Exhibitions
Gradients of Growth
SOLO EXHIBITION
Chimaera Gallery
3502 Scotts Lane #2113
Philadelphia, PA 19129
Chimaeragallery.com
September 6 - October 28, 2024
POST/ Philadelphia Open Studio Tour, Saturday Oct 19-20th from 12-6pm
Closing Reception: Saturday, October 26, 6 - 9pm / Artist Talk at 6:30pm/ Dance Performance at 7:30pm by Lyra Butler Denman
Gallery Hours: Saturdays 12- 4pm and by appointment
Gradients of Growth investigates the question of what do birds see in our anthropocene climate. The abstract portal shapes in Deirdre Murphy's paintings are derived from the tree cavity nests found while walking in the woods of Rolling Hill Park during a residency at Lower Merion Conservancy outside Philadelphia. The print series titled, Contemporary Herbarium is based on Lehigh University’s Tremblay Herbarium collection. Herbariums are a library of dead plants which climate change scientists use to track the decline and/or health of botanical species. These monoprints take a hyperlocal look at East Coast pollinator species that act as hosts to feed the migratory birds, which continue to thrive despite the rising temperatures. The focus of Murphy’s studio practice is grounded in the ecology of hope rather than the grieving of extinction and the belief that through awareness we can work to heal and repair our warming earth. This exhibition was made possible by generous funding from Lehigh University’s CORE grant and Lower Merion Conservancy Artist Residency program.
Nest Alchemy
SOLO EXHIBITION
MuSE Community Museum at Washington College
485 S. Cannon Street
Chestertown, Maryland 21620
August 5 - December 15, 2024
Receptions: September 6, 5 -8pm & October 4, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Oct 8th, 5pm World Migratory Bird Day / A conversation with Deirdre Murphy & Maren Gimpel, Associate Director, Foreman Branch Bird Observatory
Gallery Hours
First Fridays & Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00pm and by appointment
Nest Alchemy is a thought-provoking series which explores bird nests throughout the four seasons and revels in the architectural wonders of the avian species. Murphy challenges the traditional assumption that nest building is a purely instinctual process by highlighting the learning and memory abilities of birds. Cynthia Haveson Veloric PhD, art historian and independent curator, discusses how Murphy’s paintings celebrate the “engineering marvels” of nest structures and aim to turn them into icons of a disappearing species. Veloric describes how the vivid and symbolic colors used in her paintings mirror the changing seasons and the impact of climate change: “orange, psychologically associated with positivity, also references global warming; the green speaks of rebirth and spring”. This exhibition is hosted by MuSE Museum at Washington College’s where Deirdre is currently an artist in residence at the Center for the Environment & Society.
In the News
Future Tense, Speculative Art focused on Climate Devastation and gun violence converge in West Philly
By Cindy Stockton Moore June 2, 2024
Residencies
Lower Merion Conservancy
Climate Action Artist -in -Residence at Lower Merion Conservancy, Gladwynn PA
Lower Merion Conservancy
Climate Action Artist in Residence
The Lower Merion Conservancy is pleased to announce Deirdre Murphy as the inaugural Conservatory Climate Action artist-in-residence. The Conservatory is devoted to protecting and promoting environmental wellness and sustainable public land management as well as historic preservation to promote conservation and climate change awareness. Murphy will produce her Contemporary Herbarium print series based on native pollinators from the cottage studio garden and use the forest as inspiration for her studio painting practice. The Conservancy advocates for policies, programs, projects and has a youth education program in which she will participate.
Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory
Washington College, Chestertown Maryland
Artist in Residence & Visiting Artist
Washington College’s Foreman Branch Bird Observatory welcomes Deirdre Murphy as the artist-in-residence where she will produce a site specific art commission for the new bird banding station and have an exhibition at the MuSE Museum. The commissioned artwork will visually communicate the trends that FBBO is finding in the avian migratory patterns along the Eastern Shores of the Chesapeake Bay. This project is made possible through the generosity of Charles T. Bauer Charitable Foundation.