James hitchhiked east to west many times particularly exploring California, Oregon and the islands off the coast of British Columbia.

In the 1980s, while traveling in England he met acclaimed Hungarian child prodigy violinist and teacher Kató Havas- and followed her to Oxford to study violin.

James was influenced by the Mexican muralists such as Diego Rivera and artist Francisco Toledo and was inspired by Aztec, Mayan, and pre-Columbian sculpture.

[8] In 2006 Simon created Uptown Rhythm, a 25-foot tall relief sculpture featured as part of Duquesne University’s multi-million dollar development.

[9] In 2012 Simon worked with Cleveland, Ohio's Buckeye neighborhood, in collaboration with Cleveland Public Art, ParkWorks, and the Buckeye Neighborhood Development to transform a blighted parking lot into a beautiful pocket park featuring the large-scale Trumpet Man sculpture.

Prior to this, in 2008 Simon received a prestigious artist in residency grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to design and create an exotic aquatic mosaic park, which is located on Verona Street in the center of Braddock.

In 2011 Simon created the Fallen Heroes memorial in honor of Pittsburgh police officers Paul Sciullo II, Stephen J. Mayhle, and Eric G. Kelly, who were killed in the line of duty in Stanton Heights.

[12] Located at a strategic gateway to downtown Pittsburgh, this public art signage is part of Uptown communities revitalization vision to bring new vibrancy and life to an abandoned corridor.

The gateway sculptures pay homage to the musical history of the Perry Harvey community, where many important musicians and civil rights leaders lived, including Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald.

The Mosaic celebrates the diverse cultures and daily life of Bradenton with the symbolic “Manatee River” running through the entire composition, tying the narrative together.