Arts & Entertainment
A Cache of Kinetic Art: Simply Steampunk - Exhibition In March
The Morris Museum is pleased to present Simply Steampunk, the second installment of the four-year juried exhibition series, A Cache of Kinet
Morris Museum Continues with Second Installment of
Four-Year Exhibition Series ─
A Cache of Kinetic Art: Simply Steampunk
Opening Day Demonstrations: Friday, March 15, 2019
The Morris Museum is pleased to present Simply Steampunk, the second installment of the four-year juried exhibition series, A Cache of Kinetic Art, celebrating the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata.
Find out what's happening in Morristownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Following the success of last year's inaugural exhibition, this year explores the theme of steampunk art─incorporating the aesthetics of 19th-century industrial design and steam engine machinery─through 18 works of kinetic sculpture by 12 artists that were selected by a jury of practitioners in the field. The artwork on view ranges in scale from jewelry to room-sized installations, and in scope from traditional retrofuturistic sculpture to more broadly-interpreted light and soundscapes. These imaginative creations are marvels of design, engineering, storytelling, and fantasy that demonstrate the ingenuity of steampunk art today.
Developed and curated by the staff of the Morris Museum's Guinness Collection, Simply Steampunk opens to the public on Friday, March 15, 2019 and runs through Sunday, August 11, 2019. The themes of A Cache of Kinetic Art change annually:
· Curious Characters, 2018
· Simply Steampunk, 2019
· Tiny Intricacies, 2020
· Timeless Movements, 2021
“Enthusiastic support for A Cache of Kinetic Art continues to grow, not only among artists but also visitors who have come to enjoy, respect, and expect artwork that provokes thoughtfulness and engagement through movement,” states Michele Marinelli, Curator of the Guinness Collection. “The variety and breadth of the 18 pieces featured in Simply Steampunk are simply fabulous, from traditional steampunk designs reminiscent of 19th-century scientific novelties to contemporary constructs using present-day materials.”
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This year's exhibition jurors are:
· Rein Triefeldt, New Jersey: Solar Kinetic Artist and Co-founder of Kinetic Art Organization (KAO)
· Brett King, North Carolina: Steampunk Artist and Costumer, Founder of AutomataCon
· Ann Aptaker, New York: Independent Curator, Art Writer, and Professor at New York Institute of Technology.
A People’s Choice Award
Visitors are encouraged to actively participate in bestowing the People’s Choice Award. Voting by the public begins on Friday, March 15, 2019 on-site at the Museum and concludes on Sunday, June 30, 2019. The People’s Choice Award will be announced on the Museum’s website and through social media on Tuesday, July 2, 2019.
“The submissions for the second in our series of A Cache of Kinetic Art exhibitions have not failed to amaze us. Creative and beautifully executed artworks that incorporate movement are exponentially more difficult to conceptualize, not to mention fabricate while maintaining artistic integrity. The many challenges to overcome are why so few artists attempt it and why so few kinetic works are created each year. We’re very pleased that they can find an appreciative audience and venue here at the Morris Museum,” states Jere Ryder, Conservator of the Guinness Collection.
Exhibiting Artists and Their Works:
· Time Machine, 2018. David Bowman, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
· Pterence, The Pteranodon, 2018. David Bowman, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
· Tink, The Northern Pike, 2018. David Bowman, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
· Bruce, 2017. Chris Cole, Bend, Oregon
· RoboTarium No. 5, 2017. Chris Cole, Bend, Oregon
· The Flying Machine, 2015. Ken Draim, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
· Transformation, 1991. Kyle Dries, Glen Oaks, New York
· Celesta, 2014. Kyle Dries, Glen Oaks, New York
· Steampunk Valentine, 2018. Bradley N. Litwin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
· Professor Ignatius and Assistants Flee the Citadel, 2018. LoHiFi Productions (Chris Little and Theofanis Pitsiavas), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
· Wedding Ring, 2018. Kenneth MacBain, Morristown, New Jersey
· Spin Stack, 2017-18. Mike Richison, Ocean Township, New Jersey
· Lumia Series: Orion Lumia, Hubble Lumia & Messier Lumia, 2017. Will Rockwell, West Orange, New Jersey
· The Buddha, 2016. Walter Rossi, New York, New York
· The Going, 2014. Walter Rossi, New York, New York
· Deliriums: Cluster A, 2018. Matthew Steinke, Austin, Texas
· Deliriums: Cluster B, 2018. Matthew Steinke, Austin, Texas
· Deliriums: Cluster C, 2018. Matthew Steinke, Austin, Texas
Leadership support for this exhibition is provided by our partners at M&T Bank.
Exhibition VIP Preview
Thursday, March 14, 2019, 6:00PM – 7:30PM
Museum Members and members of the press will be the first to experience this groundbreaking exhibition before it opens to the public. Opening remarks will be given by Cleveland Johnson, Executive Director of the Morris Museum. Light refreshments will be served.
Press can RSVP by sending an email to publicrelations@morrismuseum.org
Members can RSVP by visiting morrismuseum.org/future-exhibitions/or calling 973.971.3721. To become a Member, attend this special VIP Preview, and visit the museum year-round for free visit morrismuseum.org/museum-membership, email membership@morrismuseum.org, or call 973.971.3721.
Opening Day
Friday, March 15, 2019, 1:00PM – 4:00PM
Curator, Michele Marinelli, and Conservator, Jere Ryder, will present live demonstrations in Main Gallery of the extraordinary pieces in this exhibition. Artist David Bowman will also be with us to talk about his three works – Time Machine, Peterence, The Pteranodon and Tink, The Northern Pike.
Museum Members: Free
Non-Members: Free with Museum Admission
About the Morris Museum
Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, community-based arts and cultural institution serving the public through its exhibitions in the arts, sciences and humanities. The Museum is home to the historic and internationally-significant Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata. Changing exhibits of contemporary content also explore the Guinness themes of art, sound, and motion. The adjacent Bickford Theatre is the museum's 312-seat performing-arts facility, offering unique programming, often related to the museum's exhibition themes. Continuously serving the public since 1913, the Morris Museum has a proud tradition of innovative educational programs and family events. The first museum in New Jersey to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, it has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts’ Citation of Excellence, among other awards.
Tickets may be purchased online at morrismuseum.org, by phone at 973.971.3706, or in person at the Morris Museum. The Morris Museum’s Bickford Theatre is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Morris Museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Location and Hours
The Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown, NJ, and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00pm. In addition, the Museum is open evenings from 5:00 to 8:00pm on the second and third Thursday of the month. Admission to the Museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for Museum members. For more information, call 973.971.3700, or visit www.morrismuseum.org.
