by Alex Santiago
Join us Friday, March 13th at 12 PM for a special Gallery Perspectives inspired by our current exhibition The Medici Dynasty: Renaissance in Florence. In this perspective, Dr. Melissa Garr will explore the fascinating intersections between Renaissance Italy and Spanish literature and history. Discover how southern Italy’s historical ties to Spain shaped culture and storytelling, from the travels of Don Juan to Italy to the rise of the influential Borja family from Valencia, who became most notable in Italy. This program highlights the literary and historical connections between Spain and Italy during the Renaissance, offering a fresh “perspective” on the Medici era and its lasting cultural impact. BIO Growing up in a military family in Puerto Rico, Dr. Melissa Garr developed fluency in Spanish and a deep appreciation for Hispanic culture from an early age. Garr earned a B.S. in Secondary Education and a B.A. in Spanish from Duquesne University, followed by an M.A. in Spanish from the University of Northern Iowa. She completed her Ph.D. in Spanish Literature at Purdue University. Her specialty is in 20th- and 21st-century Peninsular Spanish literature, and her research interests include contemporary Spanish genre fiction, film, and Portuguese literature. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Purdue Research Foundation Summer Research Grant and the Purdue University Ross Fellowship.
