Internationally renowned artist, Barry Simons, died on August
18, 2009 after a brief illness. His surviving family members,
sister Stephanie and her husband Seth Alpert, were at his
side. Simons' drawings and paintings had a stream of conscious
element. They were often informed by the lyrical riffs of
a jazz musician, or of an improvisational poet, incorporating
Simons multiple creative talents. Like the blues that he loved,
his palette was dark and moody, with explosions of colour.
He displayed a felicitous genius for accidental events: a
coffee spill, ink blot, bits of detritus, phone bill, a paper
cup or cigarette butt could each be reconfigured and incorporated
into his drawings. Barry Simons struggled with accepting his
great success. He had said he was on a 'quest to release the
visionary artist I felt living inside me. So far, the journey
has led me through many rented rooms and coffee shops. I'm
still looking for that one free refill of coffee with a picture
of Rembrandt on the napkin.' His work is included in numerous
private collections, and in the Oakland Museum of California,
The International Folk Art Museum of Santa Fe, The Milwaukee
Art Museum, and Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider
Art in Chicago. On August 21, a graveside service was held
for Barry, with family and friends in attendance.
