Endangered Species

艺术家

Lois Morrison

出生于 Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

A Tapestry of Text and Form: The Artistry of Lois Morrison

The work of Lois Morrison exists in the delicate, tactile space where literature meets sculpture. An American book artist whose creative soul was shaped by a childhood of profound transitions, Morrison possesses a unique ability to transform the static page into a living, breathing narrative. Born in 1934 in Kinshasa, within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, her early years were defined by the rhythmic interplay of cultures. Raised by missionary parents, she moved between the vibrant landscapes of the Congo and the familiar surroundings of Richmond, Virginia. This nomadic upbringing did more than just expose her to diverse perspectives; it instilled a deep-seated reverence for storytelling and the power of visual representation, forming the bedrock of an artistic vision that seeks to bridge disparate worlds through the medium of the artist book.

Morrison’s formal journey into the mastery of printmaking and mixed media was paved through rigorous academic pursuits at Mary Baldwin College, Indiana University Bloomington, and Virginia Commonwealth University. It was during these formative years that she began to refine her technical prowess, learning to manipulate materials to evoke emotion and movement. Her transition into the specialized realm of artist bookmaking occurred serendipitously in the 1980s, sparked by a single request from a curator. This moment ignited a lifelong passion for exploring the intersection of text and sculptural form, leading her to develop works that are as much objects of physical wonder as they are vessels for meaning.

Technique and the Alchemy of Paper

To engage with a Lois Morrison book is to participate in a sensory experience. Her practice is deeply rooted in the use of the Gocco printer, a Japanese screen-based technique that allows for the creation of intricate, layered linocut prints. This method enables her to achieve a level of detail and texture that mirrors the complexity of the themes she explores. Morrison’s books are rarely mere collections of pages; they are architectural feats of paper, often featuring Jacob’s ladder structures, movable elements, and hand-cut components that invite the viewer to physically interact with the art. In works such as Water / Fish, she utilizes fish-shaped linocuts to create a kinetic experience, while in Cows, she employs a collaborative approach involving multiple generations of artists to layer color and pattern.

The artist’s process is an act of transformation, a way of "making her end game a joy" by turning ephemeral dreams into tangible realities. Her use of materials—ranging from Lenox 100 board to hand-dyed ticking over boards—serves to accentuate the symbolic weight of her narratives. Whether she is exploring the stark contrasts of sin and redemption in In Adam's Fall or the metaphorical shadows of loss in In the Land of Shadows, the physical construction of the book is inseparable from its message. The tactile quality of her work—the way a page flips, the way a pop-up emerges, or the way a heavy texture meets a smooth surface—is essential to the contemplative atmosphere she cultivates.

Legacy and the Preservation of Narrative

The historical significance of Lois Morrison lies in her contribution to the evolution of contemporary book art, a genre that challenges the boundaries between fine art and literature. Her commitment to addressing pressing global themes, such as environmental conservation, is perhaps most notably seen in her collaborations with fellow artist Julie Chen on projects like Endangered Species. Through these works, Morrison uses the intimacy of the book format to foster a profound connection between the viewer and the natural world.

The enduring impact of her career is reflected in the prestigious institutions that house her collections. Her imaginative and whimsical creations have been recognized by some of the most esteemed archives and museums in the world, including:

The Smithsonian Institution's Joseph C. Sloane Art Library

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Library & Special Collections

The National Museum of Women in the Arts

The Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York

The Tate Gallery, London

As a pioneer of the artist book movement, Morrison has left an indelible mark on the art world. Her ability to weave folklore, mythology, and personal history into the very fabric of her publications ensures that her work remains a vital part of the contemporary art conversation—a testament to the enduring power of the hand-crafted narrative.

博物馆

National Museum of Women in the Arts

展出地点 华盛顿特区, 美国

愿景的圣殿：国家女性艺术博物馆

在华盛顿特区的中心地带，矗立着一座见证了一场无声却深远的革命的丰碑。国家女性艺术博物馆（NMWA）绝不仅仅是一座珍藏瑰丽器物的宝库，它更是一种自觉的历史夺回行动。几个世纪以来，艺术史的宏大叙事往往由那些忽略女性创造力光影的人所书写，导致人类一半的艺术遗产被遗忘在阴影之中。NMWA 的诞生源于一种纠正这种失衡的渴望，其使命始于 20 世纪 60 年代——当时创始人华莱士与威廉敏娜·霍拉戴夫妇意识到，像克拉拉·皮特斯这样的艺术大师，竟然正从那些本应歌颂她们的教科书中被抹去。如今，这座博物馆已成为一座充满活力的灯塔，确保跨越不同文化与时代的女性艺术家的声音，都能清晰且有力地回荡在世人耳畔。

博物馆的建筑气势与其使命同样令人震撼。它坐落于纽约大道上一座宏伟的前共济会神庙内，建筑本身便诉说着一段蜕变的故事。这座历史地标最初竣工于 1908 年，采用壮丽的文艺复兴复兴风格，后来历经了耗资六千六百万美元的大规模翻修，完成了从兄弟会大厅到精致艺术圣殿的华丽转身。对于参观者而言，步入博物馆仿佛踏入了一个历史与现代交汇的空间。这座被列入《美国国家史迹名录》的建筑，提供了一个庄重而肃穆的背景，升华了馆内展出的艺术品。其宽敞的展厅设计初衷不仅是为了陈列，更是为了营造一种沉思的氛围，使其成为那些钟情于历史宏伟感与当代文化价值交织之美的人士的必经之地。

漫步于 NMWA 的馆藏之中，犹如开启了一场穿越时空与情感的惊心动魄之旅。博物馆拥有超过 6,000 件艺术作品，跨越了从 16 世纪至今的光谱，编织出一幅丰富的人类经验图卷。人们可能会沉浸在

玛丽·卡萨特 (Mary Cassatt)

作品中那亲密而温柔的家庭生活描绘里，转瞬间又会被

阿尔玛·伍德西·托马斯 (Alma Woodsey Thomas)

那大胆且富有节奏感的抽象艺术所震撼。馆藏在不同时代之间展开了深刻的对话：

伊丽莎白·路易丝·维热-勒布伦 (Élisabeth Louise Vigée-LeBrun)

那种精致、贵族化的肖像画，与

弗里达·卡罗 (Frida Kahlo)

那种原始、具有政治色彩且极具个人情感的自画像并存。这种多样性使博物馆成为了收藏家和设计师眼中的宝库，因为每一件作品都承载着独特的身份重量与审美力量——从细腻的历史油画到

德利塔·马丁 (Delita Martin)

那极具感染力的多媒体版画，皆是如此。

国家女性艺术博物馆真正与众不同之处，在于它扮演着一个充满生命力且推动变革的催化剂角色。它并不只是带着怀旧之情回望过去，而是带着明确的意图展望未来。通过诸如

从安特卫普到阿姆斯特丹的女性艺术家 (Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam)

等具有开创性的展览，博物馆照亮了那些被遗忘的创新时期；同时，其持续进行的科研计划也在深入挖掘档案，以发掘失落的历史叙事。通过支持艺术界的既有偶像与新兴天才，NMWA 营造了一个动态的环境，在这里，性别身份、社会正义与艺术表达不断地受到审视与探讨。对于艺术爱好者来说，这里是发现的乐园；对于学者而言，这里是开展核心研究的阵地；而对于整个世界来说，它是一个至关重要的提醒：只有当每一个声音都能在光亮中获得其应有的地位时，艺术史才是完整的。