Opening Reception – David Simpson & John Beech

Coast to Coast brings together the work of two artists connected by personal history beyond a shared minimalist aesthetic. Many years ago, David Simpson taught art at UC Berkeley, where John Beech received his degree. Simpson remembers Beech as an “ideal” student who already knew what he was doing. His role with the young Beech, Simpsons says, was merely that of “cheerleader.” On his side, Beech asserts that he benefited from Simpson’s “calm presence and openness as a teacher.” Beech now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, while Simpson continues to live and work in the Berkeley hills. But despite the continent between them, they’ve continued to share their passion for art over the years.