Simayspace - Retirement Statement

Year 2000: corner of Manny Farber, John Frame sculpture, David Hines painting, Martha Alf drawing,
vase by Italo Scanga, table by David Fobes.

It is December 2008 and I am now retired from sponsoring public exhibitions under the rubric Simayspace Gallery. The Reed Cardwell show is the last exhibition in a run of exhibitions than stretches back for 26 years to 1982. I can’t tell the number of shows – and have never kept count. I have never not been showing. So I would guess that Simayspace has been one of the longest running contemporary art spaces in San Diego.

I showed a whole lot of artists and most of them were San Diego birthed or based. Many had their first exhibition with me. Many have gone on to be art stars.

All the exhibitions were well received by one faction or another. That is perhaps the greatest disappointment I have in the San Diego art scene – it doesn’t believe in itself enough to get out and be supportive. Each artist has their own audience and the artists/audiences rarely break ranks and attend the exhibitions of “others.” I am fortunate to have been able to meet and work with many different art factions within this region. I know the “others.” It is a set of experiences that is available to all, but few partake.

Year 2002: Victor Henderson encaustic, Keikichi Honna vase, James Fee photo,
Ernest Silva construction, new Todd Partridge shelf commission.

I have a collection of art that hugely spans this history that I have lived. Now – the results of that 30 year endeavor are yielding even more insights and pleasures. History is a wonderful interpretive tool.

To this moment my greatest joy is found in the visual arts. After 30 years I can think of no finer way to spend my day than to look at art. Perhaps it is even more joyful now that I have been educated by history and experience.

I wish I wasn’t aging in the mortal sense. I don’t mind aging in the educational/experiential sense. My parents (father dead and mother at 85) teach me about mortality and that even with the fullest and most powerful life – we don’t get to play it back or over again.

Having spent 30 years acquiring art – a collection passionately tended to – I figure it will probably take me 30 years hence to pass the artworks on to its next custodian. I am 58 and I will be lucky to have a productive enough next 30 years to de-evolve the collection. Or is it, re-evolve.

Year 2008: Eric Johnson sculpture, Peter Zokosky drawing, Diane Gamboa painting,
John Humble photograph, Dan McCleary drawing, Doris Bittar painting,
John Gossage photograph, John Sonsini painting, Daniel Wheeler sculpture,
Jeff Irwin sculpture, Martha Alf drawing, Eric Johnson painting.

Year 2008: James Fee photograph, Johnny Coleman sculpture,
Candace Gawne neon, Manny Farber painting.