Floral Onion

Floral Onion’s fiberglass base is painted with oil in an abstract style to resemble a flower, with pastel pinks and blues. You’ll find Floral Onion on the southwest corner at the intersection of 2nd and Main.

The Artist

Jeannette Jackson Murphy

Jeannette first studied sculpture and painting in Paris with Andre Lhote in 1950. She graduated with an art degree from Whitman College in 1955. In the 53 years since, she has exhibited work all over the Pacific Northwest and the world, including in such places as the Montserrat Gallery in New York, the Theatre de La Ville and Centre National de la Dance in Paris, and our own Carnegie Art Center in Walla Walla.

Jeannette has occasionally taught classes at Walla Walla Community College and Whitman College, but spends all the time she can with a paint brush, preferring to work with oil or watercolor and ink. She was recently honored with the Carnegie Art Center’s President’s Award for an oil painting titled “Mother Theresa 1.” Her piece entitled “Falling Grapes” is currently on tour with the [Oregon State University Traveling Show]. Her next exhibit will be at North Hill Bakery in Seattle this September.

Jeannette had seen exhibits similar to Sweet Onions on Parade in other cities, and loved the idea of participating in this one in Walla Walla. When she read the call for entries in the newspaper, the idea for Floral Onion popped into her head immediately.