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The Woodcarver at Holly Spring Farm
Jonathan Bastian began carving wood some twenty years ago. At a young
age, he was surrounded and influenced by the Pennsylvania
'Dutch'*
Arts
and would often spend hours playing in his father’s woodworking shop.
His family originally came from the Palatinate area of Germany in the
18th century, landing in New York before settling in
Pennsylvania (primarily in the Kutztown and Trexlertown area).
Bastian’s father was the son of a prominent businessman and grew up in
Trexlertown. Though later becoming a minister, in his formative
years he had a keen interest in his grandfather’s blacksmith shop.
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Bastian’s mother, a farmer’s daughter, grew up with an enthusiasm
of nature and the earth. His maternal grandmother, Mary
Kohler Christman, was a true folk artist and produced many
paintings for her own pleasure and that of the family.
During the days on the farm (east of Kutztown), Mary would open
her house to many passersby, especially during “Folk Festival
Week”, when visitors would book their stay at the Christman farm
months in advance. |
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Christman Farm east of Kutztown, painting done circa 1964,
today it is better known as "The Foliage Farm"
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Her father, William Kohler, was a self-taught naturalist and
farmer. He spent many cold winter evenings whittling by the
now-extinct wood fired kitchen stove. In the winter of 1886, he
carved and dated a walnut cat for his daughter Mary. That carving
remains in the Bastian collection today and was even reproduced in
limited edition in 1986; one hundred years after his Great
Grandfather carved the original.
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Original Kohler cat on left,
Bastian copy on right. |
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Over
the years Bastian has produced many primitive carvings reflecting
his Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Some of his work is strongly
inspired by Wilhelm Schimmel (circa 1890), best known for his
eagles and parrots. On occasion, Schimmel carved other creatures;
one of note was a small tiger about 6 inches long. This “Tyger” is
in a local collection and was loaned to Bastian for his study and
authentic reproduction. During the summer of 1988, Bastian,
thankful for the loan, reproduced a few examples for the
Breininger Pottery Show. They were complete with the green thumb
and forefinger print on the body, just like Schimmel’s original! |
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Another local carver,
“Schtockschnitzler” Simmons (circa 1890) from the Northern Berks area,
has also inspired the work of Bastian. Simmons’ influence is evident
in Bastian’s bird tree carvings, bent from sassafras trees with
beautiful birds of various colors, sizes and shapes. Bastian also
shapes birds from wood to resemble the parrots Simmons carved. Most
recently Bastian has expanded this line to include local birds of
Berks County. Additionally, Bastian’s body of work encompasses a wide
variety of original carvings including farm animals, wild creatures,
fish, birds, spiritual and mystical figures, and patriotic pieces. In
fact, during the first Bush administration Bastian was commissioned to
create several large Americana pieces for the U.S. Embassy in South
Africa. Among the twenty-five carvings were “Washington Kneeling
Before His God”, “The Goddess of Liberty”, and “Lincoln Contemplating
The Good Book”. But possibly the most desired figures are Bastian’s
renowned Santa carvings. They are polychromed in gloriously bright
colors and accompanied with varied accessories, such as a caged
partridge, a rifle and geese, or dogs (modeled after Bastian’s own
champion Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs). Almost always, the Santa
carvings include a feather tree sprig, reminiscent of the old German
candy containers. |
Bastian’s carvings are in many of the major private folk art
collections, as well as treasured in the homes of his many friends,
neighbors and family. He has a strong following of collectors and
patrons from across the country and his carvings are highly sought
after. His work can be purchased at one of two annual shows, the
Breininger Porch Show and Sale in late August, and each year in early
December, Jonathan and his wife, Anne, hold an annual Christmas show
at their farm. This show features the brightly painted Santas,
angels, and other seasonal figures. The second floor of their barn is
opened to include three other local artists of note: Breininger
Redware Pottery – Barbara Strawser Country Paintings - Dierwechter
Holiday Wreaths and Dried Floral Arrangements.
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Polar Bear Santa |
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The Shop at Holly
Spring Farm is open throughout the year by appointment. |
Phone: 484.256.6191 |
New ... Trading Post
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Bastian
strongly believes in his craft and asserts that,
"folk art has survived
generation to generation,
not because it is dictated by a designer’s
whim,
but rather embodies the spirit of the folk and the artist". |
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*Commonly referred to as Pennsylvania
"Dutch" is actually a misnomer by the English, who early in America
misunderstood the Germans "Deutsch" and quickly began calling them
Dutch. So the early arriving Germans and their descendants would much
more appropriately be called Pennsylvania German.
2005
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Holly Spring Farm in winter.
On a snowy winter day at Holly Spring
Farm it's not unusual to see foot prints of the Bastian's Greater Swiss
Mountain Dogs in the snow leading to the workshop of woodcarver Jonathan
Bastian. His wife Anne painstakingly paints the carvings in their studio
which doubles as a 'Dog House'. Bastians also have a Hafflinger Pony, Boer
Goats and Jacob Sheep |
Bastian's 'Schimmel Tyger' featured in
Wood Carving Illustrated
Spring 2005 Issue No.
30 |
