home>news & information>news release archive

NEWS RELEASE ARCHIVES

Mowbray Arch Selects William Morris' Cinerary Urns - 2002
-- January 2003

The Museum is pleased to announce the selection of four Cinerary Urns by glass artist William Morris at the eleventh annual Mowbray Arch Society Art Purchase Dinner. The Chrysler's Curator of Glass, Gary Baker, made an extensive survey of the contemporary glass that is currently available and came to the conclusion that the most important work in glass for the Museum's Permanent Collection was not available on the open market, but was in fact on display in our galleries. These extraordinary vessels come directly from the world-premiere exhibition, William Morris: Two Installations, which is on view through January 5. In Two Installations, we see the work of one of the greatest glass artists working at the height of his creative powers. William Morris continues to dazzle us with technical brilliance, impeccable craftsmanship, and artistic vision. Fortunately the Mowbray Arch Society got in on the ground floor when they voted to buy Canopic Jar: Javan Muntjac in 1995. The artist had intended to take a sabbatical in 2001, but his plans were soon overtaken first by personal, then national grief on September 11. He instead sought solace in work. The Cinerary Urns are by far William Morris’s most deeply personal and intimate body of work.

William Morris
(American, b. 1957)
Cinerary Urns, 2001
Gift of the Mowbray Arch Society, 2002

# # #

For More Information or Images Please Contact the Chrysler at (757) 664-6200 or museum@chrysler.org

Back to News Releases