Major exhibition opening in 2025 explores romance novels and their cultural impact

Curated by Associate Professor of Communication and Cinema Robert Lemieux, "Romancing the Novel" features original cover art, manuscripts, publicity materials, genre history, and fan artwork. The exhibition runs Monday, Jan. 6-Friday, March 7, with a public reception on Thursday, Feb. 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Henriette by James Griffin — "Romancing the Novel" features original cover art, manuscripts, publicity materials, genre history, and fan artwork. Pictured is "Henriette," oil, 36" x 22" by James Griffin.

"Though This Be Madness," digital painting on paper, 36" x 24" by James Griffin

McDaniel College hosts “Romancing the Novel,” a major exhibition exploring romance novels and their cultural impact.

Featuring original cover art, including paintings by James Griffin, Frank Kalan, and Gregg Gulbronson, manuscripts, publicity materials, genre history, and fan artwork, "Romancing the Novel" is curated by Robert Lemieux, associate professor of Communication and Cinema at McDaniel.

The exhibition is in association with McDaniel’s Nora Roberts American Romance Collection, Bowling Green State University’s Browne Popular Culture Library, renowned romance publisher, Harlequin, and Yale University Art Gallery (Roy Lichtenstein’s “Crying Girl” is on loan courtesy of Yale University Art Gallery.)

"Romancing the Novel" runs Monday, Jan. 6-Friday, March 7, in McDaniel’s Esther Prangley Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall, and is free and open to the public.

Events in conjunction with the exhibition include a public reception on Thursday, Feb. 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m., with a gallery talk at 6 p.m. and a "Romancing the Novel" speaker series during the month of February in collaboration with Carroll County Public Library to further highlight the romance genre. As part of this series, historian Nicole Jackson, a professor at Bowling Green State University and co-host of the “Black Romance Has A History” podcast, will present "Love in Liberty: Black Historical Romances and the Joy of Freedom,” on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m., in Coley Rice Lounge, McDaniel Hall, at McDaniel College (2 College Hill, Westminster). Details about additional events are forthcoming.

"With an emphasis on original cover art, the writing process, notable authors, publicity materials, fan interaction, and genre history, the exhibit provides a wide-ranging view of the publishing industry’s most profitable genre – romance – and its influence over the past 80 years.”

Robert Lemieux, associate professor of Communication and Cinema

“Romancing the Novel” is the sixth exhibition that highlights the artistic and historical significance of a major influence on popular culture organized by Robert Lemieux at McDaniel. Others have included “Kings of the Pages: Comic Strips & Culture 1895-1950” in fall 2011, “Beyond Words: The Artistry of Illustrated Children’s Books” highlighting Caldecott award-winning children’s books in spring 2014, “Visions of the Circus” about the history of the circus in fall 2017, “Icons of American Animation” in spring 2022, and “Breathtaker” with works from Mark Wheatley and Marc Hempel’s acclaimed graphic novel in collaboration with the Norman Rockwell Museum in fall 2022.

McDaniel College Professor of English Emerita Pamela Regis, former director of McDaniel’s Nora Roberts Center for American Romance, past president of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance, and author of “A Natural History of the Romance Novel,” served as a consultant for the exhibition.

“Romancing the Novel” is made possible with support from the Nora Roberts Foundation, McDaniel College’s Hoover Library, and the Department of Communication and Cinema at McDaniel College. Media partners are BmoreArt and WYPR-FM.

Hours for the Esther Prangley Rice Gallery are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Call 410-857-2595 for more information.

Additional information:

Requests for ASL interpreters are welcome and should be made as soon as possible (two weeks prior to the event preferred) by contacting the specific event organizer. Other accommodation requests and questions can be directed to Conference Services at 410-857-2407.
Visitors are asked to adhere to all health and safety policies and regulations in effect at the time of the event.

Damsel in Disguise (cover) — "Damsel in Disguise," digital painting on paper, 36" x 24" by James Griffin

The Striver’s Row Spy — "Striver’s Row," digital painting on paper, 36" x 24" by James Griffin

"Susanna Beware," oil on panel, 36" x 22" by James Griffin

"One Lonely Evening," oil on canvas mounted on Masonite, 36" x 22" by James Griffin

"The Lady and the Lawman," oil, 24” x 36" by James Griffin

Dec 11, 2024