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Tommy Simpson reflects on his artwork, opening night of show
(Naples, Fla.) Next on the program for the 2012 Lecture Series, presented by the Naples Art Association, hear directly from the artist of the newest exhibition on view at The von Liebig Art Center. Tommy Simpson talks about his artwork on Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 at 4 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door and are $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.
Tommy Simpson is an "imaginist" who works in nearly every medium, including; woodworking, painting, printmaking, clay, woodcarving, bookmaking, jewelry, and even prose. In each work of art there is an identifiable style that "puzzles together" the artist's personal and cultural references into a signature blend of joyfulness and subtle commentary. "The ultimate goal," Simpson says, "is to bring the artwork to life, so that the viewer can identify the human spirit behind the work, and experience its poetry."
Simpson's artwork has been exhibited in major museums across the country including the Renwick Gallery and the American Art Museum at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC; the Museum of Art and Design, New York; the Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; the Wadsworth Athenaeum, Hartford, Connecticut; and the Art Institute of Chicago. His work is included in public and private collections worldwide. Hi-res Photos: http://bit.ly/zdpIRo
The 2012 Lecture Series, held in the Watson Gallery at The von Liebig Art Center, strives to give context to contemporary artwork and the business of art today. Featured speakers offer insights to educate and surprise both seasoned collectors and experienced artists. Below is a list of the remaining three of six remaining in the 2012 Lecture Series.
- January 27, 2012 at 4 p.m. Tommy Simpson: Hand, Heart, Home.
- March 9, 2012 at 4 p.m. History/Mystery: Jerry Uelsmann and Maggie Taylor Discuss the Evolution of their Imagery and the Creative Process
- March 14, 2012 at 4 p.m. David Sleeman, director of Winston Art Group: A current appraisal as a step toward the successful management of art as an asset.
The 2012 Lecture Series is made possible by our generous sponsors: Mutual of Omaha Bank, Hahn Loeser and Leslie Hindman Auctioneers and WGCU Public Media. Tickets to attend the lectures may be purchased in advance. They are $10 each for Naples Art Association Members and $15 each for non-members.
Related information: Simpson was born in Dundee, Illinois. His work reflects the joys of his carefree childhood during the 1940s and '50s. He is most known for his mixed-media sculptures made from carved, laminated or wheel-turned wood combined with found objects and vivid hand-brushed colors. Many of his creations are purely aesthetic in nature, while others serve a dual purpose as both art and functional objects for the home. His functional sculptures include tables, chairs, lamps, beds, cabinets and ladders. Many of his sculptures celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of important people in his life; past and present. All of his artwork is whimsical yet complex.
Exhibited in the Frederick O. Watson Gallery. The Art of Tommy Simpson is generously sponsored by: HBKS Wealth Advisors; Alan and Susan Brown; Betsey and Alan Harris; Lite 93.7 FM; WAVV 101.1-FM, Comcast and the Naples Daily News
Artist's Statement: On occasion people ask me what I do for a living. For lack of a better answer, I tell them I make things - I'm an artist. But what I really do is recreate my five or six-year-old playtime. That is, I get up in the morning, get dressed, and head out into a world of open spaces. I enter a realm of adventure, a place to discover and explore what Mother Nature was up to the night before.
This activity shows me life's abundance: her solutions, her colors, designs, forms, compatibilities, and her overall synergy. In many ways I have no idea what each day will bring. I just leave society's rules behind and give judgment a holiday. Every day in the studio I build and paint all sorts of things. What you see in my artwork is a record of my search through life's gifts and how they affect me. To my delight, this journey pushes me to acquire new skills, to accept the morphing of ideas and attitudes into new horizons.
One might say, a personal world that is "oeuvre easy."
About the Naples Art Association: The Naples Art Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1954. The goal of The Naples Art Association is to educate and promote visual arts in Southwest Florida by holding exhibitions, art festivals and educational classes for adults and children. Today, the organization includes more than 1,000 members and operates The von Liebig Art Center, located at 585 Park Street in downtown Naples. The art center is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seasonally, the center is open seven days a week. For more information, please call 239-262-6517, visit naplesart.org, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/vonliebigartcenter or Twitter at twitter.com/vonliebigart.
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