![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/moving-Simon-1.jpg\" "\\"moving-Simon-#-1\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nKATE CERIGO helps move her dad’s large paintings.
\nyes, I knit her hat and her sweater . . . but, of course !!<\/p>\n
FILE UNDER: “yes, I am still here, and I am watching over you, Kate … love, Simon”.<\/p>\n
it’s funny how life lines up. it’s supposedly such a random universe we live in, or . . . what ?
\nSimon’s longtime storage arrangement for his largest canvases – expired the same week, he did.
\nthe upside was, as we moved them – we got to see works of his that hadn’t seen the light of day for a decade or so, at least.<\/p>\n
as you can see Simon’s work evolved into a great eloquent … clarity. his canvases became more and more dependent on draftsmanship, as opposed to over-all expressionistic activity.<\/p>\n Simon loved to build models, esp of military tanks and airplanes – and then, often he would attach them to his canvases. <\/p>\n Simon was really into Japanese art, not only it’s aesthetic, but it’s historical & folklore ethos. he esp loved the ‘sadness’ and drama of SAMURAI movies. he has left behind, almost a complete DVD collection of every one ever made. believe it. from AKIRA KUROSAWA’S ‘RAN’, Kate was named after the heroine, Kayde – to ‘Sword of the Beast’ by HIDEO GOSHA.<\/p>\n HANDS – UP !! SIMON went to almost every opening there was, every night, week, after week his whole life . . but esp back in the 80’s and 90’s when the scene was way more concentrated and young artists … like KEITH HARING and JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT . . were busting out. we were both at the legendary East Village FUN GALLERY – for Keith’s very first NYC shows.<\/a>
\nSIMON CERIGO, ‘untitled with model airplane’, ca 1996-98.
\nacrylic paint on canvas, t-shirt, model airplane.
\nestimate size to be: approx. 8 x 8-1\/2 ft.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nSIMON CERIGO, ‘MOEBIUS’, ca. 1996-98. acrylic paint, t-shirt & small action figures.
\napprox: 8 x 8-1\/2 ft.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\ndetail, SIMON CERIGO, ‘MOEBIUS’.
\nSimon never lost his love for comic books, and Moebius in particular – was a big influence on his artistic vision.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nSIMON CERIGO, ‘SAMURAI’, ca 1996-98, acrylic paint, t-shirt on canvas.
\napprox: 8 x 8-1\/2 ft.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\ndetail, SIMON CERIGO, ‘SAMURAI’.
\nSIMON was also obviously way into T-SHIRTS, and the evolving cult of the mass produced & easily printed t-shirt that was just springing up – in the 80s. band t-shirts, esp. he was always way ahead of the curve, way ahead of the game.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nSIMON CERIGO, ‘Robin’, ca 1996-98. acrylic paint, t-shirt.
\napprox: 8 x 8-1\/2 ft.
\nthis one was very abstracted. . . . <\/p>\n<\/a>
\ndetail, SIMON CERIGO, ‘Robin’.
\nit was the sheer poetic-ness of his faces – that always fascinated me.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nSIMON CERIGO, ‘KEITH HARING – SAILOR BOY’, acrylic on canvas with T-SHIRT. ca 1996-98.
\n4 x 4-1\/2 ft.<\/p>\n
\nin the face of … real art.
\nI surrender. <\/p>\n
\nSimon’s work also reflected the ongoing dialog, he maintained with friends, and within his own thoughts – with what was: super hot and happening . . . all around him. all the time, 24\/7.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\ndetail, SIMON CERIGO, ‘KEITH HARING – SAILOR BOY’.
\nbut there was also an underlying formal awareness to his work – that surpassed all the dialog.
\nhe loved to get acrylic paint down to ‘watercolor’ effect . . .
\nmy son just told me, Simon always told him . . . he loved my watercolors so much, that he was always trying to get … there.<\/p>\n