Northwest Garnering - William Morris

Where is it?

Baggage Claim

You will find Northwest Garnering in the Gina Marie Lindsey Hall near Carousel 1.

About the Art

Artifacts are usually described as objects made by human work. Morris describes them as objects brought about by nature after the arrival of man – evidence of situation – which reveal a life and its associated mysteries.

Glass has the timeless qualities of artifacts with the added advantage of gathering and exuding light as no other material can. The artist argues that he does not attempt to replicate real objects but to construct his own personal visual idioms in the form of artifacts. These can take on numerous configurations; a spear, ribs, a gilded skull, or an antler – implements of animal and man.

Information courtesy of the artist

The Details

Artist

William Morris

Date

1992

Medium

Sculpture (hand-blown glass)

Dimensions

A series of 60 pieces, ranging in height from a few inches to 8' high in an 8' 3" wide case

Did you know?

This collection was chosen from the larger Garnering series that was shown at the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery in 1990, originally measuring 25’ in length.

About the Artist

The glass art of William Morris suggests a sort of spirituality that pits old beliefs against those of the modern world, resonating with culturally distinct peoples while encouraging an awareness of the underlying similarities across societies. To achieve this quality, Morris studies ancient Egyptian, Asian, and Native American societies in order to begin to understand each culture’s foundational relationship to the land.

"Artists cannot help themselves; they are driven to create by their nature, but for that nature to truly thrive, we need to preserve the precious habitat in which that beauty can flourish." – William Morris

Short Bio

Morris attended California State University at Chico and Central Washington University in Ellensburg. Today, with over thirty years of experience in glass art, Morris is considered a pioneer in the medium. Originally working as Dale Chihuly’s gaffer, or master glassblower, in the 1980s, William continues to live and work in Seattle. Morris' pieces are in collections in New Zealand, Japan, London, and Paris.

Similar Artwork

At the Airport

Blown away by Morris' hand-blown glass? Check out Dick Weiss' Cow on Its Side. The rondelles are hand-blown, just like Morris' artifacts. Follow the STQRY link below to see Weiss' stained and hand-blown glass window.

Northwest Garnering - William Morris

This artwork is an embodiment of what Morris calls "artifacts."