Robert Lee Morris Unveils Trunk Show Of New Collection 5/12

Legendary jewelry designer RoBert Lee Morris will unveil his latest jewelry creations, the "Museum Collection," alongside a selection from his archives of hand-made samples and first-trial pieces from past signature 24K matte gold-plated collections in a special trunk show, on May 12, 2011 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Mr. Morris will also be signing copies of his book, The Power of Jewelry (Harry N. Abrams, 2004) and jewelry that visitors may bring in from their personal collections. The "Museum Collection" and the archival jewelry will remain available for purchase at The Store through May 31, 2011.

The trunk show's prototype 24K gold-plated jewelry pieces are of special significance. When Mr. Morris's jewelry first appeared on a Vogue cover, in December 1976, it literally revolutionized the accessories business by creating a new "designer jewelry" category. These sleek adornments served as a new and exciting bridge between traditional fine jewelry and costume jewelry. Mr. Morris has chosen to present these works for sale at MAD because of the strong affinity with he feels to the museum.

"MAD has the finest modern jewelry collection in the country and perhaps the world" says Mr. Morris. "I treasure knowing my work is not only in the Permanent Collection but now available for the collectors to buy through The Store, which I find a fascinating, soul-filled place, purveying all matter of objects and products that embody the mission of the Museum."

ABOUT THE STORE
The Store at the Museum of Arts and Design is overseen by Franci Sagar, Vice President of Retail and Brand Development, who became acquainted with Mr. Morris in the 1970s when they both had shops in SoHo: She was the proprietor of ZONA and he of ARTWEAR. Both quickly became destination venues, garnering many celebrity clients as well as acclaim in the press. Because of the legendary success of those enterprises, Sagar and Morris today are considered retail visionaries.

ABOUT RoBert Lee MORRIS
RoBert Lee Morris is recognized as a pioneer and a powerhouse in the fine jewelry world with an illustrious career spanning more than four decades. In addition to his signature line, he has also collaborated with bold-name fashion designers such as Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Karl Lagerfeld, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen for Elizabeth & James, as well as art institutions like the Warhol Foundation. Mr. Morris draws inspiration for his designs from nature, mythology, and fantasy, creating jewelry that has been described as both "cerebral and intuitive." In 1995, the Fashion Institute celebrated his artistry with a 25-year retrospective. Most recently, in 2007, Mr. Morris was awarded the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. It is one of among many international design awards he has won during his illustrious career.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN
The Museum of Arts and Design explores the blur zone between art, design, and craft today. It focuses on contemporary creativity and the ways in which artists and designers from around the world transform materials through processes ranging from the artisanal to the digital.