Elder Charles Simmons

        Raised in the Deep South, Rev. Charles Simmons has a strong, conservative religious faith. He hails from a proud African-American and Native American heritage. Born in 1939, Rev. Simmons is intelligent and while retired, he still has a wide range of interests. A self-taught carver, he began carving wooden dolls in 1977 as a hobby for his family and friends, early images deriving from what he "saw" in the wood. More recently, he has developed an interest in sculpting figures and relief carvings in field stone and soap stone.

        The Rev. Simmons' work is simplistic yet sophisticated in style. His subject matter is original and creative, covering a broad spectrum form animals and religious imagery to the subject matter of dreams and childhood memories.

        His work is represented by Rising Fawn Gallery in Chattanooga, Tennessee.