a more intriguing
QUESTION
MIGHT BE WHAT
INSPIRED THE PARK’S
NAMESAKE ARTIST,
VOL L IS SIMPSON.
KEITH BARNES
L
IKE many notables in the art world, Simpson
didn’t receive notoriety or acclaim until
after his death, in 2013. Before his retire-ment
at the age of 65, he ran a business with
a few of his friends repairing farm machin-ery.
Simpson also had a side business moving houses,
something he had learned from his father.
Moving houses without the aid of large industrial equipment required ingenuity, critical thinking, and the creative use of levers,
fulcrums and rollers. Repairing farm equipment led to the collection of a variety of industrial supplies — eventually the perfect
ingredients for an artistic recipe incorporating everything from HVAC fan blades, stovepipes and I-beams to bikes, mirrors, pipe,
milkshake mixers and aluminum.
Understanding the life of an artist is a fun way to gain insight into their work. Apart from the visual aesthetics, the creative elements
and themes at play in a work of art are almost always fascinating to learn about.
With that in mind, it’s worthwhile to point out Simpson’s service to his country in World War II. During a stint on the island of
Saipan in the South Pacific, he developed a rudimentary windmill using discarded parts from a B-29 bomber to power a washing
machine so he and his fellow troops could avoid washing their uniforms by hand.
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WBM december 2020