Calgary artist Stephanie Dawn Murray is making art out of thoughts at the Trianon Gallery with her new exhibit “Wandering Thoughts 2, which opens this Saturday, May 26.
The exhibit is the annual exhibit for Lethbridge’s Trap\Door Artists Centre.
“It’s an installation exhibit,” Murray said, taking a breather from setting up the Trianon Gallery for the exhibit, which opens May 26 at 8 p.m. It will be running until Aug. 26. She designed the exhibit specifically for the Trianon Gallery.
She has spent the past 60 hours creating the art, moving a variety of supplies including a lot of paper, chicken wire and cloth into the space and another 20 preparing it.
this is the first time she has worked with Lethbridge Trap/Door Collective.
“They have been great. They have been super supportive,” she continued. The four large pieces are designed to work together to convey the concept of thought.
“The concept of the work is about growth. I wanted to look at how thoughts manifest themselves. I imagine that if thoughts were to manifest themselves, they would look something like this ,” she said adding she imagines a thought would resemble growing plants and moss.
“We try to articulate thought in terms of words and try to express them, but they aren’t quite in our vocabulary,” she continued.
The genesis of the exhibit has been two years in the making.
“It was just something I was reflecting on when I was in Australia two years ago. It is a different place but similar so you can really reflect on your thoughts,” she said.
The largest piece, dominating the centre of the gallery is designed like a cocoon.
“Well, for me it is like a cocoon, which allows me to be surrounded by my thoughts,” she said.
“I’m interested in seeing how people react to it and if they choose to interact with it,” she said adding she is looking forward to being able to receive feedback from her audience.
The opening reception is 8 p.m., May 26 in the Trianon Gallery (104 5th Street S).
