Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
What’s old is new to John Sonneveld.
The County Rd. 22 dairy farmer has a knack for looking at inanimate objects and seeing them in creative ways. Oct.21-22, he thought he’d let others in on just what he was thinking.
In his garage, Sonneveld had about 60 different pieces of art displayed, begging visitors to consider things a bit differently. Perhaps, an old piece of barn board with a knot that looked like a bird’s nest caught attention, or maybe the eye roamed to a length of barbed wire shaped like its feathered occupant.
“I just dream them up,” he said. “Usually I have some things laying around and I wonder what I can make…. I putter away and sometimes the first time it isn’t right, but the second time it is.”
While woodworking is a part of Sonneveld’s craft, the wire is a primary feature. He said a lot of farms are often changing or removing fences, so the material is available. About five years back, Debbie Morgan a family friend visited Shipshewana, Indiana, an Amish town known for its handcrafted goods and saw the wire art. She remembered thinking surely Sonneveld would be able to do something similar.
“I thought, ‘Isn’t that cool? Nobody’s got that in Napanee,'” she recalled.
Sure enough, Sonneveld started creating similar art and incorporating it with his inventions. He’s made a host of shapes from hearts to flowers to crosses. Bulbs containing LED lights are also popular.
Some of his works are symbolic and full of contrast like one that’s called Circles of Life. A circle displayed as an optimist has a latter pointing up. The pessimist’s points down. Another compares the world of love with the world of hate, the latter depicted by a broken heart and closed door. It seeks answers and provokes thought.
Generally speaking, Sonneveld does work he enjoys though sometimes it may end up for sale.
“I enjoy my stuff. When I sell it I feel bad because it’s all gone and all I have is money. Then I think maybe I should make it again,” he said. “I have sold some, but I’m not pushing to sell things.”
Prior to the exhibition end, Sonneveld has taken his art to the Napanee fair and a few other shows. He thought, however, as he gets older it might be better to bring people to his garage to share his art. Several people came out, inspired by his advertising that the show “will be different.” Nice weather also helped.