The launch of the exhibition catalogue Refinement and Delicacy - The Maria Jovita Negalha Collection will take place at the Sacred Art Center of the Carlos Machado Museum on July 29th at 6:00 p.m. The catalogue is dedicated to the appreciation of handcrafted practices and knowledge transmitted within domestic and community contexts.

The exhibition presents a collection of works by Maria Jovita Negalha, focusing on the artisanal production of artificial flowers and paper cutting. These practices, associated with decorative and festive contexts, demonstrate the transformation of simple materials into elements of cultural and patrimonial value.

The catalogue will be available for purchase on the day of the launch at a promotional price of €15 (regular price: €20).

Biographical Note
Maria Jovita Negalha
Lomba da Maia, 1922 – Ponta Delgada, 2017

From an early age, she showed artistic and creative skills at school. In Lomba da Maia, where she lived until the 1990s before moving to Ponta Delgada, she was often called upon by the local community to carry out various manual and creative works related to festive and cultural practices. Alongside her professional activity, her interest in aesthetics and nature led her to dedicate her free time, in the privacy of her home, to making artificial flowers using different materials and techniques, as well as numerous paper cut-out pieces.
Her work is characterised by precision, realism, and attention to detail, the result of close observation of nature, a refined sensibility, and a methodical approach.

Sílvia Fonseca e Sousa

MCM