NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s School of Creative and Performing Arts, Department of Fine and Graphic Arts, will honor long-time art professor Rivers Murphy with an exhibition and induction into the CAPA Hall of Fame during a program Saturday, Sept. 7. Former students have contributed pieces created under Muprhy’s instruction that will be on exhibit during a reception from 5:30-8 p.m. in Orville Hanchey Gallery.
Murphy joined Northwestern State’s faculty in 1966 and retired in 2004. He has worked in a number of media including sculpture, stained glass, printmaking, design, drawing, crafts and glassblowing. Many of Murphy’s works have appeared in exhibitions or are in private collections throughout the United States and Canada.
Murphy was a member of a state task force on arts education in the state public schools and another task force which developed a test instrument for the evaluation of art-talented public school students.
He was the sculptor of a creation to honor playwright Bobby Harling, the author of the play and screenwriter of the film “Steel Magnolias,” and the artist and designer of a special commemorative coin to honor country music singer Roy Acuff on the 50th anniversary of his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
Murphy was the recipient of the Louisiana Art Education Association’s 1990 Outstanding Supervision/Administration Art Educator of the Year Award.
During his tenure at NSU, Murphy was a mentor to many artists who have contributed work to the Sept. 7 exhibition and plan to return to Natchitoches to honor their former professor.
