Overshadowed for many years by her more famous father, May Morris is now beginning to gain the recognition she deserves as being an incredibly talented craftswoman in her own right. Teacher, lecturer, editor, jeweller and designer, May was accomplished in a wide range of crafts, but it is her work as an embroiderer that is considered to be her greatest achievement. May’s knowledge of needlework, her talent for designing and her brilliance with the needle led to raising the status of embroidery to fine art. This talk will cover May’s life and work, with a focus on her beautiful designs and completed embroideries, demonstrating why May should be regarded as one of the most significant artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Helen Elletson has been Research and Development Curator at the William Morris Society since 2000 and Research Curator at the Emery Walker Trust since 2010. Amongst Helen’s publications are A History of Kelmscott House (2009) and Highlights of the William Morris Society’s Collection (2015), as well as articles on the Arts and Crafts movement including A Feeling for Beauty: May Morris, Emery Walker, and the Arts and Crafts of Hammersmith in Country Life (2017).
This is an online talk, held on Zoom.
Sign up here: https://williammorrissociety.org/event/online-lecture-a-remarkable-woman-the-art-of-may-morris/
This lecture is by Dr. John Wolforth, Prof. Emeritus, McGill. This lecture will focus on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the youthful ambitions of its founders.
Despite its relatively young age compared to old-world cities, Toronto has managed to build up an architectural landscape boasting some surprising variety. Though the city's built form is becoming dominated by glass towers, earlier periods brought architectural opulence to the skyline in a different form.
A now-dying art, elaborately carved masonry details define some of Toronto's best-known landmarks. It was a common way for grand buildings to distinguish themselves as late as the early 20th century, when modern construction and design principles began to limit the demand for skilled stonemasons.
Their work lives on in buildings — and in some cases, ruins — around the city, much of it either hidden away in the details or faded into obscurity over the passing decades.
But one anonymous architecture enthusiast wants it all to be rediscovered, creating a comprehensive map with roughly 175 entries of the gargoyles and grotesques that adorn early Toronto buildings.
the map's densest concentration of gargoyles and grotesques can be found in the city centre, with isolated pockets further out in neighbourhoods like High Park, The Junction, and The Beaches.
Looking at the map will tell you where to find these carved bits of history, but it won't tell you much about them.
This lecture is by Dr. John Wolforth, Prof. Emeritus, McGill. This lecture will focus on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the youthful ambitions of its founders.
