Katie Murray – Mother Gazelle
The Kitchen Chalkboard Blog Interview
We are thrilled to introduce artist, Katie Murray. Born and raised in Queens, NY, Murray received her undergraduate degree from The School of Visual Arts (SVA) and her MFA at Yale University. A respected fine art photographer and video artist, Murray’s warmth, wit, and infamous Queens accent lights up any room she enters. And if you are lucky enough, one day you might get to sample her Sunday sauce (more on that below).
Taking inspiration from the people and everyday scenes around her, Murray’s work in video and in photographic portraiture persistently interrogates gender stereotypes. A large body of her work, begun during her graduate studies at Yale, centers on images of Murray’s family members and friends posing casually in ordinary settings. Using the camera to circumscribe intimate, and at times, awkward perspectives, Murray’s images appear ambiguous, probing her subjects’ vulnerability. While seemingly familiar, they are far from stereotypical–part of Murray’s strategy to keep the images open-ended in terms of the readings and reactions they elicit.
In Murray’s video of a high school girls’ drill team in Queens, New York, images, movement, and sound converge to offer a riveting collective portrait and commentary on the nature of femininity, urban popular culture, group dynamics, and contemporary ritual. Murray’s newest video, Gazelle, examines the suffocating demands of motherhood through a gazelle defending herself from her attackers.
CHALKBOARD: How did growing up in a large, Catholic family in Queens, New York influence your palette?
MURRAY: As in quite a number of large families, there was never quite enough to afford going out to restaurants on a regular basis. Most meals were home cooked by my stay-at-home mother, who learned to cook from my paternal Italian grandmother; so I would generalize and say that my palette at an early age was geared towards traditional Italian American cuisine.
CHALKBOARD: We hear that you make a mean Sunday sauce. Would you mind sharing the origin of the dish and how it came to be your signature dish?
MURRAY: Sunday sauce or “gravy” as some call it is a signature dish of most Italian Americans, as it serves many purposes. For one it can feed a large number of people, but more than that it is a reason for families to gather. Rather than just a meal it is a tradition almost akin to ritual. I follow my grandmothers’ recipe; she was a first generation Italian American from Naples. The recipe was not written down, it’s learned from watching, and that is how I learned it. I enjoy making Sunday sauce most; it is usually a six-hour process. I start with the meat first (chop meat, pork, and sausage) and build the sauce up from there, adding many spices and most importantly stirring.
CHALKBOARD: As a wife, mother-of-two, and artist, time must be in short supply. Do you have any favorite quick dinners/snacks that keep everyone happy and healthy?
MURRAY: Happiness is relative…putting that aside, I do have a few dishes that go over well with the family, and are easy with my schedule. Quick easy snacks include edamame, fresh mozzarella cheese, olives and cherry tomatoes (always best when picked from my garden) another great snack I do for the family is turkey bacon and lettuce wrapped around a cherry tomato held together by a toothpick. For a relatively healthy quick meal, I make a simple potato and egg pie.
CHALKBOARD: Living in the ultimate American, melting pot neighborhood, you must have your pick of great restaurants. Any healthy favorites that come to mind?
MURRAY: It is true there are many great mostly Italian restaurants here. I think the best Pizza in New York is New Park Pizza and every chance I get I love to introduce visitors to this gem. Gino’s is another neighborhood staple, with a great selection of fresh fish, seafood, and a number of delicious salads, my personal favorite is the Spinach Salad: baby spinach,fresh strawberries,sliced almonds,goat cheese, and raspberry vinaigrette. Another healthy option is the Antipasto Caprese: fresh mozzarella and tomatoes or the Antipasto Gino: eggplant, fresh mozzarella, and zucchini.
Many thanks, Katie!
View Katie Murray’s photography and video work HERE.
For recent news and shows, visit Katie Murray’s Tumblr page