Gourd Spirit Dancing - First Friday at the Slate Valley Museum with Serena Kovalosky

Contemporary Gourd Artwork at the Slate Valley Museum

GRANVILLE, NY The Slate Valley Museum will host an exhibition of contemporary gourd artwork by sculptor Serena Kovalosky, with an opening reception on July 1 from 7pm-9pm in conjunction with the First Friday Artwalk. Kovalosky uses dried gourds as her primary medium, creating sculptures and vessels ranging in size from 5 inches in diameter to almost 3 feet in height. Intricate carving, meticulous woodburned designs and gilding with gold alloy leaf bring each piece into the realm of fine art.

"I am inspired by ancient vessels and the spiritual implications behind tribal art," says Kovalosky. "Gourds have a deep connection to these art forms, and my work is a bridge from the tribal to the contemporary realm."

Kovalosky invites the viewer into a world where nature is sacred -- a world of Dancing Vines, Laughing Gourds, and Ancient Wisdom. Kovalosky's work also reveals the realities of the physical world. Gourds are carved with ragged edges to reflect the natural disintegration of trees in the woods or holes burrowed by animals. Darkened interiors symbolize a natural aging process, while other sculptures glow from their gilded interiors drawing in the viewer to discover the "gold" that lies hidden inside every living thing. That, too, will eventually age over time as metal alloys are purposely used for their antiquing properties as they mature.

Serena Kovalosky was inspired to work with organic materials after seeing a collection of lacquered and finely carved gourd pottery from Olina, Mexico. She spent many years honing her technical skills with professional artists in Montreal, Canada and London, England before returning to her hometown of Whitehall, NY to further her artistic research by incorporating the organic forms and designs found during hikes in the Adirondack Mountains into her work.

Kovalosky's gourd artwork has been exhibited at the Hyde Museum in Glens Falls, NY and her work and creative process were featured in a recent issue of Adirondack Life Magazine. As a cultural entrepreneur, Kovalosky is the co-founder and former executive director of the biennial Open Studios of Washington County, NY which was recently featured as a successful example of art marketing in Art Calendar Magazine.

The exhibtion has been organized in conjunction with the First Friday Artwalk. First organized in 2010 by the Pember Library and Museum, First Friday's bring amazing local artists together at the Slate Valley Museum and Pember Library and Museum. Visitors are invited to enjoy local art, music, and food in a relaxed environment.

The Slate Valley Museum is located at 17 Water Street in Granville, NY. An opening reception with the artist will take place from 7pm-9pm on Friday, July 1, featuring wine and cheese and free admission to the museum. For more information, contact (518) 642-1417 or mail@slatevalleymuseum.org. Visit the Slate Valley Museum's website at www.slatevalleymuseum.org. Serena Kovalosky's portfolio and blog can be found on her website: www.kovalosky.com