As a former calligrapher and graphic designer, typographical forms are like a Siren song to me! I've been enjoying my time creating some work that incorporate type! An added bonus to working on these "collages" digitally is the ability to use various transparency as form.
Kevin Tully, Yours Truly, and Amanda Smith
Road Trip!
Sometimes we meet people who are so genuine you can’t help being drawn to them. Last weekend, I attended the artist’s reception for the “Being Set Free” exhibition at the A Smith Gallery in Johnson City, Texas. In addition to being accomplished artists, gallery owners Amanda Smith and Kevin Tully, are just plain “good people”. I look forward to again working with them sometime in the future, and plan to tap into their encaustic expertise to further my own! Also currently on display is the “Portraits” exhibition, fabulously curated by Photo Editor extraordinaire, Alyssa Coppelman whom I also had the pleasure of breaking bread. In case you’re wondering, Johnson City is about an hour from both Austin and San Antonio, and hails its name from our 36thPresident; Lyndon B. Johnson who grew up here. Show runs through April 15, 2018
A Smith Gallery
103 North Nugent Avenue, Johnson City TX
works recognized in the MPA's
The 7th Annual Mobile Photography Awards were announced and among the many fine selections were two of my works. "Separated At Birth" and "Eternal 22" received honorable mentions in the Visual FX and Macro categories. The MPA's as they're called, were founded in 2011 and are the world's longest running international competition for mobile photography and art. I began creating work using mobile devices in late 2012 and have been recognized by the MPA's all but one year since 2013. You should take a few minutes to see the other fabulous images selected in the link above!
"Feel Your Presence" selected for iPhoneography Show
The Southeast Center for Photography asked for images made with cell phones or tablets that illustrated the artistic merits of those devices. Juror Dan Burkholder selected 38 images for the exhibition including "Feel Your Presence", an image from the "And Then" series.
The Southeast Center for Photography
116 East Broad Street, Greenville, SC 29601
Show dates: March 2 - 31, 2018
Reception: March 2, 2018 from 6-8 pm
"And Then" debuts in texas
A Smith Gallery is presenting a very unique show titled Being Set Free in which artists evolved their photographic artworks around physical/emotional healing goals or subjects – setting oneself free from limitations, grief, disease, loneliness, encumbrances, disappointment, all common experiences of the human condition. Additionally, the artists were asked to further the viewer's experience with a written element to accompany the project.
My submission included five images from a recent series titled "And Then" which explores the journey through grief one embarks upon losing a loved one. Three of these images and the accompanying poem will be shown in the upcoming exhibition juried by Karen Divine, Melanie Walker, Amanda Smith, Diana Perkins and Kevin Tully. If you're unable to attend the show in person, you can enjoy the show here.
A Smith Gallery
103 North Nugent Avenue, Johnson City TX
February 23 to April 15, 2018
Receptions: February 24 and March 31 / 4-8 pm
©2018 Bobbi McMurry
Getting my hands dirty!
I've been enjoying the fact that I pulled some of my traditional art supplies out and have been pushing myself in some new directions. This is a mobile art piece from my most recent series "And Then". It's been mounted to a 30 x 40" cradled board sanded, scraped, painted, and drawn into using a variety of mediums. Once I was satisfied with this mixed media "base layer", I began working it with encaustic wax, encaustic paint and oil sticks. Working with the wax can be a bit tricky and very physical on a piece of this size - but I've fallen in love and will be doing many more pieces in this manner. The luminescence and three-dimensionality created in the layers of wax create both a tactile and visual depth thats very inviting. I look forward to working this way some more!
© 2018 Bobbi McMurry
Leaning Into the (Tuscan) Light
I spent ten glorious days in October making art in a beautiful and secluded medieval Tuscan village called Benabbio at the 11-room Villa San Rocco. The time was filled with creating, exploring and pushing personal artistic boundaries while also learning some new apps -- Leonardo and Hipstamitc -- that I've now incorporated into my regular repertoire. Special thanks to Suzi McGregor who taught the workshop and our hosts Carol Panero-Smith and James Hajicek of Alchemy Studio! Each day began with Carol's delightful version of yoga, and ended with her cooking in the Tuscan tradition using fresh local ingredients. Did I mention we also enjoyed a bit of local wine? The area was as authentic as it comes, filled with history that the knowledgeable villa owner Johnny Beacon entertainingly shared. The workshop title "Leaning into the Light" proved perfect ... there is something different, warm, and fabulous about Tuscan light.
"Beginning to Understand" receives Honorable Mention
"These images reveal the spirit of those who are open to embracing a new art form and those who are willing to push the limits of photography." - Karen Divine The PhotoPlace Gallery presented a show called iPhone Imagery in both their street side and online galleries in Middlebury, Vermont. Juried by one of my favorite artists, Karen Divine, Beginning to Understand and I Feel You Move were both selected from among artists working from all corners of the globe. These two pieces are part of a series inspired by my reluctance to let my kids go as they reach adulthood. I'm a very proud mother, but I wish I could hold my three boys close ... forever!
"Adam" and "Eve" invited to Cut it out; an all collage show
Held at the Revolution Art Gallery in Buffalo, NY, this exhibition features 13 collage artist working in both traditional cut-paper and digital collage. Two of my favorite pieces; Adam and Eve, are included in this show of provacative works imbued with dark beauty, emotion, and mystery. Curated by Maria Pabico LaRotonda, Jul - August 2017, works on sale thru January 2018.
"hidden on the outside" invited to mudrus exhibition
The Hand magazine is a quarterly publication about artists working in all forms of reproductive based media. It's publishers Adam Finkleston and James Meara recently curated and produced a beautiful show titled "Mudras". The duo personally invited me to show "Hidden on the Outside" in this exhibition at the gorgeous Leedy-Voulkos Art Center gallery in Kansas City. July-August 2017
Eternal series selected for "abstraction of the ordinary" exhibition
This exhibit showcased nine international artist presenting a new perspective: a new life to the ordinary by shifting the point of view and introducing a world of abstraction. Curated and presented by ArtPonte New York, the juried show of photography and cross-disciplinary techniques encouraged it's viewers to question their impressions of the ordinary. Three works from my Eternal series were selected for this show at the Van Kossens gallery in the heart of New York city . June 8 - July 8, 2017
eternal series recognized in moscow
"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best that you are capable of becoming." John Wooden The Moscow International Foto Awards is an annual competition whose mission is to recognize, reward and expose talented photographers from around the world and introduce them to the creative community is Russia. With thousand of entries, I'm proud to say that the 28 distinguished photography professionals recognized my ongoing series "Eternal" with an Honorable Mention.
Julia margaret cameron awards finalist!
"There are some things you can only learn in a storm." Unknown Being Set Free is a series based upon my personal exploration of self-imposed barriers to becoming who or what I'd like to be. The process of making these works opened my eyes to previously overlooked cues I somehow chose to ignore. This journey of self-discovery taught me that the tragic turns in our lives, when looked at properly, provide valuable lessons and personal strength. The Being Set Free series recently received acclaim as a finalist in the renowned Julia Margaret Cameron Awards and will be represented in the Foto Biennale exhibition in Barcelona in October of 2017.
costello childs gallery to represent my work in Arizona
Humbled to see my work hanging at Costello Childs Contemporary Gallery, a well reputed and established gallery with a combined 40 year experience in the art business. Their selection encompasses a diversity of contemporary styles/mediums including abstract, landscape, ceramic, photography, printmaking, etc. Costello Childs has worked with many experienced collectors as well as first time buyers. Dedicated to serving both their collectors and their artists, Costello Childs is the perfect home in Arizona for my work!
Visit the gallery at 2724 N. 68th Street, Suite 1, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
From left: Robert Uribe, Jenea Sanchez (Galiano's Cafe), and Tom Wilson (AZ Citizens for the Arts)
supporting the arts in arizona
"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Thomas Merton The 36th Annual Governor's Arts Awards recognizes individuals, arts and cultural organizations, educators and businesses for their devotion to the excellence of Arizona arts and cultural community. The honorees selected are presented with an original piece of art for their efforts. It was rewarding to present "No I Will Not Do Your Nails" to the winner in the small business category to Galiano's Cafe! The Douglas establishment is more than a cafe; it has been central to the revialization of it's community.
art and artist working together
Lost really has two desparate meanings. Losing things is about the familiar falling away; getting lost is about the unfamiliar appearing." Rebecca Solnit As an artist, I realize the importance of losing myself and becoming fully immersed ... so much so that time slows, intuition takes over, and the inner critic disappears. It begins from a desire to be creating and entering into a dialog between my work and myself. While I'm making intentional marks, the results are often unexpected and I'm forced to respond accordingly, so each action is taking a risk, a speculative step toward an unknown destination. If I knew exactly where the journey would end, I likely wouldn't begin at all. My passion lives in that place where the art takes on a life of it's own and my relationship with the piece defines the destination.
Mira Mobile Prize
The fourth annual Mira Mobile Prize whose theme was "Earth - our planet" received more than 5,000 international entries creating a near impossible task for the eight distinguished jurors to narrow the grouping to a mere 50 images for the Shortlist. I was honored to find "Seeing The Forest Through The Trees" among this select group.
Heartfelt thanks fo Manuela Matos Monteiro and Joao Lafuente whose vision created the fabulous Mira venues, and this annual competition to cull the best of mobile art. I also want to recognize the jury members who didicate themselves to this and so many other opportunities for mobile artists: Aldo Pacheco, Andrea Bigiarini, Cadu Lemos, Gina Costa, Joanne Carter, Jose Miguel, Lee Atwell, and Michael Jones. The Mira Mobile prize exhibition will be held at the Mira Forum Gallery at Miraflor Street 155, Porto, Portugal from April 1 to May 13, 2017.
HOLDING ON
This piece is the most recent addition to my Eternal series which grew from my heightened awareness and reluctance to accept the transitory nature of life. On one end of the spectrum, I watch my children grow and leave home one by one. On the other, I see my parents gradually losing the ability to do things they once enjoyed. I struggle with these changes wishing them to remain frozen at specific points. I know that I'm not alone, we're called the "sandwich generation".
In Eternal, I'm freezing living things, in this case, flowers. This work explores the conflicting nature of trying to hold onto the transient. It represents the contradictions inherent in attempting to preserve ephemeral moments, often with unexpected intrigue that unfolds naturally. By freely abandoning myself to indulge in the fantasy of freezing moments, I provide you the seldom-gained experience of viewing the transitory as eternal.