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Howard Murry (1891-1968) North Carolina Watercolor Artist


Nestled high in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina is a peaceful rural community untouched for over two hundred years. That place is Valle Crucis, a resort town in the Watauga Valley near Boone. It was there that Howard Murry, a Charlotte native and an accomplished water-colorist, visually documented the landscape and traditions of the region during the past mid-century.

Murry is currently experiencing an artist resurrection. The Lee Hansley Gallery in Raleigh has launched an exhibit through March 25th entitled: "Howard Murry Rediscovered". His work has not been shown in an exhibit format in twenty-four years. According to David Klein with the Indy Week, Murry was interested in the ways and means of living in rural North Carolina, from traditional farming methods to religious practices, and his watercolor landscapes depict a slightly idealized past, free of utility lines and automobiles, taking subtle modernist liberties with his subjects.

The exhibition consists of forty watercolors from a collection that the artist's grandson has owned since Murry's death in 1968. During Murry's lifetime (1891-1968) he exhibited his work at the Mint Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and at commercial galleries in Charlotte, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Not bad, considering he was self-taught. Below is another one of his Valle Crucis paintings.







Corn Field, Appalachia, North Carolina
Watercolor on Rag Paper

Beyond his artistic talents he wrote. His book "Salt O Life," provides stories from the western North Carolina mountains that match his watercolors. He shares that these mountain people are relaxing and telling stories. It is not just a hobby, passing the time of day has become an art -- the art of story-making.

One book review goes on to say: Remembering clearly, unfolding their tales deliberately, and enjoying the moment, these sage mountaineers, while rocking in their settin cheers and smoking their pipes, enjoy a brand of humor that has its roots deep in their traditions. The result is some unsurpassed stories, told for enjoyment.The saving grace of these people, says Murry, after commenting on their many hardships, is humor and a keen appreciation of the small everyday drolleries of life. This is the salt of an otherwise difficult and austere existence.

The book is illustrated with some of his paintings of the magnificent mountain scenery. Additionally, many of his records are kept in the special collection at the Belk Library, Appalachia State University, Boone, NC. From my art historian perspective, its great to have Murry back in the spotlight, if just for the month of March.








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