“I hadn’t realized how many books
are thrown away or ripped apart to be
recycled. With a hardback book, you
can’t recycle the whole thing—you can
only recycle the pages because of the
glue and the binding. I started to explore
more about discarded objects, common
objects, and unwanted things,” she says.
“Sometimes we get caught up with things
that we think we’re seeing, or what we
think something should be, or how
something should go, or who someone
is and make judgments. I am trying to
take common things and alter them in
a different way so that people will think
about them differently.”
Nothing is what it seems with Simmons’
art. A closer look at her piece “Illuminated
Armor” reveals it was constructed from
an old copy of Margaret Atwood’s novel,
“Cat’s Eye.”
“Margaret Atwood is my absolute
favorite author,” she says. “She has
influenced my thought process and how I
look at literature. ‘Cat’s Eye’ was the first
book I read from her. From reading it I
realized words had wonderful meanings
and those thoughts could return again and
again later in life.”
Another example is “Piece of Cake,”
consisting of pretty, wedding-themed cake
slice favor boxes that make up a wedding
cake displayed on a dartboard.
In her “Womanly Art Series,” a dress has
a stunning red bodice, but it is altered with
book pages and other recycled objects that
hint at something different.
“You might look at a woman and
value her for her looks, her beauty, but
underneath she can be witty, smart and do
anything,” explains Simmons.
“Many of her pieces are interactive and
often speak to the plight of women,” says
Amy Short, a ceramic artist, instructor
at Sweetwater Center for the Arts, and a
friend of Simmons. “Words are chosen
carefully, and if her piece is interactive you
can always find a new or different meaning
that makes her art very exciting. It is clear
in her work that words are powerful.”
Short and Simmons are both members
of the West Hills Art League and
Pittsburgh Society of Sculptors. Simmons
has exhibited her art at Sweetwater
Center for the Arts during juried shows
and most recently this past summer at
Westmoreland Museum of American Art.
In 2011 she created a company, In Your
Clutches, which specializes in bags and
jewelry made from recycled and unwanted
fabric and paper.
“Sarah’s work intrigues me,” says Short.
“Aside from her pieces being interesting
to look at, when you speak with her
about her work it becomes that much
more fascinating. She doesn’t just create
something she thinks is beautiful to look
at; there is always a deeper meaning below
the surface.”
Simmons hopes that her art makes an
impact.
“I’d like people to think about the
duality of my art,” she explains. “Language
is so imperfect, so while I’m playing
with these words and objects, they
have multiple meanings. My hope is
to get people to look at their own lives
and think maybe they need to look at
things differently and develop multiple
viewpoints.”
Back at Moon Library, Simmons’ art
is just as important, but it’s a bit more
lighthearted.
“I just made a Growbot Book Return
out of recycled books and paper,” she
notes. “The staff is wonderful and lets me
have creative reign.”
To learn more, visit Simmons’ website
at inyourclutches.com. n
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