"On his retirement John concentrated on the Ranch work and also a passion that had become increasingly important to him; art and sculpting, with particular emphasis on the latter. He began to attend various classes and workshops, going as far as Jackson, Wyoming; Scottsdale, Arizonia and Crescent City, California for some of these. His first works were shown at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in 1992 and he then showed in Scottsdale, Arizona. "I made many contacts in the art world down there. From 1996-1999 I showed my works as part of the ten-week show every year." He has attended the festival down there every year since and the friends and contacts he has made are playing a very important part in the John Hanes Gallery, located in central Boonville, designed by son Ward. "All those whose work will be on display are both good and serious because they're making a living out of it. To run a successful gallery those are the artists you need."
"I have talked to many other gallery owners and they would all agree with this. Furthermore you cannot mix the quality levels. The same level of professionalism and abilities must be in all the works. I tell that to everyone who wants to show their work at the Gallery. I started this mainly because I was tiring of going to the Scottsdale Show every year. I want to do my own thing but am determined to maintain high quality and hopefully make Boonville a destination for art buyers. Of course, my ego has played a part in all of this but I also have a sense of legacy and when we bought the property from J.T. Farrer's grandson; the last piece of land that old family owned in the Valley; there was a condition: that I put up a monument of J.T., at the front of the building, there in perpetuity. I plan to put one of my grandfather there too; that would be very fitting. We opened in November, with wine from Londer, and eventually thirty artists works on display with twenty painters and ten sculptors. No two are alike in style or technique."
$-$$$ JOHN HANES GALLERY
World Class Art
P.O. Box 510., 14051 Highway 128, Boonville, CA 95415
Cell: 489-0981
Open Thursday - Monday 11am - 5pm