Branciforte Branch Library · Now through October 31
The Branciforte Library Friends are pleased to present Breath of Night, a show of acrylic paintings by Shelley Murray, on view at the Branciforte Branch Library through the end of October.
Murray’s paintings start from movement. She works without a plan, letting each canvas find its own shape through gesture, layered texture, and the rhythm of whatever is playing while she paints. What ends up on the wall is less a depiction of something than a record of the hour it took to make.
Look at the title piece and you can see both halves of that impulse at once. Soft blues and lavenders pool across the canvas and hold it quiet. Then the bold sweeping strokes and small strikes of gold pull your eye back into motion. It’s a balance of serenity and energy, and it’s the thing that makes the work distinctive.
From the artist
“Painting is where I let go of expectations and simply respond to movement, emotion, and music. Each acrylic piece is created intuitively, with energetic, spontaneous brushstrokes that capture a moment. Rather than beginning with a predetermined image, I allow each piece to evolve through instinctive gestures, layered textures, and the rhythm of the music playing while I paint.
Inspired by the dreamlike atmosphere of Monet and the energetic freedom of Jackson Pollock, my work invites viewers to pause, reflect, and interpret each painting in their own unique way. Each canvas becomes a record of emotion — the soft blues and lavenders create this peaceful atmosphere, while the bold, sweeping marks and touches of gold keep the eye moving. It has a balance of serenity and energy that feels distinctive. A visual expression that invites viewers to discover their own stories within the layers. I hope these paintings encourage you to pause, look closely, and experience whatever emotions or memories they may bring to you.”
Visit the exhibit
Branciforte Branch Library 230 Gault Street Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 427-7704
Monday–Thursday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM · Friday, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM · Saturday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM · Closed Sunday
The exhibit is free and open to everyone during regular library hours, now through October 31.
About the Branciforte Library Friends
The Branciforte Library Friends formed in 2024 to support this branch and the neighborhood around it — a community of many backgrounds and ages that uses the library as a gathering place as much as a place to borrow books. Working closely with library staff, the Friends raise money for programs, visiting presenters, materials, and equipment. They support literacy work like Summer Reading and READ tutoring, run the mini-bookstore cart, and coordinate the rotating art shows that bring work like Shelley Murray’s onto these walls.
New members are always welcome. The chapter meets the third Thursday of every month at noon in the Branciforte Library Meeting Room. Reach them at branciforte@friendsofsantacruzlibraries.org.
