic calendar due to the generous support of UF Student Government. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu

Media contact:
Tami Wroath, Interim Director of Marketing and Public Relations
352.392.9826 x116
twroath@harn.ufl.edu