John Louis Hoft, exceptional artist
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. — John Louis Hoft passed away peacefully Dec. 6, 2024, at home. He was 77.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, he was the son of Marie Milad Hoft Stansell and John Louis Hoft Sr.
John migrated to Connecticut with his wife, Deborah Blair Hoft and their young son, J. London Hoft, in 1970. His formative years were spent at Layton School of Art, Milwaukee, Pulpit Rock Community, Woodstock and Hokus Pokus Art Center, Pomfret Center. He was part of an emerging art scene that coalesced under patronage from Margaret Tourtellotte and a small grant from The Rockefeller Foundation. It was an exciting time of artistic experimentation and development that included forging lifelong friendships.
John’s relentless creative curiosity, daring and talent drove him to develop original content that was widely admired. He generated hundreds of pieces and projects.
His scope was vast and he brought his unique perspective to everything he created including painting, sculpture, public murals, construction of houses, shacks, outhouses, even a soap box derby car! Asked recently about the output of his prolific body of work he said, “It’s just what came out of my hands”.
Living in California for almost 40 years, John established himself as a painter in the San Francisco Bay Area.
He frequently showed in galleries there and in Chicago for 20 years.
John married Sharon Shafran while living in the Bay Area and they moved to Grass Valley in the early 2000s. There they built a community of friends and furry loved ones. John always had a quiet magnetism. He was a keen observer and a gifted storyteller. He loved to share a laugh, a glass of wine, and a smoke. In his later years in Grass Valley, John took on restoration work for antique collectors in the region.
John’s artwork is treasured in private collections across the United States, Canada and the Netherlands.
He was beloved by Deborah, Sharon, lifelong and newer friends, his daughter-in-law Mary, grandson Oliver and son London. He also leaves a sister Sue Maras of Prescott, Ariz.; cousins in Milwaukee and Park City, Utah; nieces and nephews in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. He was predeceased by a niece, Kristine Maras.
Family and friends gathered July 19 in celebration of John Hoft Life/Art at Silver Circle Gallery, Block 134, 134 Main St., Putnam. Visit between 1 and 5 p.m. July 31; 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1; and 12 to 4 p.m. Aug. 2 and 3.
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Wed. July 30
Photo Exhibit
PUTNAM --- An exhibit of photographs by Carmine Angeloni is now on view until September in the Corridor Gallery in the Putnam Municipal Complex. For more info: putnamCtArtsCouncil.com.
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present its August art exhibit, “Three Friends: Cathy Shires, Micky Welles & Xiaochong Song. Works by the Quiet Corner Garden Club will be in the display case.
Fri. Aug. 1
‘The Prom’
PUTNAM --- The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse will present its summer musical, the joyously funny and sweet blockbuster “The Prom” starting July 25 and running for three weekends. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1, 2, 7 and 8 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 3 and Aug. 9. To accommodate the Putnam Car Cruise on Aug. 10, shows for the final weekend are at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 and 8 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 9. Tickets: $30 for adults; $27 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. 860-928-7887. Sensitive material.
Sun. Aug. 3
Exhibit
WOODSTOCK --- The Center for Woodstock History is presenting a photo exhibit, "Woodstock Through the Camera's Eye in Post-Civil War America," from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. Check for updates: 860-928-1035.
Tues. Aug. 5
Al-Anon Meeting
POMFRET --- Al-Anon will meet at noon on Tuesdays at the Christ Church, 527 Pomfret St. All welcome.
Sat. Aug. 9
Concert-River Fire
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will present the CT Army National Guard 102d Army Band (Jazz Combo and Brass Band) at 4:30 in Rotary Park, followed by Ed Peabody & the Big Blue Thang from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and then River Fire follows at 8:30 with music provided by WINY Radio. This event is powered by Centreville Bank, Spicer Propane & Oil, and WIN Waste Innovations. Event partners include, in addition to WINY Radio, Spicer Propane and the Town of Putnam Public Works and Parks & Recreation departments. Free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Sun. Aug. 10
Main Street Car Cruise
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will present the annual Main Street Car Cruise around downtown and Rotary Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free registration starts at 8 a.m.
Pluck-a-Duck
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association's Pluck-a-Duck fund-raiser will be featured from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Rotary Park. They will offer their colossal Kids Corner that will include games and a dunk tank and much more. At noon the next day, Aug. 11, ducks will be plucked from the waters at a secret location. www.discoverputnam.com/pbarubberduckrace.
Sat. Aug. 16
Cruisin' fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- The 19th Annual Cruisin” For Chris Show to go poker run will begin at the Putnam Elks on Edmond Street with a 10 a.m. sign-in and 11 a.m. kickstands up. Festivities follow at 1 p.m. $25 per person, includes chicken dinner. Tickets available at the door.
Wed. Aug. 20
Author Visits
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library and the Aspinock Historical Society will present Patricia Suprenant from 6 to 7 p.m. The author of “Behind the Scarlett Letter," she will speak and sign books.
Fri. Aug. 22
Learning Open House
DANIELSON --- Learning in Retirement (LIR -QV) will hold a Fall Open House at 1 p.m. at the Killingly Community Center on Broad Street. The LIR-QV will present Sheryl Faye as Sheryl Faye, as Katherine Hepburn: “From Hartford to Hollywood.” There will be a preview of fall courses, light refreshments. Free. Limited seating – first come, first served. No reservations required.
Sun. Aug. 31
Fund-raiser Concert
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Trail Wood...stock,” an Acoustic Music Festival, at 3 p.m. on the lawn. Bring your own chairs or blankets and a picnic. Cold drinks and snacks available for purchase. Donation: $10 pp. Still seeking few musicians who might like to perform a 15-20 minute set.
Sat. Sept. 13
Fall Festival
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Department will host a Fall Festival at the Recreation Park. This is an old fashioned family fun day with a band, old-fashioned games, pie-eating contest, apple pie contest, food and more! This year the department is partnering with PCS PTO for a Harvest Hustle 5K & Kids Fun run. www.pomfretct.gov/recreation.
Sat. Sept. 20
Bike Fund-raiser
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Academy Scholar-Athlete Society’s first Quiet Corner CT (QCCT) PMC Kids Ride" for children ages 2-10 will begin with check-in between 9 and 10 a.m. at Woodstock Academy's North Campus. The age/ability appropriate route is between 10 and 11. Post-ride celebration. 774 200 1754.
Sat. Sept. 27
Pomfret Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “Jordan Freeman: Black Revolutionary War Soldier” performed by Kevin Johnson of the CT State Library at 3 p.m. at the Old Town House.
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PUTNAM — It may not seem like it, but behind the scenes, MuralFest is hard at work bringing murals to Putnam.
The group asked Walldogs (who would be doing the murals) to move Putnam’s MuralFest date to 2028 instead of 2030.
MuralFest officials said: “We believe that it would be challenging to sustain momentum over five years, especially related to funding, the economy, and the status of business owner/property owner agreements over that extended timeframe.
"Another considerable concern is that some talented muralists known for their legendary work in the industry are at, or approaching, advanced ages that could impair their ability to participate.”
The group will be looking for walls and for mural ideas.
They also thanked the Putnam Area Foundation ($10,000), the Putnam Business Association ($10,000), and the Putnam Arts Council ($4,000) and individual donations for their “generous and solid foundation for our fund-raising efforts.”
MuralFest officials also thanked Putnam Mayor Barney Seney and Mary Ann Chinatti, director of Economic and Community Development/Redevelopment, for agreeing to host a MuralFest Putnam webpage on the town website.
The group has connected with the planning members of the Keene, N.H., 2019 Walldog Festival, “who have been very generous in sharing their best practices and planning materials with us.
Most of this information is being exchanged through emails and phone calls, and we will plan an on-site visit in the future.”
The Putnam group is planning to connect with the planners from the 2017 Bricks and Murals Festival that resulted in 17 murals being painted in Westerly, R.I., and Pawcatuck.
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150th Birthday!
Congratulations to the Putnam Fire Department on your celebration of 150 years of dedicated service to our community. Putnam Police Chief Chris Ferace, right, presented a commemorative axe to Fire Chief Robert Campbell on behalf of the Putnam Police Department in thanks for their continued dedication to public safety during their celebration this evening.
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