CSS On Tour – William Morris: Poet, Craftsman, Socialist

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
-William Morris

For our first event outside the sunlit plains of Canterbury we are excited to have Martin Crick return to this topic in a free event in Oamaru.

William Morris was an artist, textile designer, craftsman, poet, novelist, and pioneering socialist. His fiction helped establish fantasy as a genre, his artistic endeavours were an enormous contribution to the British “Arts and Crafts Movement”, and his political thought varied from grand revolutionary flair through to a deep concern with the day to day aspects of what a decent life for all would mean.

Martin is the author of “The History of the Social-Democratic Federation” (1996), as well as many articles on British socialist history. Before emigrating to New Zealand Martin was a trustee and vice-chair for The William Morris Society.

Martin’s lecture will provide a sketch of Morris’ career as an artist, writer and business man, his revolt against the capitalist system and how he crossed his ‘river of fire’ to become a socialist.

We are immensely grateful to Craftwork Brewery for hosting us for this special event.

The event is free and all are welcome to attend. No background knowledge is necessary.