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Packinghouse Gallery rolls out exhibit
By JULIANNE WU, Times Staff Writer SEMINOLE -- Although he is a busy family practice physician in Madeira Beach, Dr. John Murray finds time for his avocation: nature photography. It all started 11 years ago with a backpacking trip to the Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming with a friend. "At that time, I borrowed my wife's camera," said Murray, 47, of St. Petersburg. "But, I wasn't happy with the point, shoot and click photos I took, so I started taking photography lessons." Last Thursday, Murray was at the Packinghouse Gallery's nature photography resource center to take a class in digital photography. He also previewed his exhibit of about 70 framed, color photographs, which are on display at the gallery through February. Although Murray has won awards in several photography contests, including one in which he received $1,000 from Ritz Camera, he said he has never sold any of his works before. When his good friend, Lesley Collins, co-owner of the Packinghouse, contacted Murray, it was a whole new experience for him. "My daughter, Christina, who is 7, told me she wanted to buy all my photographs," Murray said. "She said: "Then, we could keep them all.' I don't know how I'll feel if I actually sell any of them."
Murray said after he recoups his expenses and the Packinghouse gets its share (his photographs are being sold on consignment), "partial proceeds will go to the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast." Since that trip to the Tetons with his friend, Murray; his wife, Linda, a family physician in St. Petersburg; and their two children, Christina and Christopher, who is 10, have traveled back there several times. The two children are in the gifted program at Ridgecrest Elementary School in Largo. Murray has also taken photographs at Yellowstone National Park and at other national and state parks in Arizona, Utah, Washington and Maine. When Murray goes with his family, he said, "we stay in lodges or nearby motels. My family isn't into roughing it as much as me." The Madeira Beach physician said he has developed such a love for nature and photography, that he can't see one without the other. "My favorite thing is just getting out and away. And the camera helps me see things I otherwise would not notice." The Murrays try to take about three trips a year: in the spring, summer and fall. Murray, who has two physician partners, has two long-range goals: to follow the fall foliage from Canada south to North Georgia in one season and to photograph the Greek Islands, particularly Ikaria, where his wife's ancestors are from. "The biggest challenge is finding the time to do it," said Murray. A new gallery, an old groveFor Lesley Collins, the Packinghouse was the natural choice for her latest venture: a fine art gallery and nature photography resource center. Although it has a Largo mailing address, it is part of unincorporated Pinellas County. Collins, 53, grew up and still lives on the grounds, which used to house 60 acres of orange groves and was owned and operated by her grandparents, J.S. and Lillian Hill. Today, the family still owns 4 acres of the land, while the rest has been sold off to home builders. Collins' mother, Nancy Hill Collins, 83, also lives on the property.
For 12 years, Lesley Collins, an avid kayaker, sold kayaks at the Packinghouse. She called her business Suncoast Sea Kayaks. "I have been interested in photography for the past 30 years," Collins said. "And I was constantly having to juggle my time between things relating to kayaking and photography." After eight months of remodeling and restoring the 1,600-square-foot building -- to reflect its Florida citrus history dating back to 1915 -- Collins and her partner, Joe Bailey, opened the gallery last November. Each month, Collins and Bailey will feature a different photographer. After Dr. John Murray's exhibit this month, the gallery will host the photographs of Arthur Morris, a freelance nature photographer who specializes in birds. An elementary school teacher in New York City for 23 years, Morris has been selected as a Canon contract photographer, and his works have appeared in many nature magazines, Collins said. He has a home in Indian Lakes Estates, Florida. As Collins chatted last week in the east section of the building, which fronts Oakhurst Road, she recalled when her family operated the groves. Besides her grandparents and herself, the family included her dad, the late James F. Collins Jr.; mom, Nancy, and brother, James F. Collins III, who now owns the Terra Excavating Business in Largo. "We used to wash the fruit, sort it (or size it) and prepare it for shipping right in this room," said Collins, who worked in the citrus business for 16 years. She did everything from packing the fruit to marketing. Because there is still about 11/2 acres of orange groves, Collins also sells a variety of citrus from the end of January through March and mangoes during the summer. "We have more fruit than we can eat ourselves," Collins said. If you goNature photographs of Dr. John Murray, a Madeira Beach family practice physician, are on display this month at the Packinghouse Gallery, 10900 Oakhurst Road, Largo. Hours of operation: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays; and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. For information on ongoing exhibits or photography classes, call 596-7822.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
