“This might be of some interest to my classmates who knew of my desire to become an artist,” writes John P. Semple ’53, P’83, in a recent submission to the Hamilton College Alumni Review. The past several months have seen Semple’s artwork exhibited in galleries and festivals near and far.
The Second Qijang International Prints Exhibition and Festival, Chongqing, China; Hand Pulled Prints XIV International Exhibition at Stone Metal Press, San Antonio, Texas; 97th Annual Exhibition, Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, Avon, Conn.; 73rd Midyear Exhibition, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio; Society of American Graphic Artists (SAGA) 77th Members’ Exhibition, Frye Gallery, Braidwood, Australia; and SAGA New Century Members’ Show, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa.—all have recently exhibited Semple's work.
It is an extraordinary occasion when a single exhibit or festival features more than one piece by a single artist. In that case, Semple is extra extraordinary. The Butler Institute of American Art and Susquehanna University each featured two Semple pieces in their respective exhibits.
The Semple painting featured above and to the right, the artist’s favorite, bears the title “Jesus Saves in Sharon.” It features a young Benjamin M. Semple ’83, son of the artist, now Associate Professor of French at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash. “He went from being my model to being a French medieval scholar,” Semple observes.
(Click on the image for a higher-resolution view.)
John Semple earned a Master of Fine Arts from Boston University in 1958. He graduated from Hamilton with a degree in studio art and art history.
Semple resides in North Pomfret, Vt.
