Sarah Simpson: An appreciation By Kirsty Nicolson
BELOVED pro-indy artist and poet Sindigo, aka Sarah Simpson, died in hospital on Sunday after being diagnosed with cancer four months ago.
Born on October 23, 1980, Sarah grew up in the town of Moffat. She attended Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, achieving her BA Hons in Fine Art in 2003, after which she went on to get a PDGE in secondary art teaching. After teaching for three years, and giving birth to a little girl to whom she would be an exceptional mother, Sarah returned to Moffat to be near family again.
During the 2014 independence referendum Sarah was heavily involved in art projects promoting independence. Although extremely serious about the cause, Sarah brought comedy to her campaign. She believed humour was the best way to get people to listen to her message, and this can be seen in her art. In producing a zine called Ready For Aye, Sarah, under the name of Sindigo, collected the “visual and written talents of individuals seeking to promote independence and a better future for Scotland”.
Sarah’s goal was to show through the means of this collection that “everyone should be given equal opportunities to achieve their full potential and lead a magical existence, free from shame and negativity”. She also curated a project called the “A to Z of independence”, and was involved in the “Spray for Aye” project, where local graffiti artists were assigned wall space to spray their hopes and dreams for Scotland.
Having spent much time in Glasgow during the referendum, Sarah decided in 2015 to return to the city and made a home in Govan with her daughter. She volunteered for Sunny Govan Radio, using her work there to promote the “See Me?” campaign. Sarah also worked with Plantation Productions’ Kidz Club, guiding children to have confidence and fun through artistic expression.
She was committed to creating opportunities for people of all ages and all walks of life to experience creativity, but was modest about all she did. As another of her friends said “My sense of the full spectrum of Sarah’s work is limited by her humility”. As an artist, Sarah will be remembered for her skills, vibrancy, and passion, and her ability to share these generously. The amazing “Art Jam” she organised at the On The Corner community centre in the Barras is a fondly remembered example of this. As a poet she will be remembered for her candour and humour.
For those who knew her, Sarah will be remembered as someone full of warmth, wit, and joy. She was ever cheerful, ever optimistic, and ever striving to make a positive change in the world. She wanted to create a better country for her daughter, and I firmly believe that although she isn’t physically here to see those changes happen, that it will happen and it will be at the hands of the many people who have been inspired by her creativity and determination.
I went to visit Sarah in her hospital bed at the Beatson the night before the European referendum on my way home from work, armed with all my stickers and flyers ready to campaign the next day. Sarah was determined to do her bit, and took a sheet of stickers to give to all the nurses. She told me she wanted to stay in Europe because she believed it was the best option for her daughter’s future, and once we had got past this referendum we could back to concentrating on the Scottish independence campaign.
She couldn’t wait to get back on the streets campaigning for Yes.
Sarah’s friends have set up a Facebook page called Red Onions Are Purple, in reference to a poem she performed about the woeful mislabelling of onions. Looking at this page, and at her own Facebook page, it is clear to see that she was well loved by everyone who knew her.
The poetry community, and wider creative communities, are working to ensure that the Sindigo name is remembered and the zine that she was working on, Lyric Strip, will be released posthumously in her honour.
There are several poetry nights and art exhibitions being planned, and donations are being collected to support the causes which Sarah cared so much about.
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