Charles Morrison: Head in the Sky, Feet on the Ground
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 9, from 5-9pm
On View: May 9 – May 30
Morean Center for Clay
420 22nd St. South
Throughout recent years, there’s been no shortage of reasons why we might want to consider reexamining our existing worldviews. Increasing numbers of populations are becoming aware that many of today’s trends, popular ideas, and leading theories are often not aligned with truth, and don’t always contribute to the progression of human consciousness. To be “in the world, but not of it” is a philosophy that has helped guide many through these confusing times.
The power of this statement comes from being able to live and exist in a specific realm without taking on the characteristics, customs, and beliefs of that specific realm. To have your own values or ideas that may differ from the popular society, but to not be shaken or swayed from them. To be a visitor of a given space and time, humbly passing through onto the next. Or in other words, having your head in the sky and feet on the ground!
Having one’s head in the sky in this instance refers to a deep interest in spiritual matters, occulted aspects of society, and ancient histories of our world as Morrison applies research from those areas to inform his work. While simultaneously having one’s feet on the ground; which speaks to being grounded in reality, connected to other humans, active and involved in real world efforts to build relationship and community. This distinction is important to Morrison as he feels human connectivity and real world action is the only way we can build a better world, and often times having one’s “head in the sky” is used to reference a neglect of reality.
“Without a change in the hearts and minds of the masses, there will never be a change in our shared physical reality. I hope to encourage that change!” – Charles Morrison
With a newly found fascination for the giraffe, (a creature whose head is quite literally in the sky, while its feet remain planted firmly on the earth) Morrison uses artistic depictions inspired by ancient mythology to convey a spiritual concept related to existing in the world today. Bringing forth wisdom from our ancestors to help guide us forward; connecting past, present and future, with hopes to provide the courage needed to ask the tough questions. Reexamine everything, give thanks and travel wise!
About Charles Morrison
Charles Morrison is a multi-disciplinary artist originally from the Chicago area. Receiving his Bachelors in sociology From Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana in 2017, Charles first started working with clay in 2016. He has since exhibited throughout the Midwest in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana until taking an unexpected hiatus from his craft in 2020. Having recently relocated to Tampa in 2023, Charles quickly discovered the Morean Center for Clay and was able to pick up where he left off a few years prior.
Using clay as his primary means of communication, Charles also employs print, paint, and performance to convey his message. Taking great inspiration from the ancient world and indigenous cultures around the planet, he finds himself working to remind us today, of an ancient past. Creating vessels that appear to have been recovered from the bottom of the sea, or unearthed from years of compacted soil and earth beneath our feet, Morrison hopes to spark a deep remembrance in the viewers of his work, reminding them that we’ve been here before.
