BWCA, an exhibition of new works by Charles Lyon, William Murray, and Michael Paul opens March 9 at Groveland Gallery. The artists share an affinity for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, each one bringing his own unique approach to capturing the character of the region.

Groveland Gallery will host a roundtable discussion, moderated by Save the Boundary Waters Board Co-Chair Jeff Soderstrom, on April 6, 2024 from 3-4:30 pm. A panel of Groveland artists will focus on the importance of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in their lives and work. Groveland Gallery will donate a portion of sales on April 6 to Save the Boundary waters in support of their efforts to preserve the BWCA.

Charles Lyon settled in Minnesota in 1994 after spending over a decade living in the Arizona high desert. Lyon’s new work is inspired by a love for the Northern Minnesota wilderness. He states, “Traveling by canoe is one of my favorite ways to experience wilderness. Silently gliding over iron-tinged water in the BWCA is deeply satisfying physically and aesthetically. The sky and water merge as one gets lost in the rhythm of paddling. And it is a humbling experience trying to navigate.”

William Murray was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Before beginning his painting career, Murray served in the Coast Guard on the Great Lakes and trapped lobster in Nova Scotia. Having sailed for four years on Lakes Michigan and Superior on an ice breaker and a search and rescue vessel, the artist is no stranger to the wild and challenging landscape of the North. The BWCA region has inspired him for many years, as he has dedicated himself to capturing the area in watercolor.

Born in Helena, Montana, Michael Paul’s subject matter ranges from the expanse of the Great Plains to the sublime beauty of Minnesota. His realist depictions of still water and evening light celebrate the awe found through experiencing wilderness, the feelings of solitude and openness enhanced by the quiet sensibility inherent in his silverpoint drawing. He writes of this latest work, “In Northern Minnesota, a landscape littered with lakes and rivers, water is the main attraction. It is the supporting actors though, that give it texture and meaning; trees of course, and islands, rocks, cliffs, the forest floor along a portage, or even the soulful call of a loon.’