Painting from Within: 100 Years of Dorothy Brett in Taos

The Millicent Rogers Museum is proud to present an exhibition of the work of the Honorable Dorothy Brett.

“Painting from Within” explores Brett’s roles as a community member and artist who left a lasting legacy.

On display through
July 12 - October 30, 2024

The Millicent Rogers Museum presents Painting from Within: 100 Years of Dorothy Brett in Taos, an exhibition dedicated to presenting and honoring the legacy of famed Taos painter Dorothy Brett. This exhibition will open on July 12, 2024 and run through October 30, 2024, featuring works from numerous private collections in Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque alongside pieces from the collection of the Millicent Rogers Museum. These loaned paintings have adorned the homes of their owners and maintain a constant presence of Brett in the lives of those who enjoy them. In many cases, this is the first time these works have been shared with the public in decades.

In the year 1924, the Honorable Dorothy Brett arrived in Taos, New Mexico. This trip to the American Southwest became the adventure that would go on to define her personal life and artistic career. Upon an invitation from novelist D. H. Lawrence, Brett left her life in England behind and found her new home in Taos. In the 100 years since this arrival, her images have become iconic representations of the people and landscape of Taos.

Through consultation with Taos Pueblo, the Millicent Rogers Museum has decided to refrain from displaying any of Brett’s paintings depicting Indigenous ceremony or dance. The exhibition instead explores her portraits, landscapes, and collaborative pieces that compose the bulk of her Taos catalog. Some of these works demonstrate Brett’s experimentation with multimedia applications in her painting, including sequins, copper wire, and mother of pearl shells. Overlaying her delicate brushstrokes, these additional materials are evidence of Brett’s desire to capture the texture, movement, and gleaming light of her subjects as she perceived them. Two large paintings from 1934 are luminous, abstracted images of corn or shafts of light. Other works present soulful depictions of the mountains, lively hunting scenes, or tranquil visions through stands of pastel trees.

This exhibition seeks to present an authentic portrait of Dorothy Brett, not simply as the naive and adoring follower of D. H. Lawrence, but as an artist whose sensitive treatment in her paintings demonstrated her deep love of her adopted home. Her constant pursuit of beauty and the representation of that beauty blossomed into a decades long career that continues to have lasting effects on the people and images of the area. 

The Brett Book Club

Join us as we journey together through Lawrence and Brett: A Friendship, an autobiographical story that traverses relationship, landscape, and Dorothy Brett’s daily life in Taos. Published in 1933, Lawrence and Brett: A Friendship adds the texture of Brett's own voice to living narratives of community stories. The exhibition-based book club will meet in four sessions of book group discussions facilitated by curator Claire Motsinger and education director Karen Chertok. Centered in community conversation, we invite you to read and discuss Brett’s perspectives and lived experience. Meander through joys and sorrows, touch on longings, musings and the clickety-clack of manuscripts typed in rural Northern New Mexico. Books may be purchased at the Museum store or online.

The Brett Book Club will meet 6 - 7:30pm in Gallery 10 in person and online with Zoom on the following dates:

July 30, 2024 - Part 1
July 30 webinar registration link
Questions to ponder for Part 1
August 27, 2024 - Part 2
August 27 webinar registration link
September 24, 2024 - Part 3
September 24 webinar registration link
October 29, 2024 - Part 4 & 5
October 29 webinar registration link

HONORARY BIRTHDAY TO CELEBRATE DOROTHY BRETT

JOIN US FOR CAKE AND CONVERSATION!

When: Friday, October 11, 2024 Where: At Millicent Rogers Museum in galleries 9 & 10 Time: From 11am-3pm

We will provide cake and beverage for free upon regular admission fee during this time. Members get in free. Our Curator of Community and Collections, Claire Motsinger will give a brief lecture about Dorothy Brett and some of the pieces we have on display.

Brett Photo Bingo

Brett Photo Bingo is a fun way to interact with the Taos Plaza Murals which are currently on display at the Millicent Rogers Museum. These murals are part of the exhibit Painting from Within: 100 Years of Dorothy Brett in Taos. The Taos Plaza Murals were painted by Dorothy Brett in collaboration with a small group of artists for the Annual Fiestas de Taos in 1948.

The rules of Brett Photo Bingo are simple!

• Find the 5 characters that appear in the Brett Photo Bingo Graphic within the panels of the Taos Plaza Murals
• Take a photo of each character
• Show your 5 photos to the person sitting at the front desk and they will give you the Brett Bingo Prize!

The prize for winning Brett Photo Bingo is a Single Use Guest Pass to the Museum which can be redeemed for one FREE entry to the Museum anytime!

The characters depicted in the Brett Photo Bingo graphic are: Millicent Rogers, Rebecca Salsbury James, Mabel Dodge Lujan, Dorothy Brett and Frieda Lawrence

Please note, regular admission costs apply to enter the exhibit and one play per person. The Guest pass must be used on a return visit. The Millicent Rogers Museum is always free to Taos County Residents on Sunday!