Lois Morrison

Cows

A collaborative family project involving three generations of book artists, Cows was printed with a Gocco printer in Comic-Sans MS type on Strathmore 400 series drawing paper. The illustrations were colored with various markers and colored pencils. The book was hand-cut and assembled, and includes several bovine pop-ups.

Artists: Lois Morrison, Taylor Collins and Madeleine Nicholas
Press: Constructed by the Artist
Date: 2003
Number and Edition: Unnumbered of 25
Size: 8.75” x 6”

 

In Adam's Fall

Thomas More once wrote: “In Adam’s Fall—We Sinned All.”

In Adam’s Fall is a Jacob’s ladder book reminiscent of a childhood flip-flop toy, with each panel illustrated on both sides of the structure. The piece was printed on Lenox 100 board by Julie Chen at Flying Fish Press, and written, illustrated, hand-cut and published by Lois Morrison, who writes that the book is one “in which cut out couples literally ‘fall’ through Adam's guilt but are redeemed by ‘Eve's Perspective.’" The black fabric strips that create the structure are a stark contrast to the smooth white cards that make up the pages of the book, accentuating the idea of “the great fall.”

Press: Constructed by the Artist
Date: 1989
Number and Edition: 38 of 44
Size: 4.5” x 6”

 

In the Land of Shadows

Lois Morrison has created a number of doll artworks and In the Land of Shadows is the largest and possibly the darkest in the series. The message seems to be a metaphor for shock, disappointment or loss.

Six one-sided panels reveal figures, including one named “the Menace,” all Gocco printed onto Crosse Pointe synei. The panels are covered with hand-dyed ticking over boards. All of the pieces were hand-cut and assembled with crudely made boxes hinged with hand-dyed yellow twill tape. The cutout illustrations are not pop-outs, but hangings that seem to float in many layers, creating textured combinations of images.

Press: Constructed by the Artist
Date: 2003
Number and Edition: 6 of 18
Size: 9” x 9.5”

 

Persephone

Persephone, a visual unfolding of a Greek myth about the goddess of the underworld, was conceived after artist Lois Morrison heard Michael Tilson Thomas conduct the San Francisco Symphony in Igor Stravinsky’s piece of the same name. Written in 1933, Stravinsky’s Persephone is a melodrama in three parts for a speaker, vocal soloist, double chorus and full orchestra.

The three-panel nested accordion fold book diorama depicts the garden (the mute world of Hades), from which the young woman was abducted, and the springtime land to which she returns with the aid of pomegranate seeds. Narcissus flowers and succulent red pomegranates are suspended on nylon thread and hover over the scenes. The piece can be opened to a star book configuration.

Press: Constructed by the Artist
Date: 2001
Number and Edition: 24 of 25
Size: 6.25” x 8.25”

 

Snakes Are Not Nice

Lois Morrison documented her observations of nature by creating this miniature book designed as a snake. Printed from Staedtler's Master Carve onto oriental paper and hand-lettered onto Nideggen paper, the pages are held together by grommets to allow the snake to “slither” across the table. The papers have the look and feel of snakeskin. The pieces were laser-cut by Julie Chen of Flying Fish Press, and the book is housed in a leather bag.

Press: Constructed by the Artist
Date: 2005
Number and Edition: 7 of 25
Size: 2.25” x 2.9”

 

Ste. Ostrich in Manhattan: The Visitations of a Martyr

Lois Morrison created the illustrations and dioramas for this nested accordion fold book, which depicts notable landmarks in New York City. Ste. Ostrich visits the Big Apple and wrestles with an alligator in the sewers, visits the Empire State Building with King Kong and Fay Wray, and has many more adventures. The pages were sewn in blue-green thread at the fore edge, and the book is housed in a bright yellow, cloth-covered folder.

Press: Flying Fish Press
Date: 1990
Number and Edition: 27 of 275
Size: 6.5” x 8”