A talented stone sculptor from Chatham brought his artistic vision to Sarnia's weekend Artpath event, creating a lasting contribution to the community while showcasing the ancient art of stone carving. John David Hart spent the weekend transforming large pieces of granite into intricate owl sculptures near Sarnia Bay, demonstrating his craft to visitors and leaving behind a permanent reminder of the event's creative spirit.
Hart began his ambitious project on Friday, working with two substantial granite pieces provided by DeGroots Nurseries as part of a collaborative effort with Lions Club International. The veteran artist meticulously carved detailed owl figures throughout the two-day summer event, which took place near Sarnia Bay and downtown Sarnia. His dedication to completing the project during the festival allowed visitors to witness the stone carving process firsthand and appreciate the skill required for this traditional art form.
The accomplished artist brings a diverse background to his creative work, having been born in Strathroy and pursuing careers as a broadcaster, miner, 911 operator, and teacher before retiring in the Chatham area. Hart now lives with his partner, Marjorie Malloy Corman Green, and together they joined the Chatham Lions Club just over a year ago. His artistic journey began with painting in his younger years before he discovered stone carving, eventually becoming what he describes as "an evangelist" for the art form.
As part of his commitment to community service, Hart announced that the sculpture created during his weekend of carving, along with some of his original owl sketches, will be donated to the organization that coordinated the Artpath event. He suggested that the organizing group could create prints of his sketches and offer them to the public in exchange for donations, providing an ongoing fundraising opportunity. This generous gesture reflects the Lions Club motto that Hart enthusiastically endorses: "lead to serve, serve to lead."
Hart's connection to the Sarnia event stems from his previous participation in a carving demonstration at DeGroots several years ago. The current Artpath festival brought together artists, craft vendors, entertainers, and community groups who set up booths at various locations throughout downtown Sarnia and Mitton Village. "If you can come up with your own project that serves the community with kindness and caring and also helps raise some funds, that's the goal," Hart explained, emphasizing the service-oriented philosophy behind his artistic contributions.
The dedicated sculptor is working to establish a group of Lions Club members who will learn stone carving techniques as a means of supporting the service club's various community projects. Hart recently completed a similar carving project at a community event in Chatham and has organized an upcoming event at the Old River Farm in Glencoe. This future gathering is expected to attract students interested in learning stone carving, with the hope that participants will be encouraged to join the Lions Club stone sculptors group that Hart is developing.
According to Hart, stone carving is more accessible than many people realize. "It's not that hard," he said about learning to carve stone. "It's easier than carving wood. I'm not even kidding you." He emphasized the durability advantage of stone artwork, noting that pieces displayed outdoors maintain their appearance over decades. "Works I did 30, 40 years ago are like the day I did them," Hart proudly stated. "It looks like we put them there yesterday."
During the weekend project, Hart worked with two distinct types of granite, each presenting unique characteristics and challenges. One piece was sugar stone, which he identified as his personal favorite due to its workable properties. "It's a soft stone, so it's beautiful to carve and it's got a sweet smell to it," he explained. The second granite piece featured striking red and green veining running through the stone, promising a spectacular finished appearance once properly cleaned and finished.
Hart's expertise shines through in his understanding of different stone materials and their individual properties. "There's chemistry in every stone," he noted. "They're all different." His enthusiasm for the medium is evident as he described the transformation process: "When we get it all done and wash it down and get a finish on it, it will look just spectacular." The artist's passion for his craft, combined with his commitment to community service and education, demonstrates how traditional art forms can continue to thrive while serving broader social purposes.
