Julianne Hansen Artist-Patriot-Entrepreneur

This month’s cover profile is Julianne Hansen, an artist who loves to share her work, ideas and the importance of art in the world. Julianne is the owner of Julianne Hansen Fine Art & Pottery, an art studio located in Historic Downtown Prattville at 173 W. Main Street. She is also the creator of the Alabama Poppy Project, which is a tribute to deceased loved ones who served in our military. The Alabama Poppy Project is conducted during Memorial Day Weekend each year in Downtown Prattville, where more than 2,000 ceramic poppies are on display honoring our heroes. We recently spent some time with Julianne and if you would like to tap into your own creativity, Julianne would be a great place to start and we know you’ll enjoy getting to know Julianne as much as we did. BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e., where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, family, etc.?

Julianne: I grew up in Alaska where I learned the value of hard work and creative thinking. My mother was very artistic and it suited her well as a professional dog groomer and my father was an avid outdoorsman, commercial fisherman, bush pilot and guide. Upon graduation from High School, I journeyed to the “lower 48” for some education and training prior to competing in the Miss Alaska Pageant alongside Sara Palin and many other very intelligent, beautiful young ladies. I was awarded 4th runner up and enough scholarship monies to pay for Cosmetology school in Utah. I married and had 5 beautiful children and, in 1996 moved to North Alabama where I began to dabble in various forms of art and began to pursue a love of art & marketing. Though the marriage ended, my passion for art grew, and when I met Steven Hansen through an online dating website, I signed us up for a pottery activity, which led to lessons, which led to my purchasing a pottery wheel and kiln…and the rest is history! Steven is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force and now works as a civilian for the USAF, so moving to Prattville, was the natural course after we married in 2013. Steven had 4 adult children when we met and I had 5, so between the two of us, we had 9 kids, and as of today, we have 18 grandchildren!

BOOM!: Julianne, you are a pottery artist along with several other artistic mediums, would you share with our readers how you became involved with making art as a profession? Is pottery your preferred medium? How would you describe your art?

Julianne: Many years ago, I began to paint. I love painting wildlife, then began to paint portraits in soft pastel. I gained an agent and did very well doing pastel portraits commissioned by clients. I then went into marketing and graphic design when the portrait commissions slowed due to a sluggish economy. I had tried pottery but failed miserably! I felt that was one medium I couldn’t master, so I gave up until I met my husband. He had a love of pottery and took a class in college, so I thought that would make a perfect date!

It turns out it was the WAY I was taught that determined my skillset, which in turn changed my mindset about it as well. When I opened my gallery in 2017, I thought the gallery would be filled with my artwork along with a few pieces of pottery. That concept has completely flipped around. My paintings sell as soon as I put them up, so I don’t have many in the gallery….and the pottery is something I can do in batches with help in the glazing by my Gallery Supervisor and Steven. To describe my art is to say, it’s very approachable and literal. The pottery is functional art – which is quite gratifying to see people actually use it! I still love to paint in acrylic and do portraits in pastel when I can find the time.

BOOM!: Your husband Steven has been your biggest supporter when it comes to your artwork, would you share some of your love story with us and what it means to have Steven’s support during your art journey?

Julianne: Steven is my soulmate. As corny as that sounds, it’s the truth. When we first met in person, back in the fall of 2012, it was more like a reunion than a first meeting. We both kept trying to figure out where we had met before because we both felt like we had known each other for eons. We had met on a church dating website, and communicated via text, emails and phone calls for weeks prior to actually meeting face to face. Because he lived in Prattville, and I in Decatur, it was a 2.5 hour drive to visit each other unless we met in the middle in the Birmingham area. Eventually he proposed and we both put our homes up for sale with the agreement that whichever sold first, that person would move. Mine sold, and to Prattville I moved. It wasn’t easy moving to a new area after being so well established in North Alabama, but I knew it was where I was supposed to be. One of the MANY wonderful things about Steven is his desire to serve others and make them happy. He has ALWAYS been a supporter of my projects and has been a team player and jumped in to help whenever or wherever he sees a need. When the pottery sales started getting out of control, he stepped in to help glaze, load kilns, change electrical elements, and I can’t even count the thousands of pounds of clay he has loaded and unloaded. Each shipment we receive is 4,000-6,000 pounds. I have never met a more loving, selfless and service minded person in my life.

Hansen Fine Art & Pottery, an art studio located in Historic Downtown Prattville at 173 W. Main Street, can you tell us how you came to open your unique art studio? How would you describe the art available for sale and the classes you offer? What’s the best way for our readers to connect with your art classes?

Julianne: I felt the need to open the gallery after the passing of Steven’s youngest son, Kyle in 2017. His death affected me greatly and I was slipping into a terrible depression. On Father’s Day 2017, we drove by the corner of Bridge Street and Main in Historic Downtown Prattville and saw a “For Rent” sign in the window and I mentioned that would be a perfect place for a gallery. Without skipping a beat, Steven said, “Do it”. So we did – not having any idea how to even operate a gallery. In September 2017, we opened our doors and in March of 2022 we expanded into the space next door. Initially we thought the gallery would be just that, a beautiful space to view and purchase artwork…but I was asked if I would do a few classes and that’s where the gallery studio came into being. Now, we hold several classes a week, some are for groups and some are one-on-one, but all focus on the tremendous power of art creation. It is the best therapy for those who are stressed and inundated by the noise of the world. We post classes to our website buried. It was triggering very painful feelings and I needed to just get busy doing something, yet still honoring Kyle and the many men and women who gave their lives in the service of their country. In addition, I wanted to honor all those who served yet are no longer living. I had seen an art exhibit in London using ceramic poppies, so I thought why not do a smaller version in Prattville. We had the perfect spot next to the Spillway and Dam, it looked like war-torn Europe with the broken windows of Daniel Pratt’s Gin Shop in the background. I created 1000 ceramic poppies in my own unique style and design and incorporated a white ribbon to be tied to the “stem” made from a steel rod. Each ribbon would

(www. juliannehansen. com) and to our social media pages. Because they are so popular, they are often sold out quickly, but anyone can call to schedule a class during business hours. They don’t have to wait for a formal group class to get their hands dirty.

Some of our readers may be familiar with a project you launched in 2020 called the Alabama Poppy Project, would you tell us how the project came about, where it takes place and what the impact has been on the people in

Alabama? How can our readers support the Alabama Poppy Project?

Julianne: The Alabama Poppy Project was created in 2020. After the passing of our Kyle in 2017, I found it extremely difficult to attend the Memorial Day events held at the cemetery in which he was display the name of a person who served in the armed forces during their lifetime, but are no longer living. Then came the shutdown of 2020 due to COVID-19. We didn’t even know if we would be allowed to display everything we had worked so hard to create, but we went forward knowing it was outdoors, free to visit and social distancing would be very easy to accomplish. The event went beautifully and the response was incredible! We decided to add another 1,000 poppies for the next year and we’ve kept the number of poppies on display at or over the current year (2,023 on display this year). The number of cities and states represented by visitors has been tremendous! I can’t believe so many people drive such a distance to visit our sweet poppy field. More information can be found at www.AlabamaPoppyProject. com

BOOM!: Julianne, you have said that one of your goals is to touch more people through art and help others understand the importance of doing one little piece of art at a time, would you expand on your philosophy of sharing art with others?

Julianne: Art can do more than just putting paint on a canvas…though that act in and of itself is quite therapeutic and healing. When we use art to help build others up, tell a story, raise funds to help those less fortunate or honor someone’s memory, we do something that is remarkable. A piece of art can be made once, but it’s effects can touch millions which could be directly or indirectly. You can change the world with a single work of art. Even a painted rock with a pretty picture could change a person’s attitude which can cause a chain reaction of good with infinite potential! Never underestimate the power of art.

BOOM!: What is it about living in the Prattville/River Region area that you like? What do we need more of?

Julianne: I love the giving spirit of those in this area. We see so many people willing to do so much good for others in times of trial and stress. We live in a very charitable community!

We need more areas and outlets that are made specifically for the creation and display of art. Communities that embrace art are not only beautiful, they attract tourists and provide tremendous revenue opportunities. I would love to see a large-scale art facility that can be used for performing arts as well as visual arts. I think Prattville’s founder Daniel Pratt’s love for art would be validated with such a venue considering he had the very first art gallery in Prattville over 100 years ago.

BOOM!: How do you like to relax and wind down from a full day of activity?

Julianne: As corny as it sounds, we like to go on long walks together. We live 1.5 miles from my gallery, so a brisk walk around downtown provides not only a 3 mile workout, it’s a chance to talk about the day work out problems and reconnect together.

BOOM!: With a busy life, how do you like to spend time with family and friends?

Julianne: Our home is always Grand Central Station when it comes to family. It’s a place to gather and grill-out or just chill-out. With as many grandkids as we have, there’s always a birthday we are celebrating, and it’s a joy to spend time with the family and stay caught up on everything going on in their lives.

BOOM!: What are some of your favorite travel experiences? Favorite getaway spot? Any travel dreams planned?

Julianne: With Steven’s job, we travel a great deal to San Antonio, which is always a favorite place for us. Our first meeting was at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover. We plan a dream vacation next year when we plan on cruising for 11 days in Europe!

BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your priorities changed? How would you describe what it means to “age well”?

Julianne: I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore. So many people focus on the “fiddly” things that don’t really matter. What matters is time. 100% focus. With social media and phones constantly in everyone’s hands, we are missing out on what really matters which is our family.

While I love it when people say I don’t look my age, I am always wondering what exactly is 58 supposed to look like? I have no fancy beauty routine, I have no elaborate exercise routine or diet –though I know I should. Aging well is to be happy. Being content in this day and age is a rarity and I think that is why I am so happy…I am content. God has given me so much to be thankful for and I am so very thankful.

BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention?

Julianne: My life is my hobby! If I want to try something I do it.

BOOM!: Many people, as they age, experience a renewed sense of purpose, new goals, etc. How would you describe this sense of renewal in your life? Any advice for the rest of us seeking renewal?

Julianne: Be the person you want to be and who you believe God needs you to be. Be kind to yourself - that’s not the same as being selfish. Serve others. Try the things you’ve always wanted to try –NOW. Make lasting memories with those you love.

BOOM!: What are some of the future challenges you’re contemplating for the art studio? special projects? Yourself?

Julianne: Honestly, I have no idea. When the inspiration hits, you’ll know, because nothing holds me back from a project I want to get done.

BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you?

Julianne: Faithful – Creative – Tenacious

We want to thank Julianne for sharing some of her life's story with us this month. Julianne is an ambassador for the local art community through her art, her classes, and her community projects. If you want to be infected by her enthusiasm for art or have questions for Julianne, call her art studio at 334.301.0336, and schedule a class while you're at it. You can email Julianne at julianne@juliannehansen.com. The best experience would be to grab a friend and explore her art studio in Historic Downtown Prattville at 173 W. Main Street. We hope you’ll share Julianne's story with friends and family, they’ll enjoy the reading experience. Thanks to DiAnna Paulk and her creative photography skills, you're the best! If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please text them to Jim Watson at 334.324.3472 or email jim@riverregionboom.com