Home > Blogs > Arts and Entertainment > Archives > 2009 > June > 22 > Entry
Documentary filmmaker to speak at upcoming DAI screening Friday, June 26
If you’ve been to the William Morris glass exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute, you’ve seen excerpts from the only feature-length documentary film ever produced on the famous artist.
Morris, who retired from glass blowing at the age of 49, now divides his time between Hawaii and Seattle and is reportedly learning a new skill — wood carving. The talented artist has a reputation for being very private about both his personal and professional lives.
New York film maker John Andres managed to obtain access to both. The result is “Creative Nature,” a profile of Morris filmed at locations ranging from the famous Pilchuck glass blowing hot shop north of Seattle to Hawaiian waters where Morris swims underwater with sharks. He’s quite an adventurer — rock climbing, paragliding, walking through flowing lava fields.
Andres, who works in New York, will introduce the film to the Miami Valley at a screening Friday evening, June 26, at the DAI and will respond to questions. “His work spoke to me and I was intrigued by the mind that would realize this work,” says Andres, who said over the three year shooting period Morris was “very generous with his time and energy.”
“He’s a very special artist who sees life very differently,” says Andres. “A lot of people think he has a death wish and nothing could be further from the truth. He has this incredible life wish, and part of that is experiencing it on his terms, he needs to be in nature to fuel that part of himself.”
The film opens in a museum gallery where Morris and his team are installing an exhibit that includes many of the pieces that are on display in Dayton. That allows us the fascinating opportunity to see how our own show was put together, and to hear Morris speak about the work.
“I’m not interested in replicating anything,” he explains in the film. “It’s more the impression … I let myself absorb and be absorbed by everything around me.” Later he asks: “What quality does a pine cone have that makes me feel it? Glass has the ability to do that like no other material.”
Famous glass artist Dale Chihuly is interviewed in the film, as are members of Morris’ glass blowing team.
When Morris went paragliding in August of 2006, Andres took his two young daughters and wife along for the filming. “We climbed to a 8,000 ft. peak,” he says, “and Bill and his friends para-glided, soaring over 12,000 feet.”
Now when his girls complain that they can’t do something, he reminds them of that experience. “Three years ago we rock-climbed 8,000 feet,” he tells them, “I think you can handle this little activity.”
HOW TO GO WHAT: “Creative Nature,” a documentary film highlighting the life and work of glass artist William Morris with an introduction and after-film discussion by New York filmmaker John Andres. WHEN: 6:45 p.m. Friday, June 26 WHERE: NCR Renaissance Auditorium, Dayton Art Institute ADMISSION: Tickets available at the door: 90 cents for museum members in honor of the Museum’s 90th Anniversary celebration. Non-members: $5. FOR INFO: www.daytonartinstitute.org or call 223-5277.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Film, Visual arts
Comments
By Alternate...
June 23, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this
I shake with excitement, I quiver with glee, that people with “alternate lifestyles will be featured ar DAI. Ohhhhh…..I just can’t wait to alter my lifestyle to theirs because ObamA has failed me….maybe I can “blow” some galss and feel better?….By Alternate...
June 23, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this
Remember: Do spell check!!!! Do not comment that true losers hide behide art….DO SPELL CHECK…that’ll get your arrogant point across…