Lecture on Designer William Morris to Be Held at Arkansas Arts Center

Floyd Martin will present the lecture “William Morris and the Arts and Craft Movement” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the lecture hall of the Arkansas Arts Center, in Little Rock.

Martin is a professor of art history, on the faculty of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock since 1982. He has taught courses addressing a range of periods, from Baroque through the mid-20^th century. His particular interests are British art and architecture in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Material for his lecture on Morris was developed during his 2010 sabbatical in England.

Morris, born in England in 1834, is long recognized as one of the major figures of the Arts and Craft Movement. A designer of textiles, wallpaper, furniture and books, Morris emphasized the importance of natural and organic forms in his work. Seeking inspiration from vernacular architecture and home furnishings, he schooled himself in the techniques and materials used in their construction.

This lecture is part of the 2011-12 Art of Architecture lecture series sponsored by the Architecture and Design Network, with the support of the Central Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Arkansas Arts Center and the Fay Jones School of Architecture.

The lecture is free and open to the public. It will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. reception. For more information, email projects4pi@mac.com.