A friend often reminds me that there are no coincidences.

I recently had such a convergence when I attended my Rotary breakfast meeting and found myself in the presence of guest speaker and local artist Gordon Huether.

To be in an audience with Gordon is an experience that provides lasting inspiration from his expansive view of a world without limits. For one’s personal or business life, there could hardly be a more stimulating and motivating message as the New Year commences.   

Born from the confines of a three hundred square foot shop in his home, this local success story bridges Gordon’s original artistic efforts in stained glass to his current status as an internationally acclaimed artist.

Gordon is as local as George Yount root stock. After attending the fourth grade at Snow school, he was ushered off to San Francisco. Committed to creating an expressive life for himself, he returned to Napa in 1975.

During this thirty-year evolution he has won more than 40 Public Art Awards across the country, completed more than 150 private commissions and completed or is currently in production with projects ranging from $50,000 to over $750,000 in value.

Blessed in his own words as having the gift of a “balanced left and right side of the brain,” Gordon has been able to create art that reflects his deep understanding of human struggle and at the same time create a profitable business enterprise that rewards his efforts and that of his ten-person production team.

Gordon credits much of his success as an artist to not having had his creative thinking “blocked by a formal education” and much of his business success to “not having been funded from the outset.” Viewing money as a tool to acquire the needed materials and human talent for his creations, he is able to focus his “restless and demanding nature” on coming up with creative solutions that meet the needs of his various clients.

Expressing his belief that public art should engage the viewer and express community relevance, he approaches each project from three vantage points: creating a dialogue between art and architecture, consideration of the use of the space and bringing life and spirit to the project.

Committed to hard work and creative passion, Gordon Huether credits much of his success to his productive team and to a number of Napa residents who have believed and invested in his career.  By taking time to serve as chairman on the city of Napa Planning Commission and by donating public art works to the community, Gordon has honored his belief in connecting with your history.  

As a landmark statement of artistic success, the Gordon Huether Studio, currently at 101 South Coombs Street, will be relocating to the 13,000 square foot “ Hay Barn” on Monticello Road in April. The custom designed building will house a fine art and production gallery, a production facility and studio administration offices.

As stated by Barbara Morris of Artweek Magazine “Huether displays unbounded energy and vision and the desire to push the limits of his work in terms of scale and ambition”.

The Hay Barn is no exception, as residents excitedly await this welcome addition to the local arts world. There are few limits when the engine is fueled by the power of passion.  

Charles Bogue, a broker with Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley, 1775 Lincoln Ave., Napa CA 94558, can be reached at phone: 258-5221 or e-mail: cbogue@cbnapavalley.com