OLD LYME, CONN.- The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts announced the formal opening of de Gerenday’s Fine Art Materials and Curiosities, a new shop offering fine art materials and giftable objects from around the globe.

Modeled after the most famous and storied art stores in Paris and London, such as Sennelier and L. Cornelissen, this destination shop is as photogenic as it is substantial. Artists will find an abundant array of the finest quality oil, acrylic and watercolor paints, brushes of all sizes, fine linen papers, canvas on rolls, and sculpting tools, all chosen by the professional artists who comprise the faculty of the Lyme Academy.

In addition to supplies for artists, a unique collection of “curiosities” adds a sense of old-world charm and sophistication to the store, including an extensive collection of new and rare art books, taxidermy, architectural salvage, tapestries, and one-of-a-kind decorative items for the home.

The Academy’s Executive Director, Mora Rowe, utilized her background in fashion and design as she envisioned the exquisite interior display and carefully curated the select items for the unique store located on the Academy’s main campus. An easily seen highlight throughout the store is the collection of plaster casts of classical European figurative sculptures available for purchase. These exceptional quality casts were sourced from notable collections in Italy and France and are used for teaching and study by faculty and students attending the Academy.

Visitors to the store will find a variety of items for both artists and non-artists ranging from $5.00 to priceless. Consigned pieces of art, Italian leather journals, candles and jewelry are also for sale throughout the store. Furthering a commitment to local artisans, Hardenco, a boutique denim manufacturer located in New Hartford, CT was sourced to produce high quality, Lyme Academy logo adorned artist aprons and zippered bags to be sold at the shop.

“It is part of our mission to create a store that both artists and people who appreciate art can shop at. Our goal was to include some items that would be artistic in nature, allowing for flexibility to be used by artists for still life paintings or by individuals and interior designers sourcing for unique home décor” says Rowe. “Additionally, we have ensured that there is something for everyone who visits the store. Whether you are a local artist in need of a new canvas, or a community member looking for a gift,

de Gerenday’s will be top on your list to shop, while supporting the Academy.”

The shop’s name honors Laci de Gerenday, the husband of the Academy’s founder, Elisabeth Gordon Chandler, who was himself a successful sculptor and administrator at Lyme Academy. de Gerenday’s is accessible by the South Campus entrance located at 84 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, CT and is currently open to the public Monday - Friday, 10 am - 4 pm. Special orders, drop shipping, online shopping and gift certificates are available.

The official opening of the store will take place on Saturday, July 30th from 10am-5pm during the MidSummer Festival held at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts campus. The traditional festival in Old Lyme features the Lyme Academy’s alumni art show and sale, live art demonstrations, live musical performances, food, drinks and more.

“In keeping with the Lyme Academy’s pursuit of excellence in arts education, we feel it is important that the materials and tools we offer reflect our values,” says Co-Artistic Director Jordan Sokol. “We spent many months hand selecting each brand to ensure the quality of every product. We are thrilled to have the convenience of the store right here at the Academy as many of the artists attending classes and workshops are often in the studio for up to 12 hours a day, and you won’t find many of these products in art supply chains or on Amazon.”

Fine art brands sourced for the store include Michael Harding, Old Holland, Rublev, Artefex, Raymar, Holbein, Winsor & Newton, Chelsea Classical Studio, Silver Brush, Trekell, Robert Simon, Isabey, Raphael, New Wave, Strathmore, Fabriano, Arches, Stonehenge, Staedtler, Derwent, Sennelier, Apollon, Centurion and more.

This marks one of many planned ventures by the new staff, faculty, and Board of the Academy to welcome the Old Lyme community to the campus, support its thriving local art scene, and to establish Lyme Academy as a premier destination site for artists and art enthusiasts from all over the world.