Groveland Gallery announces the opening of In Memoriam, a special exhibition of new works by William Murray. Running just three weeks, and opening May 3 (3-5pm), the show will feature twelve framed paintings depicting Northern Minnesota and the northern Great Lakes. These small watercolors will be accompanied by additional unframed paintings.

William Murray was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and earned his MFA from University of Minnesota. Murray began teaching art at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater in the 1970s, creating such a successful program that other institutions around the country began modeling his methods. Prior to founding that program, Murray served in the Coast Guard on the Great Lakes and trapped lobster in Nova Scotia, having sailed for four years on Lakes Michigan and Superior on an ice breaker and a search and rescue vessel. William passed away on November 11, 2024.

The BWCA region in particular inspired Murray for many years, as he dedicated himself to capturing the area in watercolor. Murray understated the stunning nature of the views, choosing storm clouds and nightfall over sunny, shimmering lakes. Through his sublime recounting of the shape of the landscape and weight of the weather, Murray’s work speaks to a spaciousness which belies the small scale of the paintings.