Schweinfurth exhibition features friends who focus on the natural world

Martha Deming and Mary Murphy met as teacher and student

AUBURN, NY (Oct. 21, 2025) – Martha M. Deming taught art to middle school students in the Holland Patent Central School District for 32 years. So when Mary P. Murphy was seeking someone to help her develop her watercolor skills, it was natural for her to find Deming.

“In the early 2000s, I had exhausted some of the local continuing ed art classes at Munson (in Utica) and attended various art workshops, but I was interested in pursuing my art studies,” Murphy said. Their mutual framer connected the two women, and a lifelong friendship was born.

“I … visited Martha’s studio every week for about six weeks for approximately 2 hours a session,” Murphy recalled. “After the summer, I’d go once a month or so and get Martha’s critiques on my work. The six weeks were rigorous – sort of a crash BFA – and Martha went over all the critical basics, like value, color theory, composition, brush technique, etc.”

Deming recalls it differently. “Mary wanted help with developing her watercolor skills,” Deming said. “After about 2 ‘lessons,’ I realized Mary was already a very capable watercolor artist. She didn’t need any further instruction from me, but we have been painting together and exchanging ideas ever since.”

The friends have a joint exhibition at the Schweinfurth Art Center, “Lyrical Moments,” that opens at 4 p.m. Oct. 25, 2025, and runs through Jan. 4, 2026. They are giving a joint Artists’ Talk at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, that is free and open to the public.

Both artists choose their subjects for their physical and emotional qualities, which they try to imbue in their paintings. In “Lyrical Moments,” Deming’s focus is flowers; Murphy’s is water.

Deming’s inspiration for her floral paintings are the colors and forms in her gardens as affected by light. To create dynamic compositions, she works from life, from the many reference photos that she modifies and/or combines and from preparatory drawings. Sometimes she uses the physical appearance of the flower as a jumping off point for an abstraction of the subject.

Many of Murphy’s pieces in this exhibition came from photos captured while kayaking or boating. Like Deming, Murphy is fascinated by light. Light on water sparkles, reflects, clarifies, deepens, muddies, darkens, mirrors and glimmers, creating an ever-changing source of beauty and inspiration. The view is often water from new perspectives: eye level at the water’s surface or peering down into water’s depths.

Murphy says the most important lesson she learned from Deming was to set up a space where you can leave everything set up, so you can paint whenever you have time. “People think creating a painting is a matter of being a creative person who has a one-time, lightning-strike inspiration,” Murphy said. “But a lot of getting where you want to go is practicing and perfecting – time and patience. Then when the inspiration comes, you have the tools to make it come alive.”

The friends often paint together outdoors, at plein air paints-outs, and at Murphy’s dining room table when the weather doesn’t cooperate. A highlight of their year is when the sunflowers grown by Murphy’s neighbor are in bloom and the two artists come together to paint them.

Hearing them talk about each other suggests a mutual admiration society. “Mary’s adventurous, fearless approach to her painting has always impressed me,” Deming said. “I also respect her workmanship, dedication and professionalism, her willingness to share all she has learned and her creative thinking.”

“The best way to describe our friendship is as affection, respect, neighborliness, artistic collaboration – AND a love of animals,” Murphy added. “There will always be a bit of mentor/student in our connection, but after so many years, it is layered by many of the other feelings.”

If you go …

WHAT: Lyrical Moments: Martha M. Deming and Mary P. Murphy
WHERE: Schweinfurth Art Center, 205 Genesee St. Auburn, NY
WHEN: Oct. 25, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026
HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays; closed Nov. 28, Dec. 24 and 25, and Jan. 1
EVENTS: Joint Artists’ Talk at 3 p.m. Nov. 22, 2025
ALSO ON DISPLAY: “Quilts=Art=Quilts 2025,” featuring 69 art quilts from 64 artists from around the world