Barbara Simcoe is interested in liminality, that is, being on a threshold between reality and inner consciousness. Her fragmentary nature of working with multiple photographs creates harmonious disorientation. There are narrative undercurrents that are meant to be felt, not understood. She is interested in giving form to that which incomprehensible and brings it within reach.
Barbara said, “In designing my digital photo-collages I immerse myself in the examination of my large library of photographs of models and imagery from extensive travel in Europe. I amass many images for a single piece and gradually through experimentation make selections, often revolving around a key figure. I sometimes interject classical and medieval sculptural imagery that generates the presence of the antiquity and ubiquitous-ness of ancient archetypes. Engagement with that which is unknowable prompts accepting the need and desire for mystery. To this end, the imagery of passageways, stairs, orifices, arches, and other architectural fragments creates spaces that invite entry into the works.
Enjoy this short virtual tour of the exhibition in the Hanson Gallery. Best viewed in full-screen mode.
Encounters Virtual Tour video
For more information about Barbara Simcoe’s work, view this view. Fullscreen recommended.
Download the pdf for images and titles.
Encounters pdf
Barbara Simcoe has been a working artist for more than thirty years. Her formal art training was at the University of Illinois, Urbana, and the University of North Texas, Denton. She lived and worked in Dallas 16 years where she was very involved in the art community and in exhibiting her work. Currently residing in Omaha, NE she is a Professor on the faculty of Art and Art History at the University of Nebraska where she has taught painting and drawing since 1998. Barbara has shown widely nationally and in European venues in many invitational and juried exhibitions. She has had numerous solo exhibitions, awards, and grants. In 2004 she received a Fulbright Grant for which she lived, taught, and made artwork in Lithuania. She traveled to Israel summer 2005 to participate in an international exhibition in the city of Akko. Academic year 2006-07 she was on sabbatical, the focus of which was working in the studio and a trip to Poland where she had a solo exhibition of her digital photos featuring the Life of Isaac and Jacob of the Old Testament at the Albert Gallery in Krakow. She has also shown internationally in the Czech Republic. In 2014 she was a visiting artist in the residency program at the American Academy in Rome. She recently was in an exhibition in Barcelona, Spain. Stylistically she works with realistic figuration inhabiting psychological and symbolic spaces.
For more information on Barbara Simcoe’s work, check out her website.