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My paintings and artists books are in Putney Library, London, from 27th July to 31st August 2019
Statement
My art practice is based in painting, both studio based with archival properties and temporary in the great outdoors recorded photographically. The paintings, installations and artists books that I make are generated from life experience and particular locations, forming an external narrative that supports further research and works. Curiosity regarding how we interact with each other and the world, with an emphasis on double edges (violence, peace, greed, oneness) underpins my practice and has led to studies in trauma therapy, eco design, martial arts and rock climbing. These in turn fuel time spent in diverse urban and rural environments, which further inform my line of enquiry. During the making process I explore memory formation, using act of painting to embed felt and transient experiences, whilst experimenting with how concepts and observations can be conveyed. I attempt to portray environmental and psychological phenomenon in my artwork, such as a hurricane forming from the ocean edge, brocken spectre on a mountaintop, a fleeting sense of oneness in the city, acceptance stirred by the desert sky or a city park at dusk. Recalling the feeling of the elements when painting landscapes, to help capture and communicate something of the essence of these moments, can be replenishing and a form of action research. Painting with traditional materials has also proven valuable for processing and thinking through adversity, both on a personal level and for some of the communities that I have worked with. My paintings and photographs of temporary works bear witness to existence, akin to the function of a postcard or personal photo album; the format of which have changed dramatically with the growing role of digital media over the last two decades. Positioning my artwork across the spheres of photography, psychology and environment is not only theoretical but the work is often site specific for political and practical reasons. My temporary paintings have been made in quarries / landfill sites, parks, with Ibizan goats, Surrey sheep, the ocean, underpasses and an overpass, a farmer and a fire brigade. In recent years librarians have helped to share my studio based paintings and hand bound books. Next week I'm returning to Westminster Reference library, Leicester Square, London artrabbit.com/events/the-orange-tree-lee-simmons 'The Orange Tree' A selection of Simmons’ landscape paintings, prints and artist's books will be in the library exhibition space from 27th May to 2nd June 2019. She will be developing new work on site, as part of a long standing project with libraries.      Orange Tree, oil paint on aluminium, 30x40 cm, 2019 Freedom, oil paint on aluminium, 30x40 cm, 2019 Snow, oil paint on aluminium, 30x40 cm, 2019 Autumn, oil paint on aluminium, 30x40 cm, 2019 Winter, oil paint on aluminium, 30x40 cm, 2018  'Westminster Reference library is a public library in the heart of London’s West End, located between Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. Situated on the site of Sir Isaac Newton’s house, the library’s architecture reflects the original building’s charming style and continues its rich history. We have served the public for over 90 years and hold a collection that draws on our culturally significant location. Our Art & Design collection is designated by Arts Council England as a collection of outstanding national significance.'  L.A.Simmons Painting Studio * Our fingertips are made of stardust * My next installation now has a blog page page here: Stardusting The launch is 8th September 6.30pm, I'm excited to know what will have happened by the 23rd, when the installation closes. Some incredibly varied meetings and skill swaps seem to have booked themselves. Get in touch for more info. or to book, though it's fine just to turn up during opening hours. Thames-Side Studios Gallery Thames-Side Studios Harrington Way, Warspite Road Royal Borough of Greenwich London SE18 5NR.  A durational painting made by L.A.Simmons and rock climbers with pigment on their hands, is evolving throughout this exhibition. The Yoga Space London are holding a free class to a responsive DJ set from Justin Quirk for the opening event.  I'm looking forward to a new painting / installation / sociable sculpture in September! It'll take place opposite The Reach climbing wall in Woolwich, SE London (and near my studio - handy). Everyone welcome. More info. soon.  Thames-Side Studios Gallery
L.A. Simmons Painting Studio *Our fingertips are made of stardust* Exhibition Dates: 8-23 September 2018 Preview: Saturday 8 September, 6.30-8.30pm, all welcome. A durational painting made by L.A.Simmons and rock climbers with pigment on their hands, is evolving throughout this exhibition. The Yoga Space London are holding a free class to a responsive DJ set from Justin Quirk for the opening event. About: Thames-Side Studios-based L. A. Simmons’ art practice is rooted in painting, but crosses over with sculpture, live art, photography and writing. Through these primarily visual tools, subjects are explored, questions asked, and stories shared. For Our fingertips are made of stardust, Lee Simmons has invited Thames-Side Studios-based The Reach, South London’s largest climbing wall, and The Arch Climbing Wall, and their associated climbing instructors to create a performative installation within the gallery using climbing holds and paint pigment. Simmons will then turn the rest of the gallery into an extension of her studio, with designated ‘zones’ concentrating on differing areas of her practice. This will include recent paintings and related materials, with an area for book making Polaris - seven years painting. For the opening event The Yoga Space London will hold a free class with a responsive DJ set from Justin Quirk of NO UFO's. L.A. Simmons thanks The Reach for their help with this exhibition, and The Yoga Space London for supporting the opening event on 8th September. About the artist: L.A. Simmons has been working in varied contexts with paint, people and animals since graduating from a Bachelor of Arts degree from John Moore’s University in Liverpool (Fine Art), later studying Masters degrees at Chelsea College of Art and Design (Environment / Public Realm) and Goldsmiths University of London (Psychological / Social). Simmons gives photographic images from installations and spectacles a similar function to postcards or family photographs: snapshots log and share that which would otherwise exist only through lived experience. This was her intention in some early works as an end in itself – the making of artworks created anchors to moments in time and space. Later pieces relate more directly to the sociopolitical context that they take place in or are motivated by. Long term work with marginalised groups, and urban-rural fringe environments, has influenced psychological, social, and environmental considerations within Simmons’s projects, installation art and painting. Documentation of her artworks form a legacy, for exhibition and archival purposes; photographs are from live art and physical creations, the artwork is not made digitally. www.lasimmons.com This exhibition is made almost entirely from recycled materials. Thanks to Arch Climbing, Castle Climbing Centre and The Reach for donating disused holds and Emafyl Robobond for their repurposed wood. For general Thames-Side Studios Gallery enquiries please email info@thames-sidestudios.co.uk Image courtesy L.A. Simmons, 2018 Thames-Side Studios Gallery Thames-Side Studios Harrington Way, Warspite Road Royal Borough of Greenwich London SE18 5NR. Thames-Side Studios Gallery open Thursday-Sunday 12-5pm during exhibitions and by appointment. For general Thames-Side Studios Gallery enquiries please email info@thames-sidestudios.co.uk This post shares a collection of postcards I made in 2017, using photographs from my art practice. These paintings and installations have existed and are not created digitally.                                                                                     More of the concepts and processes behind projects are here: lee-simmons.blog/postcards
Book launch & birthday party, 14th December 2017, 6-8pm Westminster Reference Library WC2H 7HP  ‘Three by Three' will launch at Westminster Reference Library during Lee Simmons’s birthday party / installation on 14th December, 6-8pm. Documentation from her projects will be exhibited in the space from 9th December, 2017.
This will be the last event at the library before it closes for refurbishment on the weekend. BYO beer and snacks. Tom Richards will be our party DJ. ‘This collection of postcards is an attempt to communicate and log some of the installation art and social sculptures I have made over the last 17 years. These have often consisted of ephemeral paintings and performances in the landscape, documented photographically. How do you archive a practice that paints on living canvases and constructs usually fleeting lived experiences? Who owns the work? The photographer, land owner, the painters? Varied communities have contributed to the paintings, from Surrey firemen to Ibizan goats, with passers by, friends and family. Which element is the artwork - the documentation, event, concept?’ Lee Simmons The first share of this collection of images will take place at Westminster Reference Library with one copy being added to the library archive system and another distributed to the exhibition guests, who will be offered to purchase one postcard for £1. The artwork is authenticated using a DNA tag, which logs the exchange. Further launches will be held on mountains and cliffs during the library closure. www.lee-simmons.com/birthdayprojects Yesterday evening I had some quiet time in the studio, photographing paintings that will be included in NEW exhibition, some of them are below. These from Rabee Kiwan. 1 - shoes - is 150x150 cm, 2 - Chair, 120x120cm, 3 and 4 - child are 50x50 cm, 5 - heads is 35x70 cm. Oil on canvas and some mixed media. These descriptions are not titles!  Below are two of Omar Ibrahim's, 1 - Horse and bird, is 20x20 cm ink on canvas, the woman and horse with bird is 50x70 cm, mixed media on canvas. Two recent ones of my own follow, 1 - names, ink and acrylic paint on canvas, and 2 - mixing, is pigment and varnish on canvas. Both 30x30 cm. |
email: info@lee-simmons.com - phone: + 44(0) 770 421 9009 - website: www.lee-simmons.com; L. A. Simmons
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© LEE SIMMONS 2020
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