Celebration with Margaret Murphy: Painting Nostalgia May 29, 2009

Margaret Murphy's
Celebration
A sweet nostalgia for (allegedly) better times.

Opening Reception: Friday, May 29, 6-8pm

Running through June 30, 2009

hpgrp gallery New York is pleased to feature Margaret Murphy's newest works inspired by idyllic town Celebration, Florida. Built in the midst of Disney World’s charm, the town of Celebration offers visitors a modern take on a time when manners meant something and social traditions were cherished.

Margaret's colorful paintings speak of the enduring perceptions and misconceptions surrounding contemporary life. As pinned down by our trinkets, pastimes and values, these paintings express the simple yet complex ideologies surrounding social graces and expectations in tandem with the excesses of American consumption.

Margaret Murphy shares:

Using the town of Celebration, Florida as my inspiration, I am exploring the nostalgic and contradictory nature of contemporary life as evidenced by mass-produced objects, documentary photography and decorative motifs.

As always, the contradictions of contemporary life are what interest me. Using the ubiquitous 99 cent store figurines as protagonists, I created a contemporary Altar painting that depicts a typical American family as the witnesses to the crucified Christ. This family consists of parents in their wedding attire, an oversized baby, adorable siblings and the family dog. The triptych format is a nod to Altar paintings of the past.

Love is explored through the two large paintings of couples looking dreamily into the distance wearing old-fashioned clothing but with a hint of contemporary life peeking through in their accessories.

The series of smaller mixed media works on paper (silk screen, digital print and acrylic paint on paper) take the idea of contradictions a step further by contrasting photographic images of urban life: a Katrina trailer park or the U.S./Mexican border against an idealized and sentimental painting of a figurine. Using the same decorative motif throughout the works in this show creates a dialogue between the works.

Official Website: http://hpgrpgallery.com