Less is Enough
Blinking Light Gallery to Feature Special Exploratory Chapter in the Art of Dennis Murphy
When longtime Plainfield resident Dennis Murphy suffered a stroke some three years ago that left him unable to create his art in the usual way, he turned to less usual means. The Blinking Light Gallery will present a collection of Dennis’s new oil pastels and digitally enhanced photography from July 1 to August 1, with an artist’s reception Saturday, July 10 from 2:00-5:00.
As Dennis explains, “This is not a standard exhibition of fully completed works. I’ve been very engaged in finding out what I can do, substituting other media for those I used to work in.” He’s ready to show his progress to friends and the community, and to share his vision that Less is Enough – the title of his show.
For Dennis, exploring unusual means of artistic expression is not unusual at all. He may be most widely known as the musician, composer and instrument maker whose fascination with Javanese music led to his role in the creation of the first North American gamelan. (A gamelan is an Indonesian musical ensemble, rooted in the islands of Bali and Java, featuring a variety of xylophone-type instruments, gongs, bamboo flutes, and plucked strings. Locals know that Dennis has hosted The Plainfield Village Gamelan for many years at his farmhouse. The group will provide a bit of live music at the July 10 opening. In addition to his art, photography and gamelan work, Dennis has also composed pieces of chamber and choral music, and he’s written plays -- some of which feature a unique system of language of his own invention.
The Blinking Light Gallery is located on Main St. just off U.S. Route 2 in the village of Plainfield, Vermont. Hours of operation are Thursdays from 2 to 6 P.M., and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. The goal of the arts organization, founded in 1999, is to promote and sustain the creative work of regional artists through a cooperatively-run, community-centered organization. For more information about the Blinking Light Gallery, call (802) 454-0141 or visit www.blinkinglightgallery.com.
