When ESI designed its new headquarters, Gateway West Sustainable I, one of its goals was to create a space that serves the community as a living teaching tool. By using its Gateway Atrium to display the works of local artists, ESI has taken another step toward realizing its commitment to being a community steward focused on the preservation of natural resources. Now, local businesses, students and area residents can visit the building to not only learn how to become more environmentally sustainable in their own businesses, homes and community, but to enjoy local art that celebrates the world around us.
The first showing at Gateway Atrium highlights watercolorist Charlie Simonds. Like ESI, Simonds’ respect for nature and commitment to sustainability are expressed in everything he does. Ironically, Simonds is also a LEED-accredited architect, which demonstrates his understanding of environmentally friendly building practices and concepts.
Simonds’ work reflects an intense interest in nature, as well as in buildings that relate well to natural settings. His inspiration derives from his travels throughout Spain, Japan and Wisconsin. His paintings reveal deep respect for natural order and often portray the environment’s inherent spirituality through the metaphorical use of light glowing through foliage or reflected by water. Simonds is proud to be a member of a group of watercolor artists who paint together once a week in Cedarburg and call themselves the “Dumpster School.”