Pop Funk Series 1967-69
Home
|
Past Work |
|
|
 Western Collision #1 |
 Transcending Space |
 |
 (Collection of Coast Art Trust, North Vancouver) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Mandala Landscape |
 Block House, Rising Sun acrylic on canvas 4' x 3.5' 1966 |
 Cold Front |
 |
 Ziggurat acrylic on canvas, 3' x 4', 1967 |
 Plateau in Deep Space enamel on canvas, 4' sq. 1966 |
 Starscape 1 acrylic on panel, 3' x 4', 1966 |
 Starscape 2 acrylic on panel, 3' x 4', 1966 |
 The Way Back acrylic on canvas 1968 4'6" ea. side |
 |
 Private Collection, Ontario |
 Western Collision #2 acrylic on canvas 3' x 4' 1967 |
 (Stolen) |
|
The
paintings, drawings, and collages which Simpson made between 1967 and
1969
were
a period of apprenticeship with Vancouver
artist, Gary Lee Nova, who was just back from studying in the UK when Simpson met him and began collaborating together on
multi media projects with the Al Neil Trio at the Sound Gallery. Lee Nova had made a unique synthesis of west coast funk and Tantric
geometry. From 1967-68, Simpson worked alongside Lee Nova in the next studio in an old bulding on Powell St., later known as the New Era
Social Club. There, Simpson experimented with shapes like elongated diamonds, or pyramids, with rainbows and Op Art polka dots, a kind
of post-Pop lanndscape painting.
Before meeting Lee Nova, Simpson had worked on a series of hard edge geometric paintings influenced by the European artists of the early
' 60s such as Victor Vasarely, Richard Moretensen and Arturo Bonfanti. See Neo-Cubism, (below):
artist, Gary Lee Nova, who was just back from studying in the UK when Simpson met him and began collaborating together on
multi media projects with the Al Neil Trio at the Sound Gallery. Lee Nova had made a unique synthesis of west coast funk and Tantric
geometry. From 1967-68, Simpson worked alongside Lee Nova in the next studio in an old bulding on Powell St., later known as the New Era
Social Club. There, Simpson experimented with shapes like elongated diamonds, or pyramids, with rainbows and Op Art polka dots, a kind
of post-Pop lanndscape painting.
Before meeting Lee Nova, Simpson had worked on a series of hard edge geometric paintings influenced by the European artists of the early
' 60s such as Victor Vasarely, Richard Moretensen and Arturo Bonfanti. See Neo-Cubism, (below):
Neo-Cubism, oil on canvas, 1965
In the Earth
and Sky Changes Series, Simpson shows
his other main influence of the period, artist Jack Wise. The
spiritual influence of the
cultures of Asia, through Zen Buddhsim and Tibetan Tantric art found an echo in the work of many west coast artists in the 1960's. These
interests were, in Simpson’s case, combined with that of the European Surrealists, especially Magritte, to form a personal contribution to the
west coast funk style.
cultures of Asia, through Zen Buddhsim and Tibetan Tantric art found an echo in the work of many west coast artists in the 1960's. These
interests were, in Simpson’s case, combined with that of the European Surrealists, especially Magritte, to form a personal contribution to the
west coast funk style.
This was also the
period of the Mandan
Ghetto Gallery in Kitsilano, started
by bill bissett,
Joy
Long and Simpson in 1968. This collective gallery had exhibitions of
collage, painting
and concrete poetry during
its short existence.
Top
of PagePop/Psychedelic Series
Past WorkRetrospective
Home
All
Images © Gregg
SimpsonPlease request permission if you wish to use an image you find on this site.
Last updated: June 23, 2008