With great sadness, we share the news that longtime adjunct professor Constance (Connie) M. Simon passed away on September 7, 2021.
Connie had a Master of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University and a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art. She exhibited her work for over 50 years in many solo and group shows across the country and was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Individual Artists Fellowship Grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, most recently in 2020.
Connie began teaching at DCAD in its first year as a member of the Fine Arts department, and DCAD continues to use the curricula she developed. Connie’s passion for her students influenced generations, inspiring two of our current instructors – ZZ and Ellen Durkan – to follow in her footsteps here at DCAD. Her presence will continue to be felt at the college for years to come.
In the words of Rachel Bomze, “I was so blessed to have Connie at DCAD when I was first hired to run the Fine Arts Department. She helped me get settled into running the department, and I connected to how giving she was to share her experiences and resources in teaching art with faculty and students alike and in running a department. Connie truly cared about the future of DCAD and was always involved in initiatives to help keep the college running.”
From John Breakey, “Connie Simon taught scores of DCAD students practical applications of theory. Color theory makes for interesting visuals, but Connie was just getting started when explaining its principles. Her assignments allowed them to apply all that theory to their own dynamic and colorful result. I’m certain Connie Simon’s calm and deliberate teaching style and process are found in all manner of their day-to-day creative practice.”
Connie’s work can be viewed here: https://conniesimon.com/
Rest In Peace.
About Connie M. Simon
Connie was born in Brooklyn, NY, grew up in Princeton, NJ, and lived for 37 years in Wilmington, DE before recently moving to Silver Spring, MD. She is survived by her husband Paul, daughter Jessica (m Andrew, children Elliott and Zara), son Gabriel (m Melissa, children Elizabeth, Caleb, Maxwell, and Silas), and brother Gordon.
Connie was a professional artist whose work was broadly appreciated and was frequently displayed in regional galleries and art museums. Her drawings and paintings are characterized by exquisite workmanship, superb attention to detail, and intense but controlled emotion.
Connie was a beloved teacher and taught at Delaware College of Art and Design for 20 years. Connie embraced her life with grace and quiet persistence and perceived the world around her in mesmerizing patterns and enchanting hues. The family intends to hold an art show and celebration of her life in several months.
In 2020, Connie received the Delaware Division of the Arts’ 2020 Artist Fellowship in Painting, and in 2021 she hosted her ‘Grids and Arches‘ exhibition in Wilmington.