Burton Morris: The Land of Oz in a Coffee Cup (Video)

Somewhere over the rainbow Dorothy's lonely lament for lemon drops and elaborate livin' crashed into complication. Fancy dreams succumbed to a yearning for the trouble-free life when Kansas, crullers, and Auntie Em beckoned her back home. If only she'd possessed artist Burton Morris' imaginative eye Dorothy would have found enchantment in the simply stunning world of her humble farmhouse.

From featured artist on "Friends", to the Olympics and the Academy Awards, Burton Morris' work is prized among the savvy for his use of color, energy and the iconic images of our generation. Morris depicts the conventional, elevating objects to angelic status that dare us to look again.

I visited with Pittsburgh-based Burton Morris at his satellite studio in Los Angeles. Morris' roster of collectors is a testament to his standing as a star among American artists. Burton's vibrant work celebrates today and inspires us towards a better tomorrow.
The land of Oz never had it so good.

www.BurtonMorris.com

Comments

[AngryAmish]

What I really want to see is a clip in which you explain your prison garb.

Love it.

[CitizenE]

WOW! POW! ZAP! A coffee cup surrounded by black triangles! Really brings it to life. And this summer in the theaters, one comic book after another. Says something about a society that while now five years into a war where thousands of its own have died or are casualties, and hundreds of thousands of the civilian population of our socalled enemy or ally, I can't quite figure which, are dead, casualties, living in forced exile, or are internally displaced, that an "artist" discusses in great self-seriousness Stan Lee, Absolut Vodka, and Friends. Perhaps facts on the ground are such that we don't need another Goya, but goofy gumball machines Batman, wake up and smell the coffee, whatever Burton Morris is--advertising designer, whatever--if this is art, what will we call McCain campaign tire gauges ten years from now?

[Sciguy]

Agreed. Besides, this form was done better - long ago - by Peter Max. Same bright colours, same simple style, but Max was not usually quite so commercial. As for the items he depicts - Andy Warhol was the original.

I suppose there is a place for pop art, but this stuff is eye candy - pretty, but unimpressive. It looks a lot like the simple line drawings one can download for kids, for them to colour with markers or crayons (or fill in with a Paint-like program right online).

If we continue to make art at this level, McCain's tire gauges will be regarded as masterpieces of form blended with a message in high satire. But that's OK - nobody will be able to read by then anyway.