The University of Alabama Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of Lucid Dreams, an exhibition of photographs by Sharon Murphree, from February 5 through March 26. The public is invited to a “socially-distanced” First Friday reception on February 5, First Friday, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., in the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in downtown Tuscaloosa. Visitors must wear face coverings inside the Cultural Arts Center and maintain a minimum distance of six feet from others. The DWCAC is limited to fifty (50) visitors at a time.
Sharon Murphree works in almost total darkness with a variety of materials including translucent gel and multiple light sources to achieve her dreamlike landscapes. She hopes that to the viewer, “at first glance, the images appear to be a serene landscape or seascape – a familiar horizon that has been seen again and again. But upon a longer look, the idea of what the viewer is looking at changes as they begin to question what they are seeing.” Among her influences are the luminous works of the Hudson River School, and the ephemeral seascapes of J.M.W. Turner. Murphree’s landscapes also reflect her interest in the “effects of humanity on our environment.” She writes, “Climate change and how Earth’s ecosystems and geology in the Anthropocene have changed should resonate with viewers as they are able to see a place no one living today has ever viewed until now. What might the world look like in the future compared to the images I create?”
Murphree, originally from Tuscaloosa, earned the BFA in Photography from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2018 and studied ceramics at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, in Florence, Italy. She is the owner of Sharon Murphree Photography and her clients include Tuscaloosa Magazine and the Preservation Society Quarterly. Her website is here.
The University of Alabama Gallery is an essential part of the education and development of UA students and our community. Galleries are open Mon., Wed., Fri., 9 am-4 pm and Tues., Thurs., 9 am – 3 pm. and First Fridays 12 noon-8 pm. To ensure the safety of our visitors and staff, visitors must wear face coverings inside the gallery and maintain a minimum distance of six feet from others. Have questions or need assistance? Call (205) 345-3038.
For more information about The University of Alabama’s programs in studio art and art history, visit our Degree Programs page.