Lynette Allen puts her name down for wooden blocks by Bill Rusk Sunday during the benefit for Bovina artist Earl Simmons at the Attic Gallery. (The Vicksburg Post/C. Todd Sherman)

[08/26/02]Sunday, Earl Simmons received what he called an early birthday present $5,000 toward a replacement for his home, art gallery and art museum near Bovina destroyed by fire.

Simmons, who will turn 46 on Sept. 7, signed copies of his book, “Earl’s Art Shop: Building Art with Earl Simmons,” at a benefit organized at a downtown gallery by friends and fellow artists. True to form, Simmons used felt markers in vibrant colors to add folksy hot dogs, hamburgers, carrots and hot sauce on the books’ inside covers.

“Artistically, you can’t kill his soul, and you can’t kill his spirit and that’s still there,” said Lesley Silver, owner of The Attic Gallery where the benefit was held. “Once he has a place to rest his body, he’ll probably start doing things.”

The funds came from donations and a silent auction of about 70 paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry area artists donated, including Wyatt Waters’ painting of Earl’s Art Shop.

People also donated art supplies, which Simmons, known as a non-traditional or “outsider” artist, used to make a few items that were sold at the benefit.

“Simmons is important because his work is so honest,” Silver said. “He hasn’t been commercialized in any way.”

His work has been featured in the Mississippi Museum of Art and the House of Blues in New Orleans. The Attic Gallery has been exhibiting his work since the early 1980s.

Much of his work depicted food with a cafe-style appeal and much of it was lost when the residence he built on Warriors Trail went up in flames on Aug. 13. The ramshackle residence featured themed rooms and was also home to Simmons’ wife and 13 children.

“Twenty-three years were spent building his house and artwork,” said artist Daniel Boone, also of The Attic Gallery. “These things are hard to put monetary value on.”

“We’re all connected as people and as artists,” said Janet Akers, who donated several items for the benefit. “It would be incredible to loose everything. I wanted to do something to help out.”

The Vicksburg chapter of Links Incorporated donated $500. “We chose him because we feel he is a great treasure in our community,” said Magnolia Hampton, president of the chapter. “We think he is a rare find whose works resonate to the universal world.”

Simmons’ seventh-grade art teacher, Jean Blue, also donated pieces for the sale. “He has a very natural ability,” she said. “I’d just give him paper and art supplies, and he was off and running.”

The fire began in the kitchen, said volunteer firefighters who responded. Those inside escaped without injury.