Meet Reggie Simms at ‘Meet the Artist’ reception

The Purcellville Arts Council is hosting a “Meet the Artist” reception for Reggie Simms on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Purcellville Town Hall, located at 221 S. Nursery Avenue.

Artwork by Reggie Simms is currently on display at Town Hall. The Purcellville Arts Council and Simms invite the public for an evening of art, discussion, and light refreshments.

This reception is part of the town-wide, week-long event called Celebrate Purcellville, which features local artisans, performers, businesses, and organizations. Bring your Celebrate Purcellville Passport to the reception to get one of the 20 stickers needed for a chance to win prizes, including a $500 grand prize.

Passports may be picked up at Town Hall as well. Get more information about Celebrate Purcellville here: https://purcellvilleva.gov/997/Celebrate-Purcellville.

Purcellville native Reggie Simms is an accomplished painter, sculptor, and down-to-earth philosopher. Now age 87 and reflecting on his life’s journey, he says he always has wanted to explore new things, create, and imagine.

He credits his mother for encouraging him to draw and paint. “My mother located a racially integrated art academy on Embassy Row in D.C. and, after high school, I went there for a year, learning anatomy and drawing human figures. Later, I took a few painting classes in New Jersey. By then I was hooked.”

He continued to learn through trial-and-error and built a career in commercial art for grocery chains and Metro.  Paintings in the exhibit at Town Hall are eye-catching canvases depicting selected National Geographic magazine covers. This magazine has a special meaning to him. “I owe my fascination with travel, geography, and world cultures to those magazines,” he said.

The Purcellville Arts Council invites Purcellville residents to come learn more about Reggie Simms and see his artwork.