Students had the opportunity to explore the works of Gregg Simpson, a celebrated abstract surrealist. “A champion of the West Coast Surrealist movement and co-founder of Coast Art Trust, Simpson has also been involved in major surveys of West Coast Surrealism and Contemporary Pacific Northwest art in Spain, Portugal, France and across Canada. Out of the Woods, a series of 17 canvases, represents him most recent abstract paintings inspired by BC’s forests and will be exhibited in the Art Gallery at Evergreen from November 18 to December 10.

A resident of Bowen Island, Simpson is surrounded by nature and his mark making or technique is as natural and automatic, unconscious and spontaneous as being “born out of the forest… ” … To quote the artist, “Many of these works arise directly from the visceral process of mark making and automatism. I often use a garden hose to blast off portions of paint revealing forms which are a completely spontaneous. This is to me what keeps painting relevant: that sense of discovery…one that creates a hybrid world of spirit and matter.” … He is also an accomplished jazz musician and passionate writer …” from http://www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca/artgallery/Current+Exhibition/default.htm