Local Art Seen: Murphy and Murphy @ Lizzard's Inspires and Delights

This past Thursday Lizzard's Art Gallery & Framing hosted a much anticipated opening reception for Murphy and Murphy. Scott Murphy is a top-notch local painter and muralist. Robin Murphy, no relation, is a sculptor who works with clay.

The show was supposed to take place a year ago. Unfortunately, Scott & Colleen Murphy's near-fatal car crash last year resulted in this one year delay. Scott Murphy has produced a new body of work partially informed by his early retirement, the aforementioned car accident and the promise of a grandchild. The get well soon balloons in his recovery room inspired the balloons in his paintings, as did some of the hallucinations he experienced in his physically broken state at that time, hallucinations in which he himself was flying. "I saw horizon lines stacked like pages in a book and watched as they turned from line to plane beneath me. The decision to come back to my bed seemed to be made in a very casual way, like reaching for a coffee cup or watching rain through a window." Now that he re-connected to the earth he states that it is important to "get things right this time."

St. Paul artist Robin Murphy's ceramic sculptures have such personality, like characters from children's books. "I am attracted to factual and fictional marrative, drama, parables, including parado, and the what ifs of life. Sometime it begins with a question, word or phrase to explore, such as vulnerability, love, loss, reflection, mischief, or 'caught in the moment of.'" As you look at the expression on these various characters you can surmise stories that swirled about in Robin Muprhy's imagination as she defined ideas with images. She states, "The malleability of clay, and the process of discovery are seductive and surprising, as the clay becomes something physical through my hands."

There were plenty fo familiar faces on hand Thursday, and the usual first-class treatment by the Lizzard's team.

I love the whimsical titles on both Murphy's works. A River Runs Through Her, Wound Up in Possibilities, "He could persiflage with the best of them!" and other titles that make you eager to hear the rest of the story in each of Robin's characters. "Disposing of conformity, he took the road," for example.

Scott's titles are equally endearing. Tornado Bird, After They Privatize the Clouds, Run Away Circus Bear and Whale with Peonies serve as examples. After the Crash is less endearing, but then, what is that hog doing, playing a guitar up on the side of the road?

The work will be on display through November 16. I would encourage you to step in and check it out if you're anyway near the center of town, a half block from the intersection of Lake Avenue and Superior Street. And while you're there, check out Shawna Gilmore's work, and all the other fun, thoughtful or stunning pieces throughout the gallery. Make a commitment to yourself and just do it.

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Meantime, art goes on all around you. Get into it.