CANADIAN WEST COAST
HERMETICS
The
Metaphysical Landscape
Gregg Simpson: The Adept
oil on canvas, 4' x 5', 1971
This exhibition, was conceived by Gregg Simpson, and organized with Alvin
Balkind of the University of British Columbia's
Fine Arts Gallery. The theme of
the
exhibition
was the relationship of alchemy to surrealism, a project for which
Simpson
receievd
a Canada Council grant in 1971, sponsored by VAG Cheif Curator, Doris
Shadbolt and former National Gallery
Director, Richard Simmins.
With a letter of introduction to
the
Parisian
Surrealists from William Rubin of the Museum of
Modern Art, New York, Simpson
went to
Paris
and began ended up arranging what would
become the first exhibition of
avant garde art to tour
Europe from Canada's west coast.
It was first shown at U.B.C., January 9-27, 1973.
The touring schedule included installations at the Centre
Culutrel
Canadien in Paris, March 15-April
14 with subsequent stops in St. Brieuc (Brittany);
Canada House (London, U.K.);
Palais des Beaux-Arts, Charleroi,
Belgium. It returend
to Canada in 1974 to be shown at McMaster University
and the
University of Western Ontario.
david uu: Ruinick
mixed media 24" x 28", 1971
Gregg Simpson: The Pathos and Enigma of Goethe's
Childhood
oil on canvas, 2.5' x 3.5', 1971
