Michelle Marie Murphy

OCTOBER 2011 UPDATE:

2011-10-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

2011 Hey Hot Shot International Photo Competition
I am honored to announce that a new series of work that I am developing Perceptual Beauty received Honorable Mention in the 2011 First Edition of the Hey Hot Shot competition.

Hey Hot Shot site

portrait session preview

2011-08-08T10:36:00.001-07:00

Portrait of Vanessa before her move to LA

new photo series in progress:

2011-08-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

on the personal and domestic life...

a rest outside

your gaze and mine

in darkness to light

with and without you

my sex

Group Exhibition: "Spacelift"

2011-01-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

January 14 - February 5, 2011
Curated by Kristin Bly

Opening Reception:
THIS Friday, January 14 6:00pm-11:00pm!

Where:
Wall Eye Gallery
5304 Detroit Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44102
216.640.7769

Additional Hours:
Saturday, January 15 12:00pm-5:00pm
Sunday, January 16 12:00pm-4:00pm
And by appointment through February 5.

More information about the exhibition here.

SCI-FI movie night

2010-08-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

MOVIE NIGHT is this Saturday August 28st from 6-11pm
1025 Huron Rd., Cleveland Ohio

See the list of artists and more details HERE

RSVP to the event on FaceBook HERE

I curated an exhibition with Cetusss: "OUTERSPACE: The American Odyssey"

2010-08-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Opening Reception is this Saturday August 21st from 6-10pm
1025 Huron Rd., Cleveland Ohio

See the list of artists and more details HERE

RSVP to the event on FaceBook HERE

Exhibition: the Sculpture Center Juried Show

2010-06-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

This exhibition was juried by Astria Suparak (Carnegie Mellon University's Miller Gallery), and opens Friday June 11th.

[link to the announcement]

Exhibition: Zygoye Press Inc. Juried Show

2010-06-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

This exhibition was juried by H. Scott Westover (Progressive curator) and opens Friday, June 11th.

Exhibition: Arts Collinwood Members' Exhibition

2010-06-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

[Link to the exhibition]

Group Exhibition: Referential

2010-03-12T08:23:00.000-08:00

I am in a group show curated by Cindy Penter that opens this evening at Asterisk Gallery in Tremont (from 6pm-10ish).
This is part of the Tremont Art Walk.

more info about the exhibition HERE

address:
Asterisk Gallery
2393 Professor Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio. 44113

HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT, IT'S A GREAT COLLECTION OF ARTISTS AND WORK!!!!!

collaboration: "Microscopes and Megaphones"

2010-02-08T13:52:00.001-08:00

exhibition: OUTERSPACE

2010-01-10T21:13:00.000-08:00

Getting artwork ready, edited, finalized....to ship to Baptiste for the exhibition that he is curating!

Here is the exhibition information:
http://www.elvisss.com/OUTERSPACE/

2009 - ending of another year!

2009-12-10T06:27:00.000-08:00

With 2009 coming close to an end, I have been looking back at my portfolio and planning what is ahead.

3 New Years Resolutions:
1. quality over quantity
2. redesign of website to include my whole portfolio
3. more collaborations

group exhibition: "FRIDGIDART"

2009-11-12T12:16:00.000-08:00

©Michelle Murphy and Monica Johnson

painting: "for/four friendship"

2009-11-05T16:57:00.000-08:00

new series of work: "America, a Comedy"

2009-11-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

The paintings in this series, "America a Comedy", are painted from photographs that I am taking of America's Funniest Home Videos. I found that there are many still frames that are truly surreal, and that like some of the Documentary work of Errol Morris...are proof of the strange and extraordinary occurrences in every day life.

"The Future"

2009-10-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

"Transformation"

2009-10-29T17:04:00.001-07:00

MOT(el)

2009-08-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

credit to everyone who participated in MOT(el):
Michelle, Baptiste, Robin, Vanessa, Wes, Chris, and Austin

"on longing"

2009-08-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

new series of work: "Staycation"

2009-07-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

"Staycation" is a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home rather than vacationing during a financial strain or crisis. The term was thought to be first developed in 2007.

Photos in this 1/2 "found" and 1/2 self-produced series are to show what vacation experiences that Americans' have had in the past. "Staycation" photographic series are vignettes of the exotic, indigenous people, mundane snapshots, and sublime landscapes...showing all that contemporary "Staycation-ers" are missing.

Creating a disjointed anthropological adventure, I hope to subtlety point out comparisons between our current state of domestic American life versus the "undomestic" experience of the indigenous people.

exhibition: Asterisk Gallery at Ingenuity

2009-07-12T19:10:00.002-07:00

Thank you to Dana from Asterisk Gallery for the exhibition opportunity and Austin Kotting, Sam Meador, Chris Ryan, Vanessa LaValle, Jose Luna for helping me with the installation.

exhibition: MADE IN THE 216

2009-07-12T19:10:00.001-07:00

paintings for sale @ Little Paper Planes

2009-03-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

2 of my "Ufology" paintings are for sale and featured on Little Paper Planes, a curated distro site (based out of San Francisco) of artists' works and gifts.
Check out LPP + decorate your walls:
Little Paper Planes

published work: MESSY Magazine

2009-03-19T06:09:00.000-07:00

Genna Petrolla wrote a feature about my work in the online publication Messy Magazine Issue #3.
Download (the pdf) of Issue #3 here:
Messy Magazine

Tacoma Narrows Bridge @ Asterisk Gallery - Feb 21, 2009 - 10pm

2009-01-20T07:23:00.001-08:00

My band/art performance group is playing on Sat. February 21st at Asterisk Gallery in Tremont, Ohio - 10:00pm.

Asterisk Gallery in Tremont - 3 person exhibition - Feb 13, 2009

2009-01-20T07:22:00.000-08:00

about the exhibition:
"Thrice is Nice"

gallery info: http://www.asteriskgallery.com/contact.html

Pecha Kucha Night - lecture Feb 5, 2009 @ House of Blues

2009-01-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

photo credit: Matt Smith

Tacoma Narrows Bridge @ the Language Foundry - Jan. 30, 2009

2009-01-20T07:10:00.000-08:00

My band/performative art group is playing at the Language Foundry in Tremont, Ohio - Friday January 30, 2009.

band site: http://www.tacomanarrowsbridge.blogspot.com/

Tacoma Narrows Bridge - performative band collective

2008-11-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

Tacoma Narrows Bridge creates visual + aural renderings which present an altered snapshot of the current, regional human condition.
TNB takes actual situational transcriptions and performs them through narrative and tonal elements. Words heard from the performed character studies taken "out of context" become "ultra-contextual".
The "snapshot" from real life experience to the performance (by the Tacoma Narrows Bridge) creates a continual uncomfortable breaching of the "third wall"...and leaves the viewer/participant to a continually altering interpretation.

band site: http://www.tacomanarrowsbridge.blogspot.com/

critique with Paola Morsiani

2008-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

landscape

2008-11-13T14:39:00.003-08:00

SPE

2008-11-13T14:39:00.001-08:00

Society for Photographic Education Regional Conference 2008

group exhibition: Akron Art Museum - toy camera exhibition

2008-10-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

A couple of my photos (self portraits taken with a Holga camera) are on view at the Akron Art Museum toy exhibition.
Here is a link to information on the group show:
http://www.akronartmuseum.org/

America - How to Have Fun in the Midwest

2008-10-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

bowling

swimming

cookout

air show

helicopter ride

motorcycle ride through the woods

four wheelin'

s'mores

horse-back riding

published work: ITCH magazine

2008-10-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

see the portrait that I took of artist Cetuss (from FAKE OFF) published on the South African based publication, ITCH MAGAZINE:
http://www.itch.co.za/?article=70

Silent Art Auction

2008-09-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

"How to have fun in the Midwest no. 1"

I made this drawing for the Morgan Conservatory benefit auction.

The Morgan Conservatory is a new "green" papermaking mill, printmaking and artists' space, and will have a gallery in Cleveland (1754 E. 47th St.)

http://www.morganconservatory.org/

published work: Gawker Artists

2008-09-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

One of my "Ufology" paintings was featured on the NY based website on Friday.
Check out my work on GAWKER ARTISTS:
http://artists.gawker.com/5045222/michelle-marie-murphy

FAKE OFF

2008-08-29T13:53:00.001-07:00

logo design sample for the artists' concept band:
FAKE OFF:
www.myspace.com/trickoficon - www.trickoficon.com - www.lastfm.fr/music/FAKEOFF

ICONS

Twins!

2008-08-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

I went to the Twinsburg, Ohio Twins Days Festival.
Lots of twins, lots of matching outfits, and a few scientific research booths looking to pay the twins $150 for medical research.

Going to the festival, I felt in touch with what Diane Arbus must have felt. Am I creating documentation? Am I "outing" the strange? Or am I learning something new about my self, and about my mother (whom is a twin actually). Obviously when looking at these images, an immediate visual comparison ensues. What is it like to have a living mirror, a clone? What are the similarities, what are the differences?

photography 2008

2008-07-30T10:33:00.001-07:00

"American Suburban Pools"
These photos were taken in Parma, Ohio of pools that belonged to next-door neighbors.

"Between Asleep and Awake"
A re-creation of interior light that I perceived during intimate moments; Nan Goldin influenced.

Ingenuity Festival 2008

2008-07-28T08:47:00.001-07:00

Public Interactive Projection - "PIP"

The piece was shown in an urban alley as part of the ALL GO SIGNS section of the Ingenuity Festival here in Cleveland. The audience was invited to create transparent and opaque images onto an overhead projector.

Like excitable moths, the audience swarmed to the light table...realizing their stream-of-consciousness into cut paper, plastic, sequins, beads, and markers.

A special thanks to Chuck and Mark for the opportunity, and Sam for the crafty supplies!

ROLLER DERBY portraits

2008-07-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

"Hellbombers Team photo"

"Dagney Taghurt of the Rolling Pin-Ups"

"Ufology" painting series

2008-07-11T11:12:00.001-07:00

"UFOLOGY": paintings about the "Bigger Picture"
by Michelle Marie Murphy

The inspiration for these watercolor paintings came from web searched UFO photos. Although some of these images may leave the viewer with an obvious explanation; I would like the viewer to contemplate their own thoughts about life beyond Earth.

“Ufology” are painted from internet sightings of a cloud (resembling an UFO), a lens flare, the reflection of a hotel light in the window, and even controversially convincing photos of natural phenomena. Through this work, I hope to reveal the American optimism… that there is something bigger than us out there.

This series is for "believers” and skeptics alike.

"the Future Collective"

2008-07-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

"Checking Booth"
performance/installation

(left) wall detail

Viewers were invited to "check" me in a flatrack roller derby legal hit, in exchange for writing down a "grievance" that they have on a dry erase board.

This exchange with my audience was successful in a couple of ways: they were allowed to vent, and then welcome to take their stress out on me physically.
Many people left the installation feeling empowered and relieved.

A special thanks to DJ Olive for the opportunity, Sam and Chris for help with the installation, and Matt for the documentation.

"Genetically Modified"

2008-07-11T11:10:00.005-07:00

"Contraceptive Corn Exists"

"There will be glowing mustard seed plants on Mars"

"GM wheat"

This work came out of months of reading, surfing, and research of the developments in Genetically Modified Plants and Animals.
It was my goal to educate the Contemporary Art world of new and controversial developments in biology.

Read Lyz Bly's review of this work.

The work was exhibited at Heights Arts Gallery in a two-person show titled "Paradigm Shift" with artist Angela Oster which was curated by Kristen Baumlier and Dr. Gary Sampson.

photography 2007

2008-07-11T11:10:00.003-07:00

"Irreversible"

This work was inspired by the French film Irréversible by Gaspar Noé, 2002. In the film there is a traumatic scene where a beautiful woman was a victim in an underground walkway. With this photo, it is my intention to re-claim the scene with a beautiful woman that is perceptually strong and cold, holding her victim's heart.

"Keyhole Portal"

photography 2006

2008-07-11T11:10:00.001-07:00

"the girl I knew, haunted corn maze"

"Riding Romeo"

photography 2005

2008-07-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

"Sketchbook Drawings"

2008-07-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

"finger pointing"

"concept for art"

"tree's his-story"

Read Lyz Bly's review of this work.

After BFA

2008-07-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

San Antonio, Texas

2008-07-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

I assisted my Professor Yianni Yessios at the SIGGRAPH conference in 2002. During my time there I took as many Polaroid photos as I could pack film.

Collaboration with artist Monica Johnson

2008-07-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

Our collaboration started in Michigan in 2001.

"Emerge"

"Wash, Soak, Wring, Dry"

"Read White and Black"
manipulated polaroids

"Second Skin" digital video still

"Dreamer"

Interlochen Center for the Arts

2008-07-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

I worked at Interlochen, MI for 3 summers during college.
A lot of my most important work came out of my time and experiences there.

"Sink or Swim"

"Beauty Study - self portrait 2000"

"Beauty Study - self portrait 2000"

I also met Monica Johnson(SF, now Brooklyn) in MI during my second summer there, whom I have collaborated with.

Seen here is Eliza "pony" Ferdinand. She was one of the weirdest artists I have ever met. She was magnetic. Her work reminds me of what the character of Tom Sawyer would create. People flocked to her and began speaking like her. Originally from Michigan she settled in Portland for a while, and now lives and works in Brooklyn.

I met Tim and Daniel my second summer at Interlochen. They were musician/indie/hippie/punk kids. Barry used to call them the "greasers". I started listening to Bright Eyes and the Faint after I met them.

5th year at the Cleveland Institute of Art

2008-07-03T13:10:00.003-07:00

4th year at the Cleveland Institute of Art

2008-07-03T13:10:00.001-07:00

Mission: Lady Apollo
Here starts my first Space related artwork.

"Whose star are you?" elevator installation

"pictured: Lady Apollo"

"pictured: early Prince of Space"
"Coffee" Kevin Vincent specialized in telecommunications, and Mike Kwiezinski was the Space Warrior as "Walkie-Talkie-Mike" as my subjects along with my alter ego, "Lady Apollo".

Gender Identity

"Engagement"

3rd year at the Cleveland Institute of Art

2008-07-03T13:09:00.001-07:00

"Funeral"

"Scarecrow"

"Horror"

"Face"

2nd year at the Cleveland Institute of Art

2008-07-03T13:08:00.002-07:00

"Self Portait with Twins"

"Female Super-hero, Super Model"
Here is a dark and heroic photo of Caroline. Friends since kindergarten, and there were times when we were never apart. She gravitated towards singing,then literature, and now teaching. I still think she has the best voice out of anyone I ever knew.

oil painting from 2001

Self Portrait painting created in 2000

Life Drawing - created in 2000

ANIMATIONS:

1st year at the Cleveland Institute of Art

2008-07-03T13:08:00.001-07:00

"Concept for Plastic Surgery" - frontal view

"Concept for Plastic Surgery" - profile view

These images started my obsession with doing research before creating a photo. I looked through many medical references at a CWRU library until I found visual charts to replicate on my face (showing potential areas of improvement). This work was also in a response to learning about the artist Orlan, and how she takes the self portrait to a new unbelievable extreme. Orlan undergoes actual plastic surgery, transforming her own body into her medium....her canvas is her body parts!

"Kevin's Prom Photo"

images from high school

2008-07-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

I created this portrait at LTV Steel, when the steel industry still alive here in the "rust belt". We were terrified to shoot in this conveyor belt building; we went on a Sunday hoping that less employees could catch us trespassing.

It was the first photo that I ever created by "breaking and entering". Marne wore a dirty dust mask found on-site.

I was interested in the idea of food wrapping, and consumption. I was creating portraits in the fashion of an Andy Warhol horror flick. I always liked to play on the idea of a heroine. Michelle McKay, seen here was my partner in crime. We came up with performances that we called "crazy schemes". Through middle school and early high school we were inseparable. Both left-handed, both with the same name and the same initials she was both my twin and my opposite. I liked David Bowie, she liked Syd Barret; I liked the Meat Puppets, she preferred REM. We had all-night marathons of rental movies from B-WARE VIDEO, and wore pajamas to school.

It was a creative time for me, and I was never alone.

influences early on

2008-07-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

I took photography classes at C.I.A. as a high school student. I took as many classes that I could learning from Dawn Wright, Hadley Conner, a man named Garret, and Barry Underwood. They introduced me to important photographers that influenced my work:

Cindy Sherman
Francesa Woodman
Laurie Simmons

1st photo

2008-07-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

The first photo I ever printed myself was a terrible one. It was softmore year of high school. The composition involved my 2 closest girlfriends at the time, Michelle McKay and Sonia Sanchez. We were standing in threesome much like "Charlie's Angels" and I photographed the shadows that we made on a lawn. I was first fascinated by the cliche subject matter of the shadow...in Black and White.

AFTERIMAGE begins.

2008-07-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

In short:
This is my new home for photos, and text.

At length:
I am interested in examining and writing about what an image means culturally and personally.
There has been important texts written about the significance of photography to society, and how the manipulation of an image can change societal opinion. The first text that comes to mind is On Photography by Susan Sontag. However, a lot of her hypothesis were not thoroughly researched. Leaving holes in the concepts presented. I see these holes as an opportunity for me and anyone else who has something to say "on photography"!

A great drawing professor of mine, Cintron, once said "never stop drawing...you should make 100 drawings a day, even if you are just tracing in your mind". I take what he said to heart. It is both a blessing and a crutch. I find myself "making photographs" even when I am not carrying a camera. People often catch me with a staring "problem".

Although it is difficult for me to separate myself from my work...it is time for me to take responsibility for the images that I have brought into the world. AFTERIMAGE will also inform the new images that I will conceive.

What is an afterimage?
afterimage

Thank you for visiting!