Imagery Artist Collection History
Labels
for the Imagery Artist Collection wines are produced from artwork commissioned
from among the world's most notable contemporary artists. The original
one-of-a-kind works of art are the property of Imagery Estate Winery.
The collection, currently numbering 190, is on permanent display at the
winery's on-site gallery.
The artists - from young talents exploding onto the scene to recognized masters - are sought out by program curator Bob Nugent, a recognized fine artist with strong ties to many in the art community. Artists are chosen for the quality and diversity of their work and for their enthusiasm for this unique program.
The artist program, as Nugent and winemaker Joe Benziger designed it, allows the individual artists almost total creative freedom. The only requirement of the artist is that they include - somewhere in their image - an interpretation of the Parthenon symbol, which serves as the winery's signature. As Nugent states, "We are able to attract top artists to participate because the winery has had the vision not to limit the artist's creative expression."
The first Imagery art pieces produced consisted of a grape cluster triptych painted by curator Nugent for a three-bottle collector's set and a "winery images" montage by Tim McDowell. Since then the list of contributing artists has grown to include some of the most recognized in the world including: Sol LeWitt, CT, Shoichi Ida, Japan, Terry Winters, NY, William Wiley, CA, Goncalo Ivo, Brazil, Judy Pfaff, NY, David Nash, Wales and Pat Steir, NY.
Art critic and author, Donald Kuspit wrote about the collection, saying, "The art (they) commission has...everything to do with the best and most subtle America has to offer."
Nugent concludes, "In developing the Artist Collection program, the winery has built the largest and one of the most impressive original wine label art collections in the world."
Bob
Nugent absolutely loves what he does - everything he does. As curator
for the Imagery Estate Winery Artist Program he is responsible for commissioning
the original artwork -- reproduced on the winery's Artist Collection wines
- from among the world's elite artist community. Additionally, Nugent
manages all aspects of the winery's art collection and gallery.
As if that weren't enough this fully tenured Sonoma State University art professor is also a highly respected American artist. He has participated in over 90 one-man exhibitions and 500 group exhibitions throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. Since receiving his Master of Fine Arts Degree in painting from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1971, he has been awarded numerous grants and awards including a National Endowment of the Arts Fellowship, a Tiffany Foundation Fellowship, a Fullbright Travel Grant and a California Arts Council Grant for his work in Brazil.
But it is the combination of art and wine that fuels his greatest passion. It was a chance 1983 meeting with vintner Joe Benziger at a local polo match that was the impetus for the Imagery Artist Collection Wines. After the two managed to quell a nearby ruckus (polo matches so often turn rowdy) they got to know each other and discovered that the marriage of their respective interests could end up being something very special.
Nearly seventeen years later Nugent puts the final touches on the new Imagery Estate Artist Gallery, reflecting on a one-of-a-kind collection of over 190 pieces of wine-inspired art and looking forward to the greater exposure both the wine and the art will enjoy at the newly opened Imagery Estate Winery.
Nugent lives in Santa Rosa with his wife Linda. They have three daughters Georgina, Erin and Rebekka. They are avid bocce ball players and make yearly sojourns to Brazil; the inspiration for much of Nugent's art.
