Peter Soprano, owner of Rise Woodwork, Soprano's son, is now using his art to help inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola.
"They told me you knew them all their lives: All they did was steal and steal," Soprano said. "Now that they're in prison, they have to learn a trade and learn a trade until they learn the trade and love it. As much as I do."
Soprano said her personal connection to prison artisans stemmed from rebellion as a teenager.
"It's nice to hang out and talk to these guys," Soprano said. "I was a troubled young man, you know, could have ended up in Angola. When I was 17, I went to rehab and got my life back. And here I am, the result of a teenage misfortune, you know? ?"
Last week, the warden allowed Soprano to deliver wood to the prison. For the past 40 years, Soprano has worked as a logger, with most of his timber coming from southwest Louisiana and the Atchafalaya Basin. He spent most of his career as a carpenter making custom home items such as cabinets and furniture and currently owns three woodworking shops in the suburban Franklin area where he works. He opened his woodworking shop on Main Street in March in what he calls "Retirement."
"They came to us and said we can start doing this," Soprano said. "I have to send them a list of what I have and I can send it twice a month, but they also want me to supply glue, nails, tacks and things like that."
Soprano says she got the idea to become an entrepreneur a few years ago when she attended a rodeo in Angola and was deeply touched by the passion of imprisoned artisans.
"Every year there's this huge craft fair where guests make all this beautiful furniture and things like that," Soprano said. "But they need wood."
When the soprano found out they needed supplies, she offered to help. He sells some of their artwork in his shop, such as paintings, woodwork and leather goods.
"I have a lot of their stuff in the store now," Soprano said. "I've been displaying their products in my store since I bought the store in March. They're really happy about it because they don't have any money or anything and I'll be able to exchange wood for stuff. They make it, and next time they sell their stuff. could with which I bought the wood, and they would earn money which they could buy from me in the future.
Can't wait to see what happens next on The Sopranos.
"I'm not shocked, but I'm really happy and a little scared because it's very important to me, you know? - said the soprano. "And you have to produce. "These people are hungry and need wood."
About 40 years ago the soprano began to write down his thoughts on pieces of wood, which have now come to life.
As I go through my life, growing up, writing about various topics, I wrote many years ago: "Work is born of necessity and is the simplest method invented by man to kill boredom."
Soprano's is located at 621 Main Street in Franklin. He also sells antique wood products there, some of which are hundreds of years old. There you can find items like dining tables, benches, spoons, furniture, crafts and more.
