 Hedgeside Winery & Distillery, May 1968 |  Jessel Gallery 2019 |
It is so amazing to think about this old building in its youth. Recently, I had a visitor who told me that her home in Napa and my building were builtby the same person and the they used railroad tracks to build the foundation and the roof!
Over the years so many wonderful visitors have come through the little red French front door thinking we were just a tiny gift shop and to their amazement and delight they are thrilled to walk through the 8 large rooms with high ceilings and skylights.
This space has a magical quality and I knew it peeking in the windows the first time I visited this space. November 1984 was the day I signed the lease and I commuted from Walnut Creek every day for two years developing my first three rooms.
Over the years so many wonderful visitors have come through the little red French front door thinking we were just a tiny gift shop and to their amazement and delight they are thrilled to walk through the 8 large rooms with high ceilings and skylights.
This space has a magical quality and I knew it peeking in the windows the first time I visited this space. November 1984 was the day I signed the lease and I commuted from Walnut Creek every day for two years developing my first three rooms.
At the time, the building was home to six other artists and we all began to connect and support each other. Over the next ten years, as an artist would leave I would rent another room. When I my met my husband Gary in 1990, he and his whole family would come and do all the work cleaning up spaces and getting them ready to be part of the Jessel Gallery. Fast forward to today and with the addition of the new wine barn in back, this once-quaint country location is jumping with gentle energy and excitement.
It is my 70th Birthday this September 30th and I am beginning a new vision of creating Jessel HeART Farm, NAPA VALLEY.
My greatest joy these days, besides welcoming my guests and being with family and friends, is teaching people to find their creative core.
My classes have enriched my life in so many ways. I am working on a business plan for a barn-like structure (click through my vision board below) for artists to come and take and teach classes and guests from around the world can experience some of the most talented people sharing their knowledge in a country setting.
I can see the barn when I close my eyes. Glass doors and windows floor to ceiling on one side with a beautiful meadow view of the valley and high ceilings with skylights and a loft-like second floor. The space would have heat and air conditioning, a bathroom, kitchen and living room. There would be tables and easels for painting instruction and an area for clay and collage. This is my dream of my next incarnation that would be the perfect addition to the Jessel Gallery.
My greatest joy these days, besides welcoming my guests and being with family and friends, is teaching people to find their creative core.
My classes have enriched my life in so many ways. I am working on a business plan for a barn-like structure (click through my vision board below) for artists to come and take and teach classes and guests from around the world can experience some of the most talented people sharing their knowledge in a country setting.
I can see the barn when I close my eyes. Glass doors and windows floor to ceiling on one side with a beautiful meadow view of the valley and high ceilings with skylights and a loft-like second floor. The space would have heat and air conditioning, a bathroom, kitchen and living room. There would be tables and easels for painting instruction and an area for clay and collage. This is my dream of my next incarnation that would be the perfect addition to the Jessel Gallery.
The Napa Valley is filled with opportunity to taste wonderful wines and I feel it is time to add a purely creative side to go hand in hand with the wine offerings. Recently, I did a class at William Hill Winery for 40 millennial executives from Google/YouTube. We had so much fun in the most amazing location under a vine-covered arbor overlooking the valley. When I spoke with the Events Coordinator from the winery she said “There are so many wineries in this valley that we need to add this kind of creative event for our tours and clients.” This warms my heart to hear and with all your prayers and perhaps help if you believe in this vision we can “build it and they will come!"
Until next time,
Jessel
Until next time,
Jessel
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