John Jayson Sonnier has been a garden designer for more than twenty five years and has created many private and public gardens. It is through his association with plants that he draws inspiration for his sculpture.
Taught by Master Sculptor Constantine Seferlis, Sonnier continues to carry on the tradition of stone carving. “I feel it is my responsibility to carry on the legacy of all the great sculptors that have passed on. Constantine entrusted me to not only learn from him but to also teach others. In doing so I honor the wonderful lessons of sculpture he gave me.” Sonnier presently teaches sculpture at the Corcoran School of Art and Design. Previously, Sonnier taught sculpture at the Northern Virginia Community College and garden design at the George Washington University.
John is presently working on a commissioned piece for the new lobby at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring to be unveiled in 2006. Also in 2006 John created the piece "Knowledge Passed" for the exhibit "Botanical Treasures of Lewis and Clark" at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The piece is now on display at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library. In 2004, Sonnier completed “Brush Strokes,” commissioned by Montgomery County, MD, to commemorate the revitalization of downtown Silver Spring. An exhibit of how the sculpture was conceived and created can be seen at the American Film Institute in Silver Spring. Among his other accomplishments was his piece “ Just Jack in the Pulpit” chosen by jury to be exhibited at the National Sculpture Society’s 70th Annual Exhibit in 2003, held at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina and at the NSS gallery in New York City. “It was a great honor to have my work exhibited among the nation's best sculptors and especially humbling to exhibit at Brookgreen Gardens, the nations oldest sculpture garden.” Sonnier recently created a bronze edition of “Just Jack in the Pulpit.” Number one of the edition was purchased by Cyrus Katzen for his collection at the new Katzen Center of Art at the American University. In 2002, his sculpture was also chosen to be exhibited at Sculpture in the Park in Loveland, CO, the largest juried outdoor sculpture competition in the United States. Works by Sonnier are now in collections throughout the United States and Mexico.
Sonnier’s sculpture can be viewed at Creative Partners Gallery in Bethesda, MD, Arts and Humanities Council in Silver Spring, and at the Art Galleries of The National Institute of Health (NIH).
Photographs and Art Images Copyright 1997-2007 by John Jayson Sonnier. All Rights Reserved All Art copyrighted 1997-2007 by John Jayson Sonnier. All Rights Reserved.
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