nj arts maven: A Fresh Look: A New Website, 30 Year Retrospective of Black Art, Outdoor Concerts, Summer Family Programming, and much more!

A Fresh Look: Morris Museum's New Website

Launching in early July!

We are excited to announce our new website that will help increase the Museum's digital presence and will sharpen our focus on our role as a cultural destination in New Jersey. The new design also brings many updates that will help you engage with our offerings, and it will also provide more immersive digital content that dives deeper into our collection, performances, education programs, and special exhibitions.

We will be launching in early July, and we hope that you will check out our new digital platform. Have a great holiday weekend!

Note: We are open on Saturday and Sunday, July 2-3, but we are closed on Monday, July 4.

Live Summer Outdoor Concerts

The Back Deck heats up in July with the return of Dan Levinson and a stellar line-up that includes the Telegraph Quartet, Amani, and the phenomenal vocalist Antoinette Montague. Our third year of music on the Back Deck brings past favorites and new exciting artists- all yours to enjoy from the comfort of your own block!

July Concerts

Tickets are $50 per 8X8 block and includes two patrons. Don’t forget, BYOB and BYO chairs and picnics with live music under the sunset!

In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be held inside the Bickford Theatre. All patrons will have to wear face masks while inside the Bickford Theatre. An indoor picnic area will be provided if the concert is moved inside.

People’s Choice Award:

Cache of Kinetic Art: Timeless Movements

Exhibition On View through August 28, 2022

The Votes are in! The People’s Choice Award for the Timeless Movements exhibition are:

First Place: Bradley Litwin's Large Tetra-Cycling (pictured above)

Second Place: Miron Abramovici's Time has Stopped

Tied for third Place: David Bowman's The Time Traders and Walter Rossi's The Face

This holiday weekend come see these kinetic sculptures in action! And if you love the exhibition, check out the catalogue. Timeless Movements is made possible by leadership support from Will and Mary Leland.

For the Culture, By the Culture: 30 Years of Black Art, Activism, and Achievement

On View May 25 – September 25, 2022

Come see this exciting exhibition that opened just last week! The Morris Museum partnered with Art in the Atrium to organize this comprehensive retrospective: For the Culture, By the Culture: 30 Years of Black Art, Activism, and Achievement. This exhibition brings together prior ATA featured artists in a group retrospective that spans 30 years and features established local and national Black artists.

It will include ATA artists, masters of their craft, who have contributed to Black culture by creating impactful works for decades. Some have received national recognition like Bisa Butler, Jerry Gant, and Faith Ringgold. Many of the artists began their careers with ATA and through the organization, they received significant exposure that helped launch their artistic careers.

Generous support for this exhibition is provided by M&T Bank. Additional support is provided by Novartis.

Spark!Lab Passport Challenge

Through Sunday, August 28

Is your young inventor up for the passport challenge? This summer, young inventors will be issued a free Spark!Lab passport during their summer visits to the lab. With each visit they will acquire a stamp and with six stamps they will complete the challenge and earn an exclusive prize.

The first ten inventors who complete this challenge will receive the You Topia moving diorama makers kit (pictured above)! Other prizes include a Spark!Lab journal and more!

Completed passports will be displayed in the Spark!Lab. Prizes will be awarded, while supplies last.

Learn More About the Challenge

Artful Afternoons

Weekdays in July and August, 3:00 – 4:30 PM

For ages 5-7

Check out our new summer program called Artful Afternoons where each week is inspired by a Museum exhibition. These dynamic and unique classes will be offered for four weeks this summer. Due to the variety of media and projects offered returning students are welcome!

Learn More

Golf Outing 2022: Save the Date

Monday, October 3, 2022

Enjoy a good game on the green and supporting a cultural institution? Sign up for fall’s Morris Museum Golf Outing at the Spring Brook Country Club.

RSVP Now!

Image credits (from top to bottom): Image of the new website homepage; Dan Levinson photo by Jack Grassa; Bradley N. Litwin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Large Tetra-Cycling, 2021, Metals, wood, plastics, electrical, 60” H x 54” W x 50” D; Bisa Butler, Basquiat, 2015, Mixed media; Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012), Seated Mother and Child, 2011, Bronze; David Driskell (1931–2020), Woman in Interior, 2008, Silkscreen, Photographs by Elizabeth Catlett & the Morris Museum; Education program images courtesy of the Museum; Richard Haynes, Harmony, 2001, Caran D’ache Oil Wax Crayon on 30 lb. watercolor paper, 22” x 21”, On loan courtesy of the artist.