| Philip Simmons | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 9, 1912 Daniel Island, South Carolina, United States |
| Died | June 22, 2009 (aged 97) Charleston, South Carolina |
| Occupation | Artisan, ironworker |
Philip Simmons (June 9, 1912 - June 22, 2009) was an American artisan and blacksmith specializing in the craft of ironwork. Simmons spent 77 years as a blacksmith, focusing on decorative iron work.[1] When he began his career, blacksmiths in Charleston made practical, everyday household objects, such as horseshoes.[1] By the time he retired 77 years later, the craft was considered as art form rather than a practical profession.[1]
Examples of Simmons' work, including iron gates, can be seen throughout the city of Charleston, South Carolina, as well as the rest of South Carolina Lowcountry.[1] His pieces are displayed at the Smithsonian Museum, South Carolina State Museum, and even Paris, France, and China.[1]
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Philip Simmons was born on June 9, 1912, in Daniel Island, South Carolina.[2] He was raised by his grandparents, before being sent to Charleston in 1920 to live with his mother when he was 8 years old.[1] [2] Simmons resided on Vernon Street and enrolled in school at the Buist Elementary School, which is now known as the Buist Academy.[2] Later in his life, Simmons would design and create the iron arch which now stands over the school's entry gate.[1]
Simmons became interested in the craftspeople who lived in his neighborhood, and soon began visiting various workshops near his home. In particular, Simmons became interested in a smithy on Charlotte Street run by Peter Simmons, who was not related to Philip.[1] Phillip Simmons soon quit school and began an apprenticeship with Peter Simmons, a former slave, when he was 13 years old.[1] He became a full blacksmith when he was 18 years old, after a five year apprenticeship.[1]
Simmons began working with ornamental and decorative ironwork in 1938 at his own blacksmith shop.[2]
In the early 1940s, Simmons began working with a Charleston businessman named Jack Krawcheck.[1] Krawcheck commissioned a wrought iron gate for the rear of his store, which was located on King Street. However, Simmons had to create the gate out of scrap iron because the demand for iron during World War II made it impossible to acquire new iron.[1] This was the first iron gate that Simmons ever crafted and delivered to a customer.[1] The Krawcheck family would ultimately acquire more than 30 iron pieces from Simmons during his career.[1]
Though he had begun working on ornamental ironwork in 1938,[2] the Krawcheck gate marked a turning point in Simmons' career as an iron artisan.[1] Over the course of his seven decades long career, Simmons created over 500 separate pieces, including iron balconies, window grills, fences and gates.[2] For example, Simmons forged and designed five iron gates along Stolls Alley in Charleston alone.[1]
Simmons also created smaller, metal objects to supplement his income, including tools, shutter dog and fireplace pokers.[1] In 1970, Simmons created a rather unusual cup holder for a Volvo, which was crafted from coat hanger.[1]
Most of his work was created at his workshop at his home on Blake Street.
John Michael Vlach, an author and professor of American studies at George Washington University, penned a biography of Simmons and his work in a 1981 book entitled, "Charleston Blacksmith, The Work of Philips Simmons." The book was re-released as a second, updated edition eleven years later.[1] In a separate essay called, "The Buildings of Charleston," Vlach later wrote of Simmons' career, "At the outset of his career he took orders; now he gives them...In the midst of his time-bound trade and even while preserving the historic appearance of Charleston, he remains his own man. He has found self-expression in the communal tradition." [1]
The National Endowment for the Arts bestowed Simmons with a National Heritage Fellowship in 1982. During his acceptance speech at the ceremony, which Simmons gave following a performance by a blues group, Simmons remarked, "My instrument is an anvil. I guess some of you have heard me play ... a tune on the anvil, the old blacksmith tune. ... I'm proud of that anvil, really proud. ... That anvil fed me when I was hungry and that anvil clothed me when I was naked. That anvil put shoes on my feet."[1]
Although he officially retired at age 75, Simmons continued to teach his craft to younger artisans late into his life. In 1991, his friends formed the Philip Simmons Foundation, a nonprofit organization to develop and maintain the garden commemorating his work on the grounds of his church, St. John’s Reformed Episcopal Church, in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.
A documentary on Philip’s life titled “Keeper of The Gate” won the 1995 Southern Emmy Award in the category of Cultural Documentary. It was written and directed by David Flander. David and Philip struck a friendship during filming and remained friends. They would go to local Charleston sporting events together, where Philip was often recognized in the stands by his many fans.
In 1982, Simmons received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which the highest honor the United States can bestow on a traditional artist.[2] On January 31, 1994, he was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame.[2]
South Carolina Governor David Beasley bestowed the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest honor on Simmons in 1998.[2] He was later awarded the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for “Lifetime Achievement in the Arts“ in May 2001.[2] He was also honored by the South Carolina Legislature for his work.[2]
Simmons moved from his home to the Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community in Charleston in the spring of 2008.[2] He died there on June 22, 2009, at 9 P.M. at the age of 97.[2]
Simmons was survived by his daughter, Lillian Gilliam; his son, Philip Simmons, Jr.; a sister, Rebecca Comings; 16 grandchildren, and many great and great, great grandchildren.[2]