On display are 14 paintings created with soil collected from 38 different countries, along with samples of the soils and information explaining the process of collection and importation.
The exhibition at John Wayne Airport is a portion of a larger project Simpson began in 2002, also known as Study 14/38 in reference to the number of paintings made and the number of different countries represented.
When complete, the full project will feature paintings created with the soil representing 192 countries.
“I take my medium and my inspiration from the Earth,” said Simpson. “I view my abstract art as expression of my relation to the Earth. As the geography of the earth changes so too do national boundaries. This project expresses for me the necessity of change and the unifying wisdom of the process.”
Ticketed passengers who have passed through security will be able to view the display, which will be shown across from Gates 11 to 14 in Terminal A of the Thomas F. Riley Terminal.
The Federated States of Micronesia is one of the most remote countries in the world, and therefore one of the most difficult samples to obtain.
The sample, which represents FSM, was submitted by Garrett Johnson from the island of Yap.
FSM was one of the last countries to submit a soil sample; the last two being North Korea and Equatorial Guinea, which still have yet to be obtained.
