The “Southwest”
SIMBARI paints the American “SOUTHWEST” . . . !
Filled with Mystery – this is a small series of works painted by
Simbari, after a visit to Arizona, He was Enchanted - - he was Captured
by the Beauty
- - and Overawed by the vastness and colour . . .
Few people know of this small group of works, shown only in Arizona, and at L’Atelier, in New York . . . Simbari’s own elegant little ‘Salon’ . . . in the late 80s.
My “favourite”, is this magnificent and inspiring work . . .
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. . . to sit and absorb its “quiet Love and Energy” . . . a privilege !!
Though “Navajo Girls” is in my personal ‘collection’ and I treasure it as one of my most loved ‘Children’, I feel that ‘they’ should be visible for everyone to appreciate and love - - -
The Southwest Collection
has several unique
glimpses into “what makes Simbari a Master of his Time”
- - -
Nicola finds an exciting Energy in the subjects he chooses to ‘tell’ us
about and passes on his unique Vision of the world about us - - -
sometimes in the ‘banal’. and sometimes in the “extra-ordinary” . . .
his excitement is contagious!
He returns constantly to his love of the Circus
and the Stage
and the Drama of “being alive” !
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and, as in the saying
in Shakespere’s play, ‘As you like it’, goes : “All the World’s a Stage . .” “Mustang” acrylic on canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
And WHAT a STAGE !!!
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- - - in all our travels, together, around the globe, Nicola has shown to me that the ‘banal’ can be truly unique and exciting - - a flower - - a field - - a dead tree - - the dawn - - the wind - - the sky - - the clouds - he cannot ‘take these for granted’ - - they are glorious gifts - - - ! “Arrojo”
acrylic on canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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As we prepared for the special showing of the “Southwest Show” - - -
in the little ‘Salon’, L’Atelier, in New York - - -
I first saw “BLUE DAWN”
- - -
I was struck by the fact that the LIGHT
seemed to be coming
from
within !
No matter where I hung this beautiful scene, the light seemed to be ON !
There is a Peace about the scene, emanating from deep within . . .
so, on a busy, bustling New York day, I would take “refuge” - - -
and come away refreshed !!!
Such is its MAGIC . . . !
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Nicola and I traveled to Mexico, many times over the years, and he has
been inspired by their ‘love of life’ and the ‘joy of being’ . . .
- - - - I ‘see’ the paintings of the Southwest of the U.S. as part of
the
same “inspirational Air” - - - -
Mystical and “antique”
The COLOURS
The Music
The Street Life
Reminding him of his boyhood, in Southern Italy . . .
and
the Freedom
to BE !!
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. . . . strictly speaking, this is not a “Southwest Painting”, yet it has the same LIGHT, AIR, “Freedom”, permeating through - - - and the colours ! - - - is this a “self-portrait” !!! “Boy with the Iguana”
acrylic on canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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VASTNESS - - - LIGHT - - - the SKY
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Breathtaking !
Touching the Sky !
Flying !
Is this what the Eagle sees . . . ?
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. . . POETRY . . . of Nature . . . written in colour with a palette knife . . . !!
“Paradise Valley”
acrylic on canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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Ancient . . . A World of Mystery . . . fascinated by the deep feeling of ‘another world’ . . . Nicola was captivated by Antique Legends and the exquisite Beauty, everywhere he looked . . . always a ‘Man of the Sea’ he was Charmed by all he saw . . .!
“Desert Spring”
acrylic on canvas ©Nicola Simbari |
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Nicola could not wait to return to his Studio, in Rome, and “write” the
new
Adventures, into his Diaries . . . ! Including ‘the Women’ in his
“story” . . .
These are the MUSES of his beloved Calabria . . .
found again, in a faraway land . . .!
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“Sha’nah” Retablo in Silkscreen ©Nicola Simbari |
Yet - - - for me, this rare group of paintings is awe-inspiring !
- - - and THE FALCON is breath-taking - - -
a Dream-maker!
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© Elfrida 2010
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