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NORWALK

By TAMELA J. RITTER

Hour Correspondent


For the artistic Morris-Manning family, it's not just about nature, it's also about nurture. How else to explain this extremely creative and artistic family?

The fine arts members of the family have come together in a group show aptly titled, "Variations on a Gene" in the Chittim-Howell House at St. Paul's Church on the Green, 60 East Ave., Norwalk. The show will continue until April 27.

The show represents the work of brother and sister, Norwalk resident Robert Morris and Wilson Point's Joan Morris Manning and her granddaughter, Barnard College student, Carey Manning Dunne. The sibling's mother, Marjorie Morris, was a well-known artist-member of the Silvermine Art Guild, who died in 1986.

"We grew up in the most talented household," said Manning. "Our mother simply could do anything."

A Cleveland School of Art graduate, Marjorie Morris was an accomplished water-colorist, who always painted while raising her children. Later in life, after her children were grown, she began again in earnest as a portraitist.

"She did a lot of portraits and loved doing them, but hated charging for them. She thought everyone should have a portrait of their children in their home," said Manning.

Though their mother was very artistic, they said they never felt they were being pushed to be artists themselves.

"We were never encouraged to follow in her footsteps," said Manning.

"I came to painting late in life; I was a boy of 70," said Morris. "When I was a kid, I wanted to be an Indian or a lion tamer."

Their father, who was a Kentucky farm boy who never passed the eigth grade, certainly didn't encourage them to become artists.

"He couldn't really encourage or advise his sons towards any education or vocation," said Morris-Manning. "So he sent Rob to a neighbor for a job."

"Never go down the street looking for a vocation," Morris said. "You'll wind up in advertising."

Needless to say, he hated advertising.

"But I loved cooking, so I thought I should get into kitchens," said Morris.

He opened a kitchen store, but found that while he was advising people what sort of pots and pans to purchase, he spent more time suggesting kitchen layout and architecture.

"The problem with most designers and architects is that they don't cook," said Morris.

He gave up the kitchen store and is now an architectural designer with his own business (www.robtmorriskitchens.com). It wasn't until about six years ago that he was, according to him, "shamed into taking some art classes" by art instructor and long time friend, Clyde Smith at Silvermine Arts Center.

"He only paints so that he can go out to lunch afterwards," joked Manning.

"It's true," he agreed.

He's been taking classes with Smith and the same group for years. He is also a member of the Greenwich and New Canaan Art Societies, and is currently serving on the board of the Rowayton Art Center.

Manning started painting while at Bennington College, but she said she was in no way prepared to be an artist.

"A lot of the other girls were more exposed and sophisticated than I. We'd never even been to an art museum as kids and I showed up with nothing but a box of watercolors. I was like a little innocent lamb," said Manning.

She didn't learn as much as she would have liked about painting while at college, but she did learn all she could about drawing and sculpture.

"It was 1951 and everyone was trying to be Jackson Pollock, I could never really get into that sort of lawlessness, so I gravitated towards sculpture who was taught by a strict teacher who taught us about structure and form," said Manning.

After college she got married and had three children in three years and was busy as a housewife.

"I need to paint everyday to be a good painter. I still feel as if I'm just not there yet. For me, I think we're all spread too thin," said Manning.

She did come out of her hiatus about 15 years ago and since then she's sold paintings to private collectors and won several awards and is a member of the Greenwich and New Canaan art societies and is a former member of the board of the Rowayton Art Center.

She paints with oils and focuses mostly on landscapes and still life. Her goal though is to follow in her mother's footsteps and tackle portraits, specifically her nine grandchildren.

"In the end, it turns out, I wanted to be just like my mother," said Manning.

While she said she's not very good at promoting her own work, she is excellent at promoting the work of her family. It was her, without their knowing it, that got both her brother and her granddaughter into their first shows.

Years ago, she submitted Morris' first painting to a show she had also entered at the Greenwich Library where he's work was accepted and hers was not.

"She's always sneaking up in people," said Morris.

Recently she did the same thing for her granddaughter at Rowayton Arts Center's juried show.

"There were 116 entries and only 41 pieces were admitted. My brother was rejected, I was rejected, but my granddaughter who'd never been in a show and didn't know I had submitted the work was accepted, and won a prize," said Manning.

Both Manning and Morris are proud of Carey Manning Dunne who is just beginning her career in art.

"We've been collecting her work for years," said Morris. "All of us have her marker masterpieces hanging on our walls."

Dunne attributes her influences in art to her grandmother who "took me to shows, introduced me to her friends and gave me art supplies. I learned a lot from her."

Her father she said, also had a great influence on her love of art.

"There were always art supplies around and though he wasn't a professional artists; he was always doing these great projects, like making masks, or designing our Halloween costumes," said Dunne.

Like her grandmother, she paints in oils as well and like her great uncle, she knows she's still learning.

"I don't feel I'm experienced enough to have my own style yet; to say I did would be pretentious. I like portraits, but they're hard, so I can't say I've mastered them, but I like to try," said Dunne.

Her mother, Kate Manning is a published author as well, so it makes sense that she would be going to school for both art and English.

"Until recently, we'd always thought she'd grow up to be a writer like her mother," said Manning.

Whether it is the genes or the environment of their upbringing, they said they think it's pretty special that so many in the family are inclined towards some sort of creative and artistic bent.

"You don't see this in most families, and we didn't see it our own until we started looking around," said Manning.


"Variations on a Gene" is on exhibit in the Chittim-Howell House at St. Paul's Church on the Green, 60 East Ave., Norwalk through April 27. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday.

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