Cedar Rapids, Iowa-The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (CRMA) is excited to present the work of illustrator Mary GrandPré in the special exhibition Mary GrandPré: Harry Potter and Beyond through January 1, 09

Continuing its long and rich tradition of presenting children's book illustration as an art form, the CRMA presents the work of Mary GrandPré. A children's book illustrator for more than 20 years, GrandPré hails originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. Illustrator of several children's titles, GrandPré is perhaps best known for her illustrations of the American version of J. K. Rowling's series of Harry Potter books. The Cedar Rapids exhibition will be her first in many years and will feature works from all aspects of her career: children's books, Harry Potter books, magazine covers, and poster design. Mary GrandPré: Harry Potter and Beyond is sure to appeal to all audiences and reveals the extraordinary talents of this multi-faceted artist.

Although GrandPré studied art at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, she has been working with pastels, chalk-like sticks of powdered pigment, since a she was a child. "I actually started with big, soft sticks of charcoal, but I've done pastels since I was five years old and was given some as a gift. Even as a kid I liked the immediate contact I had, getting involved physically with the pastel. It's an extension of my hand."

She began illustrating children's books in the early 1980s and is always careful when creating illustrations for a story: "My responsibility is to honor the author and the story. I don't try to show everything. I tell a story through my art, but I don't give away the punch line."

In addition to her work in the field of children's books, illustrating such titles as The House of Wisdom (1999), The Sea Chest (2002) and Sweep Dreams (2005), GrandPré has also provided illustrations for several books for adults, and the covers to many magazines, including Business Week, Atlantic Monthly, and Time Magazine. The Harry Potter series was a surprise hit. In 1997, Scholastic Books art director David Saylor approached her to illustrate the first volume. "To me it was just another job," she remembers, "I was so busy I almost turned it down. But David insisted I read the manuscript. I did, and fell in love with the characters. I got emotionally caught up in them. The rest is history."

The artist currently lives in Sarasota, Florida, where she shares a studio with her husband, artist Tom Casmer, who is the chair of the illustration department at the Ringling College of Art and Design, and their daughter Julia.

In conjunction with this special exhibition, the CRMA will host several events for families:

• Harry Potter Day at the CRMA

December 13, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

You may just wish to keep your costume on hand to celebrate "Harry Potter Day at the CRMA" on Saturday, December 13! We invite everyone to come dressed as his or her favorite Harry Potter character. There will be Harry Potter trivia and art-making activities, so mark your calendar today, so you won't miss the magic!

• Story Time at the CRMA

November 7, 21; December 5, 19; January 2, 16, 30; 10:30 a.m.

The Cedar Rapids Public Library will conduct a story time reading and related art making activity on a series of Fridays throughout the run of the Mary GrandPré exhibition.

For more information about this exhibition and our upcoming events, please visit www.crma.org or call 319.366.7503. And don't forget, visitors aged 18 and under and Museum Members always receive FREE admission! General admission for adults is $5 and seniors/college students (with ID) are $4. The CRMA offers free admission for everyone from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

410 Third Avenue SE

Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401

319.366.7503

khellige@crma.org

-This exhibition has been made possible through the generous support of GreatAmerica Leasing Corporation*, Lil' Drug Store Products*, Linn County Rural Electric Cooperative, Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO), Intermec Foundation, Nordstrom Direct, International Paper Cedar River Mill, and Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, P.L.C.

*Funds of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.