Springfield Art Association
  • About
    • Contact
    • Hiring
  • Education
    • Classes >
      • Book Arts
      • Ceramics
      • Digital Media
      • Drawing
      • Fiber Arts
      • Glass
      • Metals & Jewelry
      • Mixed Media
      • Painting
      • Pastels
      • Photography
      • Printmaking
      • Sculpture
      • Youth/Teen
    • One-Nighters
    • Open Studio
    • Summer Art Camp
    • Scholarships
    • Instructor Bios
  • Outreach
    • Art Outreach
    • Field Trips
    • Make Truck
    • Bronwyn Eves Memorial Project
    • Art As Therapy
  • Events
    • 6x6
    • Art Synergy
    • Beaux Arts Ball
    • Film Series
    • Fine Art Fair
    • Paint the Street
    • Roasted
    • The Great SAA Pumpkin Patch
    • Yart Sale
  • Galleries
    • Collective >
      • For Juried Artists
    • M.G. Nelson Family Gallery
    • Call For Entries
    • Residency
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Edwards Place
  • Library
    • Library Events
  • Rentals
    • Arty Party
    • Field Trips
    • Adult Events
    • Team building
    • Rental Spaces
  • Join + Give
    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Volunteer
  • Shop
    • Art Supplies >
      • Clay
      • Clay Tools
    • Make Kits
    • Murder Mystery Game
    • CHECKOUT
GALLERIES
COLLECTIVE
M. G. NELSON FAMILY
CALL FOR ENTRIES
PAST EXHIBITIONS
ARTSY SHOP
MEET THE ARTISTS
BECOME A JURIED ARTIST
FOR JURIED ARTISTS

Dennis Morris -  Painting and Sculpture

May 21, 1943 - May 22, 2016
Obituary
Picture
Making art and teaching about art has been part of my life for nearly 70 years. My Mother loved to share a story about one of my earlier art works. In this story I’m proudly showing a crayon drawing composed of two parallel lines. Someone asked what my art work was and I replied “a train”.  When questioned further about the absent train I said the train is on the way.

Such was my earliest recollection of art making. My journey as an artist is a twisted path of positives and negatives.  Looking back I can see how even the most negative things ended up with a positive spin. At one point I was going to become a “Blue Chip Artist,” the super artist whose work is sought after by folks who would collect everything I made. I was producing and selling art but loosing vital contact time with my wife and children. Around this time my bread and butter job (teaching) changed. I had taught secondary art for 16 years but with a bond referendum failure and the promised cuts to the fine arts I was suddenly without a job. I was told to wait because a position would open up. My new position included teaching 3 to 21 year old students with developmental disabilities. This new assignment challenged many of my ideas about art and art making. “How can Johnny draw when he can not hold a pencil” was a title of one of many workshops I conducted for parents, educators, artists and caregivers.
​
Over time I have adjusted to the fact that I will not be a “Blue Chip Artist” but simply an artist who wants to share the joy of making and experiencing art.
Donate
Contact Us
Mailing List Sign Up
Campus Map

Edwards Place

Located on Main Campus
​ 700 North 4th Street
​Springfield, IL 62702
​

Tour Times:
Tuesday - Saturday 1 PM and 2PM
​Not open for self-guided tours

217-523-2631
collections@springfieldart.org

 SAA Collective

105 N. 5th Street 
Springfield, IL 62701


Wednesday - Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM
​217-544-2787
gallerydirector@springfieldart.org
Follow Springfield Art Association on Artsy

SAA Main Campus

Main Office, Studios,
M.G. Nelson Family
Gallery, and Edwards Place
​ 700 North 4th Street
​Springfield, IL 62702
​

Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PM
Saturday 10 AM - 3 PM
217-523-2631
office@springfieldart.org
  • About
    • Contact
    • Hiring
  • Education
    • Classes >
      • Book Arts
      • Ceramics
      • Digital Media
      • Drawing
      • Fiber Arts
      • Glass
      • Metals & Jewelry
      • Mixed Media
      • Painting
      • Pastels
      • Photography
      • Printmaking
      • Sculpture
      • Youth/Teen
    • One-Nighters
    • Open Studio
    • Summer Art Camp
    • Scholarships
    • Instructor Bios
  • Outreach
    • Art Outreach
    • Field Trips
    • Make Truck
    • Bronwyn Eves Memorial Project
    • Art As Therapy
  • Events
    • 6x6
    • Art Synergy
    • Beaux Arts Ball
    • Film Series
    • Fine Art Fair
    • Paint the Street
    • Roasted
    • The Great SAA Pumpkin Patch
    • Yart Sale
  • Galleries
    • Collective >
      • For Juried Artists
    • M.G. Nelson Family Gallery
    • Call For Entries
    • Residency
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Edwards Place
  • Library
    • Library Events
  • Rentals
    • Arty Party
    • Field Trips
    • Adult Events
    • Team building
    • Rental Spaces
  • Join + Give
    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Volunteer
  • Shop
    • Art Supplies >
      • Clay
      • Clay Tools
    • Make Kits
    • Murder Mystery Game
    • CHECKOUT