Murray will unveil his latest creation, a carved sculpture titled “She is…,” at the Grail’s 50th anniversary celebration the first weekend in November.
Terry Murray, a 30-year resident of Cornwall, is an eclectic artist. He doesn’t stick to one medium like many other artists, but rather he lets his inspiration dictate what medium he uses for a particular project. Over the last 12 years, Murray has used Photoshop to create a collage of images, acrylic paints, carved and cut wood, as well as stones.
“I am a former art teacher and over the decades have used my creative abilities on a range of projects, so I am not a one-media artist.”
Murray holds a Bachelor’s Degree in art education and a Master’s Degree in humanistic education from SUNY New Paltz. He earned his PhD in curriculum and instruction from SUNY Albany.
He began his career as a public school art teacher, serving one year in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and another in the Dunkirk City School District. He spent the next 16 years as a YMCA camp director in Newburgh and Frost Valley. He was a graphic designer for 10 years, working with school districts, not-for-profit organizations, Mohonk Preserve, St. Luke’s Hospital, and Black Rock Fish and Game Club. For the last 22 years he’s worked as an associate professor in the Education Studies Department in the School of Education at SUNY New Paltz.
Murray began drawing at a young age, often picking up a pencil and paper at inopportune times.
“If I got in trouble in school, it was for drawing and doodling when I should be doing something else.”
Although he was a chemist, Murray’s father had a talent for art. Among his influences were the old masters, as well as the pop art from the 1960s and 70s. In eighth grade, Murray vowed to be a professional artist, but by the time he finished high school he realized he needed to be more practical. He went to school for art education, following a career path as an art teacher. The position allowed him to do a lot of creative work, but he didn’t last long in the public schools.
“In the early 1970s, there were a lot of cutbacks in the area of special subject teachers. I realized it may not be the most stable position, so that’s why I went to work for the Y.”
People questioned why he was leaving his art behind, but he only replied, “I’m not leaving my art behind, I’m changing jobs.” Working for the YMCA allowed Murray to work on creative projects with the kids. He also designed posters, flyers, and brochures.
For about 20 years, Murray focused on his career, leaving little time to focus on any personal work.
“I wasn’t inspired.”
Wanting to resume his own projects, Murray started doing yoga.
“That really balanced my mind and I started to feel the need to create again.” It was tragedy which sparked inspiration.
“Right after 9/11, I really needed to find a way to express my confusion, my shock, my anger, my anguish, so I did a whole series of photo collages using Photoshop using a combination of images. That helped me respond to that event.”
The collages depict scenes from the Twin Tower attacks and the ensuing war, as well as the victims of both.
“Most of us who didn’t experience it first hand, we learned about it through the media. Using digital technology and images that I found on the web and in magazines, collaging them seemed to make sense.”
It would be another four years before Murray embarked on another major project.
“It occurred to me, in our modern world, there aren’t a lot of public heroes. Everybody falls from grace including politicians, athletes, and actors. So I decided to do a series, called “Soul Friends,” of people I knew who inspired me and had different qualities such as resiliency, perseverance, and caring. I painted a series of contemporary icons. I hadn’t done a lot of work with acrylics, so I needed to learn how to use them. I did 10 or 12 of those.
The series includes a variety of people such as friends, family, and former students. What Murray found most exciting about this project was contacting his subjects and then sitting down with them, getting their story, and taking their photo. He would then take the photo, play around with the background on the computer, and then project the photo onto a piece of wood and trace the image. Mimicking the medieval style, Murray painted on wood, placing cornicing over the top. Using acrylics helped him hone in on the details of each person.
“A great part of this one is for people to see themselves the way I see them.”
A few years ago, representatives from The Grail learned Murray created a labyrinth at Heritage Junior High School in New Windsor and asked him to do the same on their property.
“I’ve always had an interest in labyrinths. As a child and young adult I was very fascinated with Native American culture and the medicine wheel. Understanding life is a journey. Every time we’re challenged, there’s something we need to learn. If we meet that challenge, it moves us through that cycle. I learned about the labyrinth through that. I use the labyrinth a lot in my teaching. I think it’s a really powerful way to help people slow down and be reflective.”
Walking into the labyrinth is a way of looking back on where they’ve been in their life. In the center they can reflect on what’s important. Leaving they can formulate goals to move ahead in life.
Murray learned to make temporary labyrinths and would walk his classes through them.
More recently, it was on a summer trip in Boulder, Col. that Murray was once again inspired to create. He recalled walking the grounds of The Grail and noticing a grotto off the path leading to the labyrinth.
“When I saw it, I said something has to go in there. Others have said the same thing, but no one has done anything.”
Murray came up with the concept of celebrating women and titled his piece, “She is…” “It personifies the strength and unity of women and the connection with Earth.”
Once Murray received permission to move forward with the piece, he began salvaging various pieces of wood from the Hudson River’s coast. He carved and painted figures over the span of 12 days.
“I hadn’t done that in a long time,” Murray said of working with wood, “but it was a medium that seemed right. I’m flexible enough that I can switch and find a medium that works for any idea I get. I have to be versatile. I love that.”
Only two people have had the privilege of seeing the piece in its entirety, but others will have to wait to see the entire sculpture when it’s unveiled the first weekend of November during the Grail’s 50th anniversary celebration. Like the labyrinth, the sculpture will remain on permanent display.
Murray doesn’t make a habit of creating works of art to show off in public, but his 9/11 and Soul Friends series did appear at Painters about three years ago.
“I’m more involved in the process than I am in creating things to display.”
If you are an artist living in Cornwall or Cornwall-on-Hudson, and you would like to be featured in a future edition of The Local, e-mail jasonkaplan@thecornwalllocal.com.
