None of this is Real, Phase #3, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA, 02/02/2019
January 20, 2019
For the third phase of my evolving project, None of this is Real, participants are asked to bring an unwanted brass key to the Art Walk on Saturday December 1st, January 5th, and February 2nd. I will take the unwanted key, melt it in a furnace, and pour into a mold to create a new key. I then will give that new key back to the owner and the participant can use that key to open the door of a custom made wardrobe that I constructed. Participants will then able to have a 2 minute solo experience inside of the wardrobes mediative and transportive interior. Recognizing that not everyone has an old key, I have broadened the definition of “keys” to include anything that allows a person to exit one space and enter another space regardless of whether or not it’s a “mental” space or a “physical” space. This expanded definition of keys can include but is not limited to: ideas, people, places, things, memories, or traditional bits of metal. Paper and pens will be available for people to create anonymous written descriptions of their unwanted keys to be burned with some recycled keys to create a molten-poured new key. Regardless of shape a participants key takes, I want to encourage people to participate in an “exchange” and “transformation” in some capacity in order to give up something and let something go in order to be transported to a new perspective. The experience is free and open to participants of all ages and abilities. Extra special thanks to my dear friend and art-hero Jennifer Locke for assisting me with the performance. jenniferlocke.net
Grand Central Art Centers artist-in-residence program is made possible through the generous support of the Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
None of this is Real, Phase #2, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA, 10/06/2018
October 28, 2018
For the second of phase of my evolving project, None of this is Real, participants are asked to bring an unwanted key to the Art Walk on Saturday November 3rd. I will then take the unwanted key, melt it in a furnace, and pour into a mold to create a new key. I will then give that new key back to the owner and the participant can use that key to open a door to a special room and experience a private installation. Recognizing that not everyone has an old key, I have broadened the definition of “keys” to include anything that allows a person to exit one space and enter another space regardless of whether or not it’s a “mental” space or a “physical” space. This expanded definition of keys can include but is not limited to: ideas, people, places, things, memories, or traditional bits of metal. I will have paper and pens available for people to create anonymous written descriptions of their unwanted keys to trade for one of my custom made molten-poured keys. Regardless of shape a participants key takes, I would like to encourage people to participate in an “exchange” and “transformation” in some capacity in order to give up something and let something go in order to gain a new perspective. The experience is free and open to participants of all ages and abilities.
None of this is Real, Phase #1, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA, 07/07/18
October 28, 2018
For my first project at Grand Central Art Center entitled, None of this is Real, I built a small room in the front gallery of the Center. First, I will teach anyone interested how break into the room by drilling open a standard door lock. Once the door is opened, participants will be given the option of being locked inside the room and then challenged to figure out how escape through a second door that has been outfitted with one of my custom made conceptual locks. Each participant gets to keep the lock that they destroyed and the drill-bit that they used as a souvenir of event. This project built on a video that I made for Packard Jennings Destructables website in 2011. www.destructables.org
The Locksmithing Graduate Institute of MNSP, SF, CA, 10/7/2017
January 28, 2016
Please come and see Lesson #14 of The Locksmithing Graduate Institute if you are in the Bay Area this Saturday October 7, 2017 from 12-6 PM. 1275 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Jennifer Locke @ Southern Exposure, SF, 04/29/15
April 30, 2015
I had the honor of assisting my dear friend and art hero Jennifer Locke execute a spell binding performance for Southern Exposure’s performance series entitled The Eight Hour Work Day (follow this link to see the entire 8 hour performance). Three different performance artists were given complete access to Southern Exposures main gallery for an entire day.  And seriously, if you don’t know Jennifer’s work please check it out.  There is no one else in the world making work this good right now: http://jenniferlocke.net/ Also, special thanks to my good friend and production genius Orlando Rivera for providing his vast knowledge and assistance with the project.  Please check out one of his projects here: https://www.youtube.com/user/sackandcack
Solo Show @ Google Headquarters, SF, 12/05/2014
December 4, 2014
Solo show of new drawings. Â By appointment only, please contact me for details – lmurgida@gmail.com
Free Critique seminar @ ROCKSBOX in PDX, 06/27-29
June 16, 2014
Jennifer Locke and myself will be leading a FREE group critique seminar at ROCKSBOX in Portland, OR called C.O.P.S. from June 27th through the 29th of 2014. Â C.O.P.S. and ROCKSBOX are the brainchild of Patrick Rock.
C.O.P.S. (The Conceptual Oregon Performance School) is a free, artist-run, experimental summer school, with a focus on contemporary art and performance strategies. Its mandate is to engage participants in the methodologies, critical theory, and dialogue surrounding the discipline, while investigating its social and cultural role. Participants will experiment with a myriad of contemporary performance strategies, based upon formal and informal lectures, seminar-based dialogue, and structured group critique.  Â
Come to: 6540 North Interstate, Portland, OR, 97217
C.O.P.S. is a free endeavor.
There are no fees for C.O.P.S.
There is no registration for C.O.P.S.
Everyone is welcome at C.O.P.S.
Attendance is mandatory for C.O.P.S.
You, we, all of us, are C.O.P.S.
Solo Show @ The Savernack Street Gallery in SF, June 1st
May 11, 2014
Installation can be seen through the peephole at 2411 24TH Street SF, CA, 94110 24 hours a day, seven days a week from May 23rd-June 23rd.  The Savernack Street Gallery is the Brain Child of Carrie Sinclair Katz .  Opening Sunday June 1st from 4-6 PM.
Group Show @ ROCKSBOXCONTEMPORARYFINEART, Portland, OR
March 9, 2014
I have sculpture in this amazing group show at the best gallery on the west coast. Â If you are in the Northwest please go and check out this show. ROCKSBOXCONTEMPORARYFINEART
Performance and Gallery Exhibition at Southern Exposure, SF, CA, 09/13
September 18, 2013
I will be doing a performance from 5-9 PM on Saturday September 20th, 2013. Â Southern Exposure is celebrating its 39 Birthday by throwing a block party from 4-10 PM. Â I also have a sculpture and video in the gallery exhibition so come by and check it out any time before the end of October
9 FOREVER!
Southern Exposure’s 39th Birthday Block Party &
Opening Reception for The Long Conversation
Saturday, September 21, 2013
4-10 PM