Hi I'm Jan Gates, nice to meet you!! You are most likely here to find out more about Harvest Arts and me too I hope. I am a self taught Artisan (Fine Crafts-person), one of the workshop instructors and owner of Harvest Arts.
Harvest Arts began officially in 1999 however I have been tinkering with arts and crafts all my life. At the age of four my mother said I told Santa that all I wanted was paper, pencil and Scotch Brand Cellophane Tape; still on my list today. The majority of my adult life was spent as a traveling salesperson selling food service equipment. I traveled as many back roads as I could find to get to my final destinations. During those excursions I took the time to meet many local artisans and visit many galleries. Always thinking that someday I would have my own gallery, I wanted to share my experiences with both the Artists and people like myself that are interested in the unique handcrafted items made by local talent.
In the fall of 2000 I met a man who pyroengraved nature scenes on gourds and made them into oil lamps. Tom was a wonderful man in Southern Missouri who shared his love of gourds with me. I began displaying my work at local art shows which quickly turned into traveling the South and West participating in juried art shows. I had become an Art Show Gypsy . . . .In 2005 the traveling came to a halt when my traveling companion Sadie (black lab) started experiencing health problems. To keep her close by for treatments we started transforming a 120 year old Colonial Victorian home (converted to commercial office) into our "new" Harvest Arts Gallery and "Signature Studios." The Gallery became a haven for Local Artists. My husband Greg and I have had a wonderful time sharing our talent and time with so many great Artists and Customers. This year, 2010, after a surprise surgery for Greg we decided to take a Summer Siesta for the Gallery and attend to our personal needs. Greg is doing GREAT! and we have decided to open the Gallery on a very limited basis for now. Our main focus will return to Workshops and Classes. We also will continue to feature consignment art venues and collections, check our photo albums for current showings. New to our facility will be the "Signature Studios" consignment furniture.
If you are in the neighborhood please drive by, if you see an "OPEN" sign stop in or to schedule an appointment give us a call 636-938-7667. Please continue to view my website to learn more about what we do and how you can be a part of our fun.
Jan Gates
P.S. As member and former Vice President I Proudly support the
Missouri Artisan Association aka "The Best of Missouri Hands".
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