Artist combines diverse objects for visual interest
By: Olivia Tattory
Surprisingly, diverse objects can have one thing in common Mollie Murphy.
Branches, zippers, grapevines, rubber balls, doll parts and wire pieces as well as other items found in unsuspecting places are just some of the material Ms. Murphy uses to create her assemblages.
"Really my goal when I make them is for them to look seamless," said Ms. Murphy. "They look odd but the seams look invisible and when that happens the pieces form a unique partnership."
Ms. Murphy’s constructions are currently on display in a vacant store window on the corner of Hulfish and Chambers streets in Palmer Square.
The pieces, at a first glimpse, may seem like quirkily constructed oddities and that they are. It isn’t until the observer really looks at the piece and is able to decipher where it begins and ends and that the materials used to create it are identified that things come into focus.
Ms. Murphy finds most pieces in unexpected settings including the grounds of The College of New Jersey, where metal pieces were discovered and are now used as parts and stands for the objects.
Always on the lookout for new things, the pairings of completely unrelated objects are the staple of her work. Some of the pieces are more direct in what is conveyed, while others are somewhat more ambiguous, Ms. Murphy said.
"It’s all in how the objects fit together," she said. "I don’t go into my work with a specific content in mind the pieces are what define each other."
It’s a matter of walking down a street, one that’s not too clean, and finding things that she ultimately just wants to share with other people. The window display, a somewhat informal setting, is something that was of great interest to Ms. Murphy. Passersby wouldn’t expect to see these pieces and that’s what makes it so great, she explained.
Connecting things that don’t have any business being together and wouldn’t otherwise make sense is part of the excitement for Ms. Murphy. Sequins placed on sweetgum balls, a doll foot fastened on a spoon and other combinations that the eyes aren’t used to viewing as one all displayed in a vacant store.
Sponsored by the Arts Council of Princeton, Ms. Murphy’s work has been on display for about a month and will remain there indefinitely or until the space is rented. Maria Evans, gallery manager of the Arts Council, recognized the importance of location when showcasing an artists work.
"It’s nice to have exhibits up where people don’t necessarily expect to see them," said Ms. Evans. "We’re able to draw them in artistically and get them to ask, ‘What is that?’ " she added.
Ms. Murphy agreed, and said the window display puts the pieces out in the world for anyone walking by to view without much effort.
Ms. Evans chose Ms. Murphy’s work because of the size and uniqueness of the individual pieces.
"I thought her work, since it’s very small and contained would work extremely well in the window," said Ms. Evans.
Ms. Murphy, a Princeton resident, who also teaches art at Princeton High School, is a self-described artist of sculpture, photography and video. Some of her photographs are displayed at Victory Hall in Jersey City as part of a show curated by the Jersey City Museum entitled "99."
More information on Ms. Murphy as well as photographs and videos can be found at www.molliemurphy.com. She is also a registered user on the Web site www.youtube.com, as "mofilms27."

