Current Exhibitions
Gallery Tour – Morris Museum.
Gallery Tours
The Morris Museum offers tours of select exhibitions for groups of 10 or more.
Gallery Tours include educator-led programs for field trip students and adult groups, as well as self-guided browse tours.
For more details please contact [email protected]
Below are the exhibitions currently on view at the Museum, listed in order by the month when they initially opened. Get details about future exhibitions.
Studio Art Student Showcase
A Cache of Kinetic Art: Simply Steampunk
Steampunk Fashion
A Cache of Kinetic Art: Simply Steampunk
Steampunk Fashion
Bob Gruen, Led Zeppelin, New York, 1973. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Bob Gruen: Rock Seen Friday, June 21 – Sunday, November 10, 2019 For over fifty years, rock & roll photographer Bob Gruen has captured some of the most memorable images of rock’s legendary performers, both on and offstage. From Bob Dylan and John Lennon to Sid Vicious and Iggy Pop; from the Rolling Stones and the Ramones to the New York Dolls and Kiss; from Tina Turner and Yoko Ono to Debbie Harry and Courtney Love, these iconic photographs record the public lives and private moments of music’s most famous artists.
Generous support for this exhibition is provided by Sherman Wells Sylvester & Stamelman
LLP.
- Southside Johnny and Jeff Kazee, Thursday, June 27, 2019, 7:30PM
These related programs are co-produced with NJArts.net
Leadership support for these programs is provided by BASF.
Film Screenings
In addition to Gruen’s photographs there will be screenings of his films in the Museum’s Bickford Theatre throughout the course of the exhibition.
FREE with museum admission. Pre-registration is not required.
Rock ‘N’ Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen (2011)
Friday, June 21, 1:00PM and 3:00PM
Grammy Award-winning filmmaker Don Letts explores Bob Gruen’s life and work, giving insight into the personalities behind the images and memories of wild times spent with rock & roll stars, as well as intimate recollections. (90 min)
Ike and Tina Turner: On the Road 1971-72 (2012)
Wednesday, July 31, 1:00PM and 3:00PM
In the early 70’s, legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya toured with Ike and Tina Turner and filmed them performing—on the road and behind the scenes. (81 min)
New York Dolls: All Dolled Up (2005)
Friday, August 9, 1:00PM and 3:00PM
Drawn from footage over a period of three years, Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya used a portable video recorder to create this feature-length documentary following the band from their early performances in New York to their West Coast tour. (90 min)
New York Dolls: Lookin’ Fine On Television (2011)
Tuesday, August 20, 1:00PM and 3:00PM
Features period footage of the legendary proto-glam/punk forebearers, shot by Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya, from New York City to the TV studios, clubs, and swimming pools of Los Angeles. (73 min)
Linda Lawrence. “Narrangansett Kayaks”, 2018. Acrylic on Canvas Board. Instructor Francesca Pelaggi.
Tuesday, April 30 – Sunday, June 30, 2019
Get more details about Summer Studio Art classes.
“Siri: A helpful Communications Assistant” – Photo courtesy of Paige Gardner
Steampunk Fashion
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 – Sunday, October 6, 2019
Airships, locomotives, and corsets: the Victorian Era gave the world technological advancement, the birth of science fiction, and opulent fashion. The modern steampunk trend takes inspiration from this bygone age, especially in its dress. Featured is work by designers Paige Gardner, Amber O’Boyle Kulp, and Colleen O’Neill through a selection of women’s and men’s costumes and accessories that illustrate the eclectic and individualistic nature of steampunk fashion today. To provide a historical context for the six costume ensembles on display, 19th-century Victorian Era clothing and accessories from the Morris Museum’s permanent collection have been integrated into the installation, highlighting the design connections and deconstructions that oftentimes serve as the inspiration for steampunk costumers.
Discover elements of the steampunk style alongside 19th-century
Magnified Lincoln Signature. Photo by Maria Ribaudo, Collections Manager, Morris Museum.
Saturday, March 30, 2019 – Sunday, July 6, 2019
Take a closer look at documents, presented in facsimile, from our Founding Fathers, past presidents, famous writers, and inventors, as we discover the clues that letters can reveal. Learn about the various writing tools used over the course of time and how communication has evolved, from the quill pen to text messaging. Find out how a leading forensic handwriting expert uses handwriting to determine a person’s character, psychological state and identity.
A Cache of Kinetic Art: Simply Steampunk logo designed by Sarah Gonzalez.
A Cache of Kinetic Art: Simply Steampunk Friday, March 15, 2019 – Sunday, August 11, 2019
Simply Steampunk is the second installment of our four-year exhibition series, A Cache of Kinetic Art, exploring kineticism in contemporary artistic practice. Only fully appreciated when set in motion, these imaginative works capture the wondrous vision of a world powered by steam-engine technology from a bygone era. Combining 19th-century machine aesthetics with creative expression, engineering, and design, the interactive sculptures and installations in Simply Steampunk delight the senses with amazement, luminosity, sound, and movement.
Read the Press articles:
- The Record and North Jersey.com – Jim Beckerman
A sculpture exhibit, in steampunk style, makes Morris Museum a champion of kinetic art - New Jersey Monthly – Jacqueline Klecak
Kinetic Art Exhibit “Simply Steampunk” Opens at Morris Museum - Steampunk Explorer
Steampunk-digest-march-15-2019
Simply Steampunk - Morristown Green – Marion Filler
Steampunk chugs, spins, and whirs its way into the Morris Museum
- Design NJ Magazine – John Zeaman
Simply Steampunk
A Cache of Kinetic Art: Simply Steampunk on the PBS program, State of the Arts, produced by Eric Schultz of PCK Media.
Participating Artists
- David Bowman, Mechanicsburg, PA
- Chris Cole, Bend, Oregon
- Ken Draim, Pittsburgh, PA
- Kyle Dries, Glen Oaks, NY
- Bradley Litwin, Philadelphia, PA
- LoHiFi Productions (Chris Little and Theofanis Pitsiavas), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Kenneth McBain, Morristown, NJ
- Mike Richison, Ocean Township, NJ
- Will Rockwell, West Orange, NJ
- Walter Rossi, New York, NY
- Matt Steinke, Austin, TX
People’s Choice Award: Voting is now opens and concludes on Sunday, June 30 and must be done on-site at the Museum. The award will be announced on the website and social media on Tuesday, July 2.
Related Programs
Build an Automaton Children’s Workshop,
Sunday, June 16, 2019, 12:30 – 2:00PM.
Join the Guinness Collection staff at a maker’s workshop where each child will receive one automaton kit to assemble, decorate, and then bring home.
For children ages 5 and up.
Workshop Fee:
Children: $15
Parent: FREE but must be present.
Advance registration required:
973.971.3706
Last Look: Behind the Scenes of Simply Steampunk
Thursday, August 8, 2019, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
Accompany the Guinness Collection staff into the world of steampunk kinetic art to catch a final glimpse before the exhibition closes. Artist David Bowman will join the tour to share his insights on his works.
Museum Members: Free
Non-Members: $15
Tickets: 973.971.3706
Leadership support for this exhibition is provided by our partners at M&T Bank.
Gallery Tour – Morris Museum.
Gallery Tours
The Morris Museum offers tours of select exhibitions for groups of 10 or more.
Gallery Tours include educator-led programs for field trip students and adult groups, as well as self-guided browse tours.
For more details please contact [email protected]
