We recently connected with Simma Chester and have shared our conversation below.
Simma, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I’ve always been an upbeat person. I don’t normally let disappointments get me down. Where this comes from, I can’t really say. I find optimism is an easier go of life and I’ve not been misled.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve always “made art” as long as I can remember. I find the creative life IS my life and have always seen my life as an artful creative adventure to which I have a front row seat. I’m from New York City and feel that’s a bonus start to jump from. I had many eye opening opportunities as a child, going to museums and to theater and exposure to many ethnic cultures among them. I started my creative artful life drawing, the simplest form of expression. Then making collages, all this as a child. I loved making clay sculptures, but it wasn’t a passion. I found though, that once I started making jewelry, I’d hit upon what direction I could take.
After many years of owning a bead store in Northern California and making jewelry, I started taking courses in metalsmithing and the entire trajectory fell into place. I needed that one component to complete my interest and direction.
I’d lived abroad, mostly in Spain for many years, but was an avid traveler and hopped around the globe. This was an inspiring and productive time and brought forth my designer instincts.
Now, I live on a farm, I have four grandchildren and grow my own food. Life has come full circle, but the creative instinct is still there and I am, almost, most happy in my studio, making beautiful work, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and such. Also, I love doing repairs and recreating jewelry pieces that need updating.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Traveling, for sure was an eye opener, see the world and be open to adventure.
Take courses, reading, experiment. Join other like minded persons whose outlook inspire you.
Keep creating, explore and discover. Stay awake and aware and incorporate life you see around you.
Take advantage of opportunities, even though they might not make complete sense at the time.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Right now, the particular challenge for me is to re-encourage my ambition. After the devastation of Covid time, it was a challenge to produce my work as sales were almost nil. Other endeavors took over; my growing family of grandchildren and gardening my own food and working on the farm that we now have.
Ambition was once front and center, it’s a tricky wicket to get on that band wagon again. Jewelry makers, designers are all over the net and are very internet savvy. This is the way it’s become and can be daunting, if it’s “not your first language”. Perseverance is key. I was used to showing my wares in person and having a relationship with the galleries I sold too. Now, it’s a different way, so, go with the flow. Keep the website up to date, have an online presence, says I.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.simmachester.com
- Instagram: Simma Chester
- Facebook: Artifacts of the Future
- Youtube: Simma Chester
Image Credits
Jewelry photos by Simma Chester, Photos of Simma in her studio by Sarah Jessee
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