Meet La Ruchala Amyrrh Murphy: Arts and Nonprofit Administrator & Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with La Ruchala Amyrrh Murphy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi La Ruchala Amyrrh, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Creating makes me happy. It’s a form of therapy for me. It helps me maintain my balance, express my thoughts, and share my passion of the arts with others.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art has two facets. As an arts administrator, I am focused on the details, orgnaization, and effectiveness of a project, program, or event. As an artist, I am more spontaneous; exploring mediums, colors, techniques, and delving into the creative process, not focused on the outcome. I paint, collage, and make clothing and accessories from reyclables. I have interned and worked in several museums, galleries, and organizations throughout my career. All of those positions have had serving others as the core, which I am passionate about. Has it been easy? No, but overcoming through the challenges makes my career worthwhile. In my twenties I was asked where did I see myself in the next 5 to 10 years. My response was a director of a museum or gallery. That person said to me, ” Are you sure? I have not seen anyone that looks like you in that type of position. You should rethink you plan.” Did I change my plan, of course not? I have accomplished that goal and more because I am determined not to let others define the way my life looks for me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting, the first stop would be the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation in Watkinsville, GA. Not only is it arts organization where I am the Executive Director, but we have talent artists on exhibition, the pottery studio is always active, and the University of North Georgia- Oconee Campus students are here studying 2D and 3D design. Next, we would go to the Georgia Museum of Art to check out their permanent collections, the Lyndon House to see their new exhbitions. If you haven’t noticed the trend in this schedule so far, she likes the arts as well. We would take a lunch break at Pulaski Heights BBQ, They have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. Other places we would visit would be the Georgia Botanical Gardens, High Museum of Art, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and let’s not forget live music at the Madison Morgan Cultural Center or the UGA Performing Arts Center.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
God and my parents deserve credit for my life’s accomplishments. Because of them I believe I can do anything. Also I recognition that my arts teachers Marie Kurtz (Primary School), Susanne Floyd Gunter (Secondary School), and Tom Stanley (College) helped me find my voice through art and define my direction for my career. And many thanks to my best friends for keeping me grounded.

Website: https://amyrrhdesigns.wordpress.com/

Instagram: laruchala_amyrrhdesigns

Linkedin: La Ruchala Murphy

Image Credits
Rolling Flame-Jeff Amberg