Artist: Jennifer Murphy
Title: “Long-Legged Avocet”
"Over the last few years I have been conducting field research at The Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto. I have been researching mythologies related to the natural world based on my findings. Taking the idea of the artist as naturalist I have slowed to nature’s pace by developing the discipline of observation. I have conducted field research observing astronomy, birds, butterflies and moths, insects, fungi, mammals, snakes, flora, and weather systems. This led to research into unusual bird migration patterns. While Southern Ontario has many species of shore birds like egrets and herons a few years ago a glossy ibis was spotted in the marshes of Whitby, Ontario. A very unusual sight since glossy ibises are native to more southern climates. There is speculation that climate change is moving birds, animals and insects into unexpected places. My encounters in nature were the starting point for this work and I have adopted John James Audubon the American ornithologist, naturalist and artist’s painting of a glossy ibis from the early 1800’s for this work. I used an outline of his ibis and filled it in collaging images of rocks, minerals and gems.
The work was made through collecting used books on nature and cutting the images out and giving them new life through collage. Usually my work is based on research of various mythologies and archetypes of the natural world. These works are playful, beautiful, fantastical, ephemeral, fragile yet spectacular. My subjects are related to transformation in nature, beauty, decay and chance.
I think it is important to develop a deeper relationship to nature and place and I believe art can help foster this. I think my work is very accessible to a general audience because of the sense of play, humour and wonder I try to infuse with the work. I also think people can relate to my work because I use images from nature that we all have some connection to which can facilitate dialogue and exchange. Long-Legged Avocet works well for wayfinding and is a natural landmark because of its large scale, the vibrant colours and easily identifiable image of shore bird. For me nature inspires creativity and supplies the mysteries that encourage careful observation, interpretation and reflection. I believe both art and nature to have calming and restorative affects and am honored to have a work hanging at CAMH."
- Jennifer Murphy