Presentation of Seaport Watercolor Paintings AAPA/PRSA-Detroit Public Relations Seminar Detroit, MI Robert C. Morris Director of External Affairs Georgia Ports Authority June 24, 2009 American Association of Port Authorities 703.684.5700 www.aapa-ports.org 1
Coming Full Circle Savannah Daily News Sunday, June 22, 2008 By Allison Hersh Robert C. Morris may be best known as the director of external affairs for the Georgia Ports Authority in Savannah. However, this articulate port spokesman and public relations expert also has a passion for painting detailed watercolors celebrating nature and everyday life along the coast. As a young boy growing up in Washington, D.C., art made a particularly deep impression on Morris, who says that "art was the only thing that took my breath away as a child." He attended Tulane University in New Orleans, where he studied studio art but ultimately earned a B.A. in English. American Association of Port Authorities 703.684.5700 www.aapa-ports.org 2
"Twenty," an exhibit of 20 recent watercolors on display at The Book Lady in downtown Savannah, marks this 47-yearold artist's return to painting after a two-decade hiatus. In 1985, Morris abruptly put down his paint brush after his beloved mentor at Tulane University, Hal Carney, died of a massive heart attack shortly before Morris debuted his first solo art show. While mourning Carney's loss with fellow artists at a New Orleans pub and a local cemetery, Morris' car was broken into and all the paintings he planned to exhibit were stolen, along with a portfolio of his best art from college and high school. 3
"It was devastating and life-altering," he explained. "There was no record that I had ever existed on this planet as an artist." He took the double-blow of Carney's death and the theft of his own art as a divine sign that he needed to choose another path in life. A talented writer, Morris eventually became a staff reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, an editor at Atlanta magazine, a features editor at Creative Loafing in Atlanta and a speech writer for former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes. 4
"I quit painting literally for 20 years," he said. "But about two and a half years ago, I began to have dreams about these stolen images. Almost every night, another one of these paintings would reappear." Morris decided that he needed to start painting again and quickly began executing sketches and small paintings of local scenes. Inspired by artists like Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Wassily Kandinsky, he eventually created a body of watercolor paintings that reflect his love of Savannah, nature and the port. 5
From the pastel splendor of "North Beach" to the amber landscapes in "Autumn Dawn," Morris delights in capturing the colors, form and lines of the world around him. He paints tug boats and container ships floating gracefully down the Savannah River, using a palette that is alternately bold and restrained. Utilizing dozens of layers of color wash, he creates vivid compositions like "Bloody Marsh," which re-imagines tidal salt marshes as fiery ribbons of color. "When you're working with watercolors, it's as if you're the master of the universe," he said. "You're orchestrating it, but it's not really in your control. It's always a mystery as to what the outcome will be." 6
Working from his Gwinnett Street studio, Morris enjoys rediscovering the medium that originally inspired his creativity as a boy and as a young man. Although the quality of the work on display in "twenty" tends to be a bit uneven, the exhibit marks this long-dormant artist's joyful, full-circle return. "I can bring much more maturity and commitment to it at this stage of my life," he said of his art. "I'm excited about what will happen next." 7
The following watercolor images were painted by Robert Morris in celebration of, and as a way to communicate the value of, our vital seaports. We hope you enjoy the show. For questions or more info about his paintings, contact: Robert C. Morris Tel: (912) 964-3855 rmorris@gaports.com 8
Blue Night 9
In Challenging Times 10
Passage to Brunswick 11
Passing Cockspur 12
The Refuge & The Cranes 13
Tybee Sunset 14
When The Lights Come On 15
Bloody Marsh 16