The Morris Museum to Show "Bold Strokes ~ The Paintings of Chris Kappmeier"

Written by Fiona Glenanne Sunday, 09 October 2011 22:49

Morristown, NJ.- The Morris Museum is pleased to present "Bold Strokes: The Paintings of Chris Kappmeier", on view at the museum from October 20th through March 25th, 2012. New Jersey artist Chris Kappmeier’s paintings burst with tiny expressionistic specks and dashes of paint that build to capture city vistas and landscapes in their splendor. An artist with a modern take on the traditions of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Kappmeier says his paintings “call to mind the work of artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet, who were also obsessed with visions of vibrant colors.” An opening reception will be held on October 27th between 6 and 8 p.m. New Jersey artist Chris Kappmeier is often seen outdoors in his local surroundings, painting arresting landscapes and cityscapes that are a tribute to the raw authenticity of his surroundings.

The Lyndhurst resident is primarily, first and foremost, a plein air painter, although he occasionally ventures into creating floral still life work in his indoor space. His thickly painted impasto pieces, often angled in unusual perspectives, are filled with a sense of vibrancy and life – buildings seem to breathe and landscapes invite gentle breezes and sunlight. Kappmeier studied art and design at the Newark School of Fine Arts, and has continued to work on his art as a full time pursuit.  A highlight of his career was an apprenticeship spent in Italy with Professor James McGinley.  Works from this period are clearly different from his recent paintings; however, the months in Italy provided the artist with the technical foundation and skills to progress as a full time professional artist, and influences from this time period remain evident in his work today. The artist focuses on being fully present in his creative process.  Kappmeier remarks that “I don’t think you can paint a cold winter scene or a hot summer day without being in it.  My art is about the feeling of the moment and is not done from pictures.  In this way, I am a part of all of my paintings.” This sentiment exudes a truth in brushstrokes, color and perspective. “Art is the most important thing in my life. I love the feel of the brush to canvas, pencil to paper, the smell of the paints and linseed oil. I use all mediums, including crayons, markers, watercolors, pens, and pastels.” His images are that of the every day scenes- the anxious taxi huddle, historic buildings in the afternoon sun, simple street scenes. The commonplace becomes uncommon in his images.


Objects collected for display at the Morristown Neighborhood House formed the beginnings of the Morris Museum collections, and education has been an intrinsic part of the museum's program from its inception. Mrs. Aldus Pierson, the House's first headworker, gave talks to children about various cultural expressions represented by this early collection of art and artifacts from a broad range of cultures throughout the world. Generous donors soon began giving Mrs. Pierson interesting objects they had acquired in their travels around the world. By 1927, the collection filled seven rooms and encompassed the first floor of the Neighborhood House's annex. From 1938 through 1956, the museum occupied space in the Maple Avenue School, enabling staff to enhance programs for children and to establish relationships with area schools. The museum was incorporated in 1943, and the outreach education program began in 1950 with a series of in-school presentations for Morris County students, including talks about American Indian culture. In 1963, having outgrown its fourth location, the Morris Museum acquired "Twin Oaks," the former Peter H. B. Frelinghuysen family estate. Mr. Frelinghuysen was a lawyer and banker and was the grandson of Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, the secretary of state under President Chester Arthur. Today, this architecturally significant Georgian-style mansion is the heart of the museum's exhibition space. To support expanding activities and programs, successful capital campaigns have made it possible to add to the facility since then. In 1970, the gallery space was increased and a 312-seat theatre was added. In 1990, the museum complex was further expanded to the present 75,524 square feet. The Morris Museum collection currently consists of approximately 48,700 objects. Individual areas of the museum's distinguished collection include costumes and textiles, fine art, decorative art, dolls and toys, natural science, geology and paleontology, and anthropology. Objects from the collection are presented in permanent and changing exhibitions. Visit the museum's website at ... http://www.morrismuseum.org

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