WS: I’ve been drawing and sculpting since Kindergarten. I have 30 sketchbooks full of robots, mutants, aliens and mercenaries to prove it. ;]
I earned my BFA from the University of Montevallo and an MFA from the University of Georgia in Athens. I taught for 8 years part time at the University of South Alabama, and 1 year as an elementary art educator in the Mobile County Public School System. Spending most of my time downtown as of late, I’ve been teaching painting and drawing at Space 301, the Center of the Living Arts, in the Cathedral Square district, LODA.
 

Doc: Can you describe your style? How has your style changed
WS: I paint in several styles, but I’ve been told they are all recognizably Walter, something about the brushstrokes and subtle edges, at least in the more mature work. My older student age work is more defined by improvisational surrealistic imagery, with both a classical parody and comic book influence. Graduate school work was more abstract, with all sorts of destroyed imagery hurtling into itself, with a purposeful focus placed upon technique, hence the de-emphasized imagery. My most recent work has been realism and impressionism, local subject matter: the Mobile-Tensaw delta, downtown Mobile, and portraits of its citizens.

Doc:What are your inspirations for your art
WS: My inspirations include my own particular personality, from which ideas just come to me without explanation, I’m calling that my genius, because I don’t have to try to come up with ideas, I just look at a wall and the images come to me, I just follow the path. Outside myself the first things that come to mind as inspiration are Leonardo da Vinci, for his appreciation of Nature and equal appreciation of technique and science, as well as the grand ego deserving of a master. I have a broad knowledge of world art history, and am aligned with the avant-garde of any era. However, I spend more time digesting knowledge of the real world than the art world, and do not seek to imitate anyone else or be influenced by any other artist, though I do have my comrades whom I share aesthetics.

Doc: How are you involved with the Hot Dog Gallery and how did it start?

WS: The Hotdog was begun by Eric and Melanie as a t-shirt shop, which became an arcade, then an art gallery. 

I became involved with the Hotdog Gallery when I saw that an alternative art gallery was opening, and had some huge crazy paintings that needed hanging. After a few slow months I took it upon myself to rally as many artists as I could find and put together a show without censorship, a people’s art show. I’ve met many new friendly folks and was happy to give anyone a chance to show their work. I can’t say that its been a financial success so far but it certainly was a cultural one. The last Artwalk was hugely popular and well-received, “It had a youthful energy, lots of people, and wasn’t so stuffy and boring.” This coming Artwalk of Sept. 11th will be the last for the gallery is going to be remodeled into a hotdog restaurant and I will be moving further up Dauphin street. My latest facebook post explains:

This Friday’s September 11th Artwalk will be the last at the Hotdog Gallery’s current location. But, good news! After that I will be moving the exhibition down the street to a new location that will be called simply, Walter Simon Fine Art, at the southeast corner of Bienville Square. The gallery will feature oil paintings of local subject matter, landscapes, portraiture, as well as sculpture and pottery.

 
CA.TV: Any philosophic/spiritual words for Coastal Alabamans?
WS: It doesn’t take a prophet or a Buddha to understand the values of compassion and wisdom, and given the divisiveness of politics these days, all should return to a place of love in their hearts for strength and certainty, not ideological dogma. We need more defenders of the helpless, and should not let fear lead the way towards hatred, for we are all somewhat innocent victims of our genes and upbringings which make us only partially free to make rational decisions. Let us find common ground on which to meet, and avoid the hobgoblins of ignorance and irrationality in favor of logic, science, freedom, creativity and above all compassion.