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Peter Lang has just published William Morris in the Twenty-First Century, an outstanding collection of essays edited by Rosie Miles and Phillippa Bennett and drawn from papers presented at the William Morris Society conference held in London in 2005. The book contains essays from scholars and professionals researching and working in fields relevant to Morris’s diverse interests. The contributors offer a reappraisal of his achievements and influence in areas such as literature, art, architecture, politics, environ- mentalism, science and technology. The essays provide a comprehensive introduction for those new to Morris Studies whilst presenting a series of fresh perspectives for those already familiar with Morris’s work. Phillippa Bennett is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Northampton. She is Honorary Secretary of the William Morris Society and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of William Morris Studies. . She has published a number of art- icles

This latest exhibition by John Lendis represents his fascination for John Ruskin and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The series of paintings was produced after six weeks spent at Kelmscott in 2009, home of William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement. From being a child John Lendis has had a great interest in the Pre-Raphaelites. His varied career path has brought him full circle with his focus once again being the work of Morris and his companions. After gaining a degree in textile art in Nottingham, Lendis spent a few years travelling, finally settling in Tasmania where he completed a Masters of Fine Art in Painting. He became an established artist in Australia, holding several exhibitions. Now back in England, Lendis has immersed himself in the paintings and ideas of John Ruskin and the work displayed at Kelmscott. He comments: "I find the abstract patterning of the landscape so interesting in Morris’s work and it seems to bring me closer to my initial training in fa

Craftsman Farms 1 st  Annual Symposium for Emerging Scholars Transcending the role of furniture maker, Gustav Stickley used  The Craftsman  to position himself as a spokesman for the Arts and Crafts movement’s aesthetic concerns and theoretical basis.  Throughout its fifteen-year history, the movement’s fundamental issues were documented and debated in the magazine’s columns, illustrations, and advertisements. In celebration of the centennial of Stickley’s home in Morris Plains, NJ, Craftsman Farms will host a day-long conference on 15 April 2011 for emerging scholars.  We invite current graduate students and recently graduated scholars to submit proposals that critically address the thought, intention, and production of objects in the Arts and Crafts movement.  Papers that use  The Craftsman  as a starting point for critical inquiry are particularly encouraged. For more information and submission guidelines, please direct all inquiries to: Jonathan Clncy,  j.clancy@sothebysinstitute.

It is interesting how Morris's words get around. On the "Happiness Project" blog—tied to a book of the same title by Gretchen Rubin—the following was posted on 9 October, accompanied by the photograph shown: “The secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.”-- William Morris I'm thunderstruck by the truth of this observation. In other words, mindfulness. Always mindfulness! * Today, a reader commenting on the previous post mentioned TVTropes.org (and its addictive qualities). If you've never looked at it, check it out. Fascinating. * If you'd like the new and improved starter kit for starting your own happiness-project group, for people doing happiness projects together, email me at grubin at gretchenrubin dot com. If you're wondering why you'd want to consider doing that, read here. It turns out that the quotation, from Morris's lecture, "The Aims of Art" (collected in Signs of Change, 1888), h

T. C. Steele State Historic Site in Brown County, Indiana, allows you to step back in time and witness a revolutionary period in art through the Steeles' lives and their deliberate design choices. The exhibition, Arts & Crafts Moments, ; highlighting artifacts and architecture from the Arts and Crafts movement, runs from 2 November 2010 through 30 March 2012. Theodore Clement Steele (1847–1926), noted Indiana artist and member of the Hoosier Group of American regional impressionist painters, was inspired by the picturesque scenes that he encountered in Brown County. In 1907, Steele and his second wife, Selma Neubacher Steele, purchased property in Brown County and began construction of their home, which they named "The House of the Singing Winds." They built the Large Studio to accommodate Steele's work and landscaped the surrounding hillsides to enhance the beauty of their property. Selma created several acres of gardens around the home. From 1907 to 1921, the St

This just in from the William Morris Gallery: The William Morris Gallery Development Project We are delighted to announce that we have secured a major award of £1.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, matched with funding from the Council. Our grateful thanks to the Monument Trust which has pledged a significant amount to the project and to the Foyle Foundation for their generous support. What will the development project achieve? Not only will much more of our world-famous collections be on display, but we will also be showing them in new and beautifully refurbished galleries. And visitors of every kind, young and old, will enjoy the very best facilities. There will be a new learning centre with a purpose-built space for school groups, and an excellent shop and tea- room. And, of course, there will a suitably radical and exciting programme of events and activities – all designed to open the eyes of a new generation to the wonders of William Morris and his world. What will the ‘new’ Willi