Morris Mania
On my recent trip to London to see Patrick Wolf, I was lucky enough to visit the William Morris Gallery, (the day before the King & Queen!) William Morris' early family home. It is a lovely Georgian jewel box of a museum, so inspiring and filled with treasures from his long and storied career.
There is an exhibition happening now through March, titled William Morris & Art from the Islamic World - "Alongside his own iconic designs, outstanding examples of Islamic textiles, ceramics, metalwork and manuscripts from Morris’s personal collection – now belonging to major UK institutions including the British Library, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge – are brought together for the first time to reveal the wider impacts of these objects, their designs and impressions on Morris’s creative output." Go see it if you can!
I have made so many pictorial shrine amulets featuring his timeless flora & fauna designs over the years, including the recent - strawberry thief - heart amulet on velvet ribbon & the garden tapestry - venetian gothic window amulet.
They are having an exhibition called Morris Mania next year, and it got me thinking about how much his work has become woven into my home and daily life. I was introduced to the Pre-Raphaelites by a friend while studying Art, Architecture, Stained Glass and Metalsmithing at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. We later made a pilgrimage to Western MA (near where I live now) to the Clark Art Institute for a Dante Gabriel Rossetti Exhibition. I was so enamored by the Medievalism and the Romance - the Myths and the Magic. Completely under their spell, enjoying decades of study and admiration. (And most cherished- friendships in fellow admirers, artists, scholars and writers!)
One of the proudest accomplishments in my career was creating a collection for the Edward Burne-Jones exhibition at the Tate. He had become my favorite of the PRB, and I was lucky enough to be able to visit on my last trip to London. Though my work had sold out by the time I had arrived (such an honor!) I am grateful to have photos of my work on display, sent in by friends and the lovely shop team.
The below photographs are just a few examples of how I live with his designs - at home and in my business. Many of my home furnishings (& Morris pattern clothing!) have been gifted to me by generous & thoughtful friends & family, found at thrift shops, collected over decades.
See if you can spot all the Morris (& Co!)
Living Room at Frog Hollow
Parrish Relics Festival Booth
Shop Display
Forest Tapestry Tattoo & Strawberry Thief Bag with Stardust at Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary. (Not my favorite photo of myself, but a joyful and moment captures the love I have for this little white beastie who has gone through so much in life, and recently celebrated his 50th birthday - now living the life he deserves.)
