A-State Continuing Education and Community Outreach to Hold Open House and Mini-Exhibit of Works By Ozark Artist Royston Morris
JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State University’s Continuing Education and Community Outreach (CECO) program is hosting an open house filled with events and activities for the entire family, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21, at its new location at 2004 E. Nettleton Ave., the Ellis House. The event is open to the public and admission is free.
The event gets underway with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 20, at the location from 3-5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. One of the highlights includes a mini-exhibit of Faberge-style eggs and other creations by Ozark artist Royston Morris. Also, on Saturday, the open house runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and, in addition to the Morris exhibit, award-winning barbeque chef Patrick Hilson will grill at the site. There will be door prizes and giveaways.
Morris was born in Bristol, England in 1928. His life journey traces his boyhood roots of working in a tobacco factory at the age of 14 and joining the British Army at the age of 15 where he worked on World War II General Bernard Montgomery's staff at the war office, which is equivalent to America's Pentagon. He then moved on to the Supreme Headquarters of Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE), which would later become NATO.
He also owned a limousine company, training in defensive driving, evasion and anti-terrorism techniques, where he was able to be of service to the Royal Family. He once drove Princess Alice from Kensington Palace to Clearance House for an afternoon tea with the Queen Mom and Queen Mary. He became a Scotland Yard trained bullion courier once transporting 12 tons of solid gold bars for the Bank of England and diamonds for merchants around the globe, through many other avenues. He eventually chose to retire in Cherokee Village.
Morris has taken time in his busy life to cultivate gardening, playing the piano, painting and creating unique works of art from various types of eggs, similar to that of Carl Faberge’s eggs made famous in Russia. One is a replica of a famous Faberge imperial Easter egg, known as the Lilies of the Valley, an egg presented by Emperor Nicholas II to his wife the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna at Easter in 1898. The eggs are incredible detailed creations with a surprise inside each one.
CECO courses and programs encompass a wide range of interests for people of all ages including credit courses for degree-seeking students and adults pursuing professional development opportunities, concurrent credit classes for high school students, summer camps for children, and community education classes for people of all ages.
For more information, call the CECO office at (870) 972-3052 or check the website at www.astate.edu/ceco.
