Gallant, George
Statement: Artist George Gallant spent most of his adult life in the Kansas City, Mo. area followed by a 3-year stint in Iowa, then 13 years in Virginia. With retirement came a 4-year trip exploring the US in a fifth-wheeler with his wife Kay. George remembers these later years with great fondness.
The Gallants refer to their choice of Crossville for retirement as a “Good-bad luck” experience. They were passing through Crossville with their fifth-wheeler when they discovered a wheel on the 5th-wheeler was separating from the axel. The trailer repair would take five weeks. Their campground owner just happened to be a realtor and offered to give the Gallants a tour. The visit through Fairfield Glade must have been a positive one. They settled in FFG in 2017.
Biography: George always had in interest in silver jewelry. He quickly learned the techniques of the craft and went on to teach others, expanding his skills to include wire wrapping and the construction of chain maille. Once in Fairfield Glade, George discovered the Plateau Creative Arts Center. It didn’t take long before George was sharing his skills by teaching others. His choice of medium is sterling silver although copper, brass, and aluminum are also materials he uses in his craft.
George is inspired by and appreciates all art, feeling that one medium can be the inspiration for other art forms. He teaches classes in chain Maille for the Art Center and classes in silver jewelry making in his home studio.
The Gallants have three sons scattered across the country, five grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren (so far).
George worked in the medical equipment repair industry repairing diagnostic medical equipment before advancing to installations, then to teaching, managing, and finally moving into a vice president’s position. The last three years of his career were spent as a consultant, assisting hospitals all over the U.S.
In his spare time George enjoys working in wood, listening to music, watching animals, and talking to people.
