Overview
By The Studio
James recently spoke at the University of Washington discussing his collaboration with other artists and poets. The talk explored the challenges of creating images to depict the poetry, specifically to take an entire poem and capture it's breadth of meaning in one single image. An ongoing project still in early developmental stages, when completed, artwork is planned to be show throughout at several museums, galleries and university campuses. More details to come.
To keep informed on this subject, inquire about art purchases or other updates from the artist, please fill out our contact form.
The Poetry Project
Artist James Murphy
The University of Washington
The Poetry Project
Artwork #1
DETAIL
Artwork Detail
ARTWORK: Ref P001, NOT YET TITLED
By James Murphy
Mixed Mediums, Primarily Acrylic on Paper
Mounted on distressed (railroad) wood
Approx. 100 x 23 inches
From the poetic sequence–
The Art Of Folding
By Sarah Zale
A bird strikes the glass where we sit, gazing,
then lies aground as the cat at the window glares.
The dogs in the yard near and we run, our hands
cupped, as If we believe what we touch we can heal.
Do we cry for the bird or a memory
of our own bent wings?
The pain of a place or event slips into a crowd—
drifts, rises, reaches its peak on different breaths—
waits, and breaks of its own weight.
Abu George sits at the window of his home, his hotel,
staring out at the wall that killed his father, took
his land, broke his business.
He of rich brew, the qahwa in his cup, breathes
deeply, smiles. Each morning, he says, I awaken
and laugh to begin my day. What good does it do
to be sad? To be angry?
The Poetry Project
Artwork #2
From the poetic sequence–
Bread
By Sarah Zale
ARTWORK: Ref P002, NOT YET TITLED
By James Murphy
Mixed Mediums, Primarily Acrylic on Paper
Mounted on distressed (railroad) wood
Approx. 16 x 80 inches
Examine
yourselves,
and then
only eat of
the bread
and drink
of the cup.
-1Cor 11: 27-29
What
is there
to do
about
all the
violence?
Except
gather
the
sprouting
seeds
of the
sunflower
with
its
leaves
of
tender
palms,
the barley
with
its wound
down
the pale
of its
belly,
the
wheat
and
spelt
and
millet
and
lentil,
hard
as
shooting
rounds.
We say
it is
in
our
grain
how we
wait
wolf eyed
for
the
bake
of
this
bread,
the
growl
in our
gut
and
drool
at our
lips,
primordial,
as we
plan
how
we`ll
cross
a
warm
slice
with
butter
and
sweet
jam,
then
eat.
For more information, a studio tour or to purchase artwork please contact the studio.