It's in the Water... Artist as Collector

New York based artist Laurette Gnaegy Kovary is this week's guest blogger for our Artist as Collector series.

Acrylic and Resin on Coral Rock

 20" x 12" x 2"  

©2012Chuck Gnaegy

This piece is by my father, Chuck Gnaegy, whose love of the ocean has been transferred to me and then from me to my own children. 

I've had this piece hanging in my living room for almost 15 years since I persuaded my dad to gift it to me for a birthday present. It hangs near the front entrance of my home on a wall painted aqua blue. It is always a conversation starter.  People seem drawn to the organic shape of the coral and then leads to an investigation of the surface. The conversation almost always ends with a story about swimming and visit to the sea. I love that this work resonates with people in that way. It's another discovery of the thread that connects us to each other.  

But, what I love the most is that it reflects a huge part of what inspired me as an artist to draw and paint in the first place. I've always been drawn to the all encompassing expressive wildness, power, tranquility and unordered beauty of nature. 

I've thought of moving this work to another area of my house, but I think that I should leave it where it is- it serves so well as a welcoming symbol to my home.       

Laurette Gnaegy Kovary is a painter, designer, and installation artist whose vivid imagination and professional skills transform walls, canvas and objects. She also is the founder of Art House Studio and a Mermaid in her own right!

That's Laurette on left with daughter Noelle and friends.
Sea horses and costumes designed and created
by Laurette.

Nope, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! or the starfish doesn't fall far from...
well, you get the idea.

Slowing Down to Catch Up installed at thefashioncenter -NYC

View from Inside Looking Out

Installing the work...
flashback from my Visual Merchandising
days at Macy's Herald Square

Laurette Kovary lending her astute installation eye
Notice the Button Logo!

Jerry Scupp, Deputy Director of the Fashion Center
and all around art friend

Tuesday was installation day for my window at thefashioncenter at 209 West 28th St.. It was a beautiful sunny summer day and I had a great time putting it all together. Setting it up in my studio was an important way to get a sense of how the work goes together but actually putting the work in the space took on a new life....

Here are some installation shots including one of Jerry Scupp, deputy director (and visionary) of thefashioncenter sitting in my From Where I Sit Chair.

There were actually some fun "serendipitious coincidences (are there really any?) The work is part of my Inherently Found series where I am interested in what we find and how it takes on a life of its own in a new context. As I was unpacking my nets from the bubble wrap behind the window, I found a small button with a drop of paint on it. That button made its way into my piece as it hangs from one of the nets that are clustered together. There are also other buttons in my piece. My great friend and art buddy Laurette Kovary came into meet me just as it was coming together and she noticed that logo of thefashioncenter is a button.... naturally, don't ya just love when that happens... its like a signpost telling you that you are on the right track!


Have you noticed any cool "signs" lately?