Release Date: September 21, 2006

National Gallery of Art's Shops Offer Exclusive merchandise for "Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris" Exhibition

Washington, DC—The National Gallery of Art Shops feature an eclectic collection of items to complement the Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris exhibition, on view through October 15, 2006. The special exhibition shop, located on the concourse level of the East Building, offers jewelry designed exclusively for the National Gallery, with vibrant colors and textures reminiscent of the well-known Rousseau jungle scenes; various paper products such as journals, posters, a note card set, and wall calendars in various formats; and a "Jungles in Music" CD that features compositions by Claude Debussy, Franz Liszt, Camille Saint-Saëns, and others. The "Jungles in Paris" DVD, produced by the National Gallery of Art and narrated by award-winning actor Kevin Kline, examines the life and career of the artist.

Children's Items

Children will enjoy the plush stuffed animals based on Rousseau's jungle paintings, including cuddly gorillas, tigers, lions, and monkeys of all sizes. All are available in the East Building Exhibition Shop and the Children's Shop on the concourse level. A DVD and VHS entitled "Dropping in on Rousseau" uses both animation and art images to engage a younger audience; a booklet of art tattoos and a 500-piece puzzle are designed to entertain children of all ages. Educational and humorous children's books on the artist include Hello Rousseau! by Catherine de Duve, and Henri Rousseau's Jungle Book by Doris Kutschback.

Art on Demand

For the first time, visitors to the National Gallery can order reproductions using "Art on Demand," a touch-screen kiosk that allows customers to choose from 17 images of Rousseau's works in the exhibit and customize their selection. The prints are available in three sizes, can be framed (in black or antique gold) or unframed, and are delivered to the customer's home in just three weeks. Reproductions include Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!), The Football Players, The Flamingos, Carnival Evening, A Centennial of Independence, Jungle with Setting Sun, The Dream, and others. Reproductions are on high-density, acid-free paper and have been tested for 75-year durability. The prints are available for purchase exclusively while the exhibition is on view through October 15.

Specialty Items

The Rousseau Exhibition Shop also offers silk scarves and handbags with animal print motifs that evoke the seductive feel of Rousseau's fantasy jungles. Custom tote bags, silk ties with rich colors, watches with Rousseau-inspired faces, and a pin featuring the couple from Carnival Evening are available as well.

Exhibition Catalogue and Books

Published by Harry N. Abrams, the detailed 224-page catalogue includes 100 brilliant color and 45 black-and-white pages. Essays offer a comprehensive overview of Rousseau's career and insights into the sources that inspired his work. The catalogue also includes previously unpublished reproductions of his sources alongside his paintings. It is available in softcover for $29.95. To order, call 1-(800)-697-9350 or (202) 842-6002; fax (202) 789-3047; or e-mail mailorder@nga.gov.

Detailed books on Rousseau's life and career include Interpreting Henri Rousseau, Innocent Eye, and Carnival Evening: New and Selected Poems, among many others.

General Information

The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov. The Gallery is now on Facebook—become a fan at www.facebook.com/NationalGalleryofArt.

Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering the East and West Buildings. Checkrooms are free of charge and located at each entrance. Luggage and other oversized bags must be presented at the 4th Street entrances to the East or West Building to permit x-ray screening and must be deposited in the checkrooms at those entrances. For the safety of visitors and the works of art, nothing may be carried into the Gallery on a visitor's back. Any bag or other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in some other manner must be left in the checkrooms. Items larger than 17 x 26 inches cannot be accepted by the Gallery or its checkrooms.

For additional press information please call or send inquiries to:

Press Office
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785
phone: (202) 842-6353 e-mail: pressinfo@nga.gov

Deborah Ziska
Chief of Press and Public Information
(202) 842-6353
ds-ziska@nga.gov

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