Bruce Contemporaries Collecting Art and Wine: A Conversation and Tasting

On Friday, April 9th, the Bruce Contemporaries hosted Collecting Art & Wine: A Conversation and Tasting. Alexandra Kittle, Independent Curator and Art Dealer and Greg Rubin, Owner, Horseneck Wine & Spirits were joined by Contemporaries co-chair, Asya Geller, for an interesting discussion on how to begin collecting art and wine and some of the current trends in the market.

Attendees enjoyed a tasting of three wines chosen by Greg to showcase bottles that would be a great start to a collection throughout the conversation. While discussing their top five tips to get you started in collecting, Alexandra mentioned, “You can’t take it with you, so make it count and keep legacy in mind when choosing pieces” while Greg suggested, “think about collecting wine as a way to step into the shallow end of the collecting pool.” They talked about training your palette, either by drinking wine or as Alexandra said, “Don’t be shy about making firm decisions when you are figuring out what story to tell with your art collection.” The conversation continued with a discussion on balance within your collection and why do people collect, is it for resale or for the joy of collecting? As the evening wrapped up, Greg and Alexandra talked about what makes a great collector and they both agreed that a great collector only needs to collect what they love.

About the Speakers

Asya Geller attended Cornell University where she majored in American Studies and worked at Sotheby's auction house for 10 years as the Head of the Client Development Department. In November 2020, she launched WERKZY, the only online marketplace exclusively for Small Businesses searching for Professional Talent.

Alexandra Kittle is an independent art adviser working in the United States and abroad, with opportunities to connect most often in the New York and Palm Beach regions. She offers referral-based advisory services, arts community access, and social engagement founded upon strength of relationships and quality of experience. This fabric is made up of bespoke offerings through personal attention. She works with a range of collectors from novice to virtuoso, building a collection for the first time or pursuing accessions to supplement an existing one, and also with businesses, estates, and private patrons on sourcing, acquisition strategy, sales, and curatorial projects. Additionally, she works with a roster of both established and emerging artists worldwide on planning and staging exhibitions and placing works in private collections and on public display. She previously was an Artist Liaison at Pace Gallery and in Development for Contemporary Art at Sotheby's. Alexandra holds a BA in Art History from Georgetown University and lives in Connecticut with her family.

 Greg Rubin is the Owner of Horseneck Wine & Spirits in Greenwich, one of the first fine wine stores in the country, and Vanderbilt Wine Merchants in Brooklyn, NY named one of NYC’s Best Wine Stores. When he’s not in one of his shops Greg can be found in private cellars, on the road visiting up-and-coming producers, and speaking at various events on winemaking, wine collecting & investing, and wine appreciation. He holds the Certified Sommelier designation from the Court of Master Sommeliers, an MBA from NYU Stern, and is a member of the Bruce Museum.

Bruce Contemporaries Virtual Paint & Sip Evening

The Bruce Contemporaries hosted a lively and fun Virtual Paint & Sip evening with Artist and Bruce Museum Trustee Felicity Kostakis on March 3.

Before the event, Felicity sketched the outline of a Tod’s Point beach scene on each participants’ canvas which was delivered along with painting supplies, a children’s art activity and a bottle of wine.

Throughout the Paint & Sip event, Felicity led the group in a painting demonstration where attendees created their own Tod’s Point masterpieces. She provided individual encouragement and feedback, as each artist chose to interpret the scene in their own unique way - from sunny days to sunsets to cloudy afternoons. It was amazing how no two paintings looked alike!

 A huge thank you to Greg Rubin of Horseneck Wine and Spirits for donating the delicious wine for the event. The wine definitely helped draw out everyone’s creative sides!

About the Artist

Felicity Kostakis was born in Sydney, Australia, Felicity Kostakis has been heavily influenced by the sea. Her early inspiration came from the magnificent coastlines of Australia’s southeast region. When she was only eight years old, she picked up a brush and began painting with any and every medium she could find. After studying in Australia, Felicity moved to Dublin, Ireland where the bays and peninsulas of the Emerald Isle continued to awaken her artistic impulses. After a visit to the Connecticut shore in 1998, Felicity became inspired by the New England coastlines and moved her studio permanently to Old Greenwich, CT.

Felicity’s artwork is rich with light and nature. Where the horizon meets the shore, where land, sea and sky come together, and the ever-changing moods of the water are all images in her paintings evoking various moods, from tranquil to mysterious. She has extended her ability to capture the grandeur of the sea to many other subjects including landscapes, animals and still lifes.

Felicity is an art instructor at Greenwich Academy. She is a member of The Greenwich Art Society, The Art Society of Old Greenwich, The Greenwich Arts Council and the Collectors Council at the Bruce Museum.

Felicity is currently on the Board of Trustees and serves as the co-chair of the development committee for the Bruce Museum. Felicity works full time in her Old Greenwich studio where she continues to be inspired by the New England coastlines daily.

Gallery and Artist Studio tour with Emmanuelle Grelier and Gigi Mills

The Bruce Contemporaries hosted a captivating virtual visit to the new gallery Emmanuelle G. Contemporary Art on Lewis Street in Greenwich on February 3, 2021. Emmanuelle Grelier discussed her vision for opening her gallery during the pandemic and attendees heard from artist Gigi Mills, who spoke about her work (and worked on a piece!) from her Santa Fe studio. Attendees also viewed current works by Gigi Mills and mixed media artist, Lyndi Sales, among others, in the gallery. 

Born in France, Emmanuelle Grelier first worked in fashion in Paris, London and New York but in the wake of her life upheaval, her passion for contemporary art—born out of years spent at auction’s houses, museums and galleries—led her to change her professional path. She first worked for a leading gallery in New York City before launching Emmanuelle G. Contemporary Art on Lewis Street in Greenwich.

Emmanuelle G. was created to curate an accessible, dynamic collection of artworks from talented French and international artists who we sincerely believe in, and who we actively engage with. With an open approach, our goal is to showcase our artist's vision and give them a strong presence in the art world, by working in various locations and cities, via art fairs, and special collaborations. Emmanuelle G. features the work of many contemporary artists, including Gigi Mills.

Gigi Mills work is born out of her need and desire to simplify and/or reduce each moment to its absolute essential, by removing details from life that tend to obscure what is truly being experienced. It is also her desire to bare witness to, and often to lift up in beauty what is so often considered unwanted or held in despair. Ms. Mills was born in Ohio into the well-known Mills Brothers Circus family. Both performing and the plastic arts were admired and encouraged. Early on ballet and modern dance took up much of her focus and formal education. It was not until many years later she began teaching herself to paint. Though she is influenced by several of the early and mid-twentieth century painters she has developed a style distinctly her own.

Art, Culture and the Bruce Contemporaries –Greenwich Lifestyle Magazine

Thrilled to see our newest member group, the Bruce Contemporaries, prominently featured in the February edition of Greenwich Lifestyle! Check out the article and read all about their insider access to the Bruce Museum and special events that include summertime cocktails at the Bruce Museum Seaside Center, networking events with artworld experts, tours of private art collections, and more. This group has a busy calendar full of fun and educational events and is great for those who want to learn more about the Museum and Greenwich art scene and also meet other local art and culture enthusiasts.

February 2021 Issue of Greenwich Lifestyle