ANN MORRIS

Ascensions and Suspensions

i.e. is pleased to welcome Northwest sculptor ANN MORRIS for her first solo exhibit with us, Ascensions and Suspensions                            
 

Ann Morris works in a studio on Lummi Island surrounded by a 14 acre woodland sanctuary. The setting informs her sculpture with the balances and cycles of life that one finds in deep nature. Her bronze sculptures that populate these woods speak to the larger dualities of life : the male/female, decay/rebirth, spiritual/physical and the reckoning of these parts into a larger whole.

In recent years Morris has worked with more ephemeral materials, the abundance of organic matter around her; seaweed, leaves, twigs, animal bones, spent blossoms. This latest body of work was developed in the past 2 years as Morris considered transitions in her life. It may be the most personal work of hers to date. Ladders became a central metaphor in these pieces. Being human we are always in transition. But certainly aging brings it into clearer focus.

Once the Ladder series was completed Morris began to shred fabric, textiles, old burlap bags. From these the new Lamp series evolved. Hanging like an unfussy chandelier from embroidery hoops with organic, decaying material being glimpsed through the threads these new pieces brought a lightness and playfulness to studio. Color that was introduced to us in the ladders expands and moves. Is this where the ladders take us?  We don't really need an answer - i.e. is  just delighted to be invited along on the journey.