Today we’d like to introduce you to Savannah Lee Simmons.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have always been a creative person. I like to call myself a “chameleon soul” because I am so indecisive, and so is my art. For as long as I can remember, I have been making up stories in my head, putting my thoughts into words in the form of poetry, and documenting my daily life and adventures through the lenses of various cameras that feel like my own best friends. I am very young, but at the age of only nineteen, I have lived an existence ample enough for an entire lifetime. I graduated high school years early, at the age of fifteen, due to my chronic health issues and pining to fill my time with something less trivial than halls of lockers and science projects. I have been working on various degrees, through an online college program since then, and will finally have four Associate’s Degrees by the beginning of the summer. Going through this portion of my college career has helped me to master and, somewhat, perfect my craft of writing. I am a self-proclaimed poet and writer of prose, and I am currently, quietly, working on composing a book full of all of my favorite pieces I have written so those who love my words as much as I do can carry them near to their hearts. As an individual who has been plagued by both physical and mental health issues since I was born, I feel that these are the pivotal occurrences and phenomenons that have fueled and aided in my unique artistic journey. In addition to being a writer, I also pride myself on my visual arts, in the form of photographs and content creation. Whether it be creating with my Canon T5i, a disposable camera, an iPhone’s lens, through the countless journals and notebooks of my own words that line my bookshelves, or something else entirely, creating and cultivating my own unique world through my art has always been the sum of my passions.
Please tell us about your art.
My most influential way of creating is through my words. I write simple poetry and prose based on my daily life, the lives of others that I have observed, and on the current events happening in my neck of the woods, and all around the world. My writing is heavily influenced by both my mental and physical health issues; many of my written pieces will often draw on themes related to the darkness and isolation that comes with being someone who struggles from health issues of any kind. The messages and inspirations of my pieces often have to do with moving and working through your personal issues to emerge from the darkness of your own heart and find love and light inside of yourself.
My photography often has a similar theme but will often deal with the darker side of these health issues. By taking my inner tenebrosity and bringing it to light in the form of visual creations, I let my audience know that they are not alone in the darkness they might feel, and that no matter how much time and hard work it takes, they will emerge from their own inner weaknesses and be illuminated in their own beauty and light. My photography takes shape with simple, but profound, documentation of the human body and the struggles one can go through while figuring out and learning about the vessel they find themselves in.
My artwork is definitely not for everyone, but my hope is that those who feel a comfortable connection to my work will realize that they are not alone in their unique journey and struggles, nor will they ever be. I hope that those who interact with and witness my work will come away with a feeling of togetherness and kinship not only with myself but with all of the other individuals who have been through the same things that they have.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I definitely feel like the role of artists has changed in recent years. I feel like many of today’s artists have a large weight on their shoulders to not only accurately and honestly represent the current events happening all around the world, but to also give people a break from these happenings and show them the love and hope that still exists in the world, even if you must look high and low to find it. Many of today’s current events are anything but happy circumstances, which is why it is so important for our art to shed light on these events by giving our audiences a new set of eyes to view them through, a way to cope, and ways that they can take charge and help their communities, their children, and even themselves in rising above the negativity and bigotry that is so prevalent in today’s world. The local, national, and international events and issues that are currently happening in my world affect my art in a great variety of ways. I find it very important for me to use my audience and my platform to speak about important ways to protect our world and our environment, and ways for viewers of my art to not only love themselves but each and every individual that they come in contact with. I find it more and more important every day to share love and light with each and every person who will receive it, and I hope that I can share this message with as many individuals as I possibly can while I continue to expand my audience and, hopefully, influence them in a positive and affectionate manner.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
As of right now, I am currently publishing both my visual and written art on my website and blog and through social media. You can find my website at https://savannahleesimmons.com I am also very active on my Instagram page, which can be found at https://instagram.com/theafricansavannah.
While my dream is to one day work for an organization or publishing company that shares my world views and ideas, I am currently only working on my own personal writing and art. You can support me and my work by following along on my social media and website, and by becoming a subscriber to my email list, where I, seldom, send out various updates on my art, the book I am currently pulling together, any websites, publications, or exhibitions my work is featured in, and more. The link to subscribe to my email list can be found on the bottom of my homepage on my website.
Contact Info:
- Address: PO Box 1381,
Sugarloaf, California, 92386 - Website: https://savannahleesimmons.com
- Email: savannahleeessentials@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theafricansavannah/
Image Credit:
Ghost photo: Shot by Nic Renick, Concept by: Savannah Lee Simmons
All other photos taken and conceptualized by: Savannah Lee Simmons
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