Featuring Work by Donald L. Simmons
Art Opening
April 1st, 2011
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Charmed Life Studios
4505 Harford Road
Baltimore, MD 21214
(443) 449-7630
chrmdlife5@gmail.com
Charmed Life Studio presents “Things Past“ a retrospective of prints and works on paper by D. L. Simmons. For the entire month of April, Lee’s print work will adorn our walls. The show opens on April 1, from 6:00PM to 10:00PM. There will be live music provided by The Ben Frock Trio and complimentary refreshments. As always, this show is free, for all ages and open to the public.
Simmons produces large scale prints (24"x 36" and larger) using multiple processes. His work begins with a photograph with deep personal significance. Recently, he has been working with images that his grandfather took of the Baltimore Harbor during his deployment in World War II. He layers each image with lithography, intaglio, serigraphy, photo transfer, and digital imaging. He describes his works as “ the physical embodiment of an emotional experience and an investigation of the self told in the media of printmaking. My work, as a whole, is a means for me to digest emotion and transform it into something tangible . My work is a direct response to my life experiences. Although it does not reproduce any specific events, my work is made up of objects and icons that reflect and create narrative vignettes abstracted from my past experiences.”
A Baltimore City native, Ben Frock, has played with George Clinton, Soul Cannon, The All Mighty Senators, The Todd Marcus Nonette, Brad Gunson, Chris Pumphry and many more. He is an active member of the Out of Your Head collective, the Phil Cunneff New Quartet, the Rumba Club, and the musical director of experimental jazz quartet, The Subatomic Particles. He is also the band leader and composer for the big band Ben Frock's Love Unit Orchestra. Ben studied Classical and Jazz music at the Peabody Institute. His music is heavily inspired by folkloric Afro-Cuban music, 20th century classical composer Messiaen, classic soul, early funk, and most importantly improvised music.
D. L. Simmons grew up in South Carolina. He studied printmaking at the Glasgow School of Art, received a BFA from MICA, and an MFA in printmaking from LSU. Simmons’ works are in corporate collections, including Ryobi, McDonalds Corporation, Anderson Center for the Arts, Boys Homes of the South. and GHS. He is also in multiple private collections and has been featured in galleries across the southeast. Lee Simmons work is on view at www.dls-ink.com.
