When one thinks of "power couples" or “dynamic duos,” one usually thinks of corporate couples. Well, look and think again, and you will find Gary and Jessel Miller of the beautiful Napa Valley.
Gary is a man of the earth, a "Renaissance Man," as Robert Mondavi called him years ago after tromping through Gary's Giant Pumpkin Fields. Jessel is a renowned artist, author and, for the past thirty four years, owner of the Jessel Gallery. Both of these loving and devoted people hale from rural country life. Jessel is from Timmins, Ontario, Canada (birthplace of such notables as Shania Twain); Gary was raised on a farm outside Dayton, Ohio.
The roads they took to get to the Napa Valley is a story unto itself, another chapter in this book of life. They met six years after Jessel opened the doors of her gallery in 1990, when Jessel decided to buy a new vehicle. Low and behold, "she bought a van and got a man.” Gary was a recent transplant from a dealership in Concord, California, and happened to be working the floor when Jessel arrived. It was attraction at first sight, and love soon followed. Together they worked on enhancing the already lovely Jessel Gallery; Gary left the car business to support and renovate the gallery.
As he was leaving Jessel after their first date, he plucked something from a flower in her garden and said "plant them and watch them grow.” That was exactly what happened, but it was Gary, a fourth-generation farm boy, who transformed the exterior of the gallery. He also rebuilt the interior each time Jessel took over another space in her one hundred year old building. The gallery grew from 300 to 6500 square feet and became known as the largest, oldest, and most loved gallery in the Napa Valley.
The roads they took to get to the Napa Valley is a story unto itself, another chapter in this book of life. They met six years after Jessel opened the doors of her gallery in 1990, when Jessel decided to buy a new vehicle. Low and behold, "she bought a van and got a man.” Gary was a recent transplant from a dealership in Concord, California, and happened to be working the floor when Jessel arrived. It was attraction at first sight, and love soon followed. Together they worked on enhancing the already lovely Jessel Gallery; Gary left the car business to support and renovate the gallery.
As he was leaving Jessel after their first date, he plucked something from a flower in her garden and said "plant them and watch them grow.” That was exactly what happened, but it was Gary, a fourth-generation farm boy, who transformed the exterior of the gallery. He also rebuilt the interior each time Jessel took over another space in her one hundred year old building. The gallery grew from 300 to 6500 square feet and became known as the largest, oldest, and most loved gallery in the Napa Valley.
As a result of the beauty he created in her garden, Gary started designing gardens for friends and family. His natural touch and instinctive eye became well known, and over the next ten years he designed and constructed amazing environments. His direction took an abrupt turn when Margrit Mondavi requested that he grow a giant pumpkin for her to display at the front door of her exquisite home. This chance request changed his whole life. Like everything he and Jessel "devote themselves to," he completely immersed himself in the understanding and growing giant pumpkins, and almost twenty years later, he became the west coast representative for the “Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth,” known as the “GPC.” His first pumpkin weighed about 500 pounds, and he now grows numerous giants weighing as much as 1985 pounds! He continued to supply Margrit with giant pumpkins until her passing in 2017. She loved and adored Gary; he felt the same way about her.
Like the beautiful pristine fields surrounding Gary’s farm, Jessel has created a gallery that feels more like a home, with her famous homemade gluten-free oatmeal cookies, which she serves daily, and her eight rooms filled with brilliant fine art, crafts, gifts, jewelry, clothing and so much more. Jessel, like Gary, devotes her time to rearranging the rooms, hosting shows and book signings. Every Sunday, she teaches an art class that participants say is a rare “life experience.” For three hours, beginners (or virgins as she calls them) and professional artists spend those hours not conscious of any thoughts of the past or future...they are totally caught up in the present moment...the “Zen Zone” as Jessel calls it. “I love when everyone is so focused on the paint, brush, and paper that I am allowed to bask in their floating state, and peace fills the room."
Jessel's classes have become so popular she it is often necessary to move out of the small classroom that holds fourteen people, and in to her largest gallery space that accommodates thirty artists. She recently began offering a Wednesday evening class to lighten the load. That class fills up as well, so she has simply accepted the enormity of the challenge of helping people touch “the inner place and peace” she has enjoyed since she discovered she was an artist at the age of four.
Jessel's classes have become so popular she it is often necessary to move out of the small classroom that holds fourteen people, and in to her largest gallery space that accommodates thirty artists. She recently began offering a Wednesday evening class to lighten the load. That class fills up as well, so she has simply accepted the enormity of the challenge of helping people touch “the inner place and peace” she has enjoyed since she discovered she was an artist at the age of four.
The Jessel Gallery devotes time to friends, family and the community by honoring individual artists with month long shows, annually holding the Open Studios show, and a two month Holiday Bazaar. She hosts book signings for authors young and not so young, holds talks with community notables, and is open seven days a week for visitors and locals to enjoy the sculpture garden or picnic on the deck.
Together for twenty-four years, Jessel and Gary Miller shine a light on this already gorgeous valley by introducing something unique in the world of "being successful.” They both do what they love and love what they do every single day, and they get to live in a magical place that they both call “Heaven on Earth.” Yes, life has challenges, but they have surrounded themselves with friends to whom they are devoted, friends who return that devotion. They also have their whole family living in the same town. “Blessed” is an understatement in their expression of how joy-filled life is for them. Magical, Mystical, and Enlightening is how they describe their world, and they embrace the time to touch each moment with love.
Together for twenty-four years, Jessel and Gary Miller shine a light on this already gorgeous valley by introducing something unique in the world of "being successful.” They both do what they love and love what they do every single day, and they get to live in a magical place that they both call “Heaven on Earth.” Yes, life has challenges, but they have surrounded themselves with friends to whom they are devoted, friends who return that devotion. They also have their whole family living in the same town. “Blessed” is an understatement in their expression of how joy-filled life is for them. Magical, Mystical, and Enlightening is how they describe their world, and they embrace the time to touch each moment with love.
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