photo by J. Sinclair

Inspired by a long-awaited trip to Italy, Joe and Debbie Bergeron decided to decorate their Adams Farm abode in a Mediterranean fashion. To aid their search for fresh interior-design ideas, the couple attended a Parade of Homes event at one of Greensboro’s newest premier developments — Grandover.

One of the homes they toured reflected their new décor aspirations perfectly, including resplendent architectural enrichments such as fluted columns, ceiling medallions, and decorative ironwork. Knowing they had found the perfect place to showcase their collections of art and wine, the Bergerons decided to buy.

As a member and partner of the Marshall Art Gallery, Joe’s art collection includes both local and international artists, as well as his own oil paintings. In each room of the house, Joe complemented the space’s classical architectural embellishments with oil paintings of the Trevi Fountain and the Coliseum in Rome, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and a street scene in Vienna. The work is personal — representing Joe and Debbie’s travels through Europe — and seemingly right at home amid the couple’s décor.

Still, although proud of their art, the Bergerons keep their other passion just below the surface. In the basement, beyond a brick archway and an iron gate handcrafted by local metal sculptor Jim Gallucci, a glimpse of corked bottles hints at wine yet to be savored. The couple’s wine cellar — designed to hold 450 bottles, but not nearly half-full — appears ravished by the holidays. As Joe explains, tongue in cheek — the “rate of purchase” minus the “rate of consumption” makes the addition process slow-going.

It is the combination of his passion for art and wine that has inspired Joe to capture the pleasure of a life well-lived in his paintings on the subject. In a series of oversized wine vignettes, Joe’s still-life compositions of wine and the rituals surrounding its consumption tell a story of enjoyment. With an attention to detail and the interplay of light, depth, and reflection, his oils have been compared to the work of nationally recognized artist Thomas Arvid, an accomplished master of the genre.

Back in the Bergerons’ kitchen, life imitates art in a collection of empty wine bottles displayed on the cabinets — reminders of times spent in celebration with family and friends. Accenting the backsplash above the countertops, pressed-metal tiles of low-relief grape clusters complement the stainless-steel appliances that include, naturally, a wine cooler to hold white and dessert wine at a constant 55 degrees. After all, as his artist’s bio states — “Most nights Joe can now be found painting in his studio at home, if not drinking the wine that has become a regular subject in his art.”

Despite the fact that she does not paint, Debbie says she has enjoyed the creative journey just as much as her husband. An artist in her own right with a sewing needle and thread, Debbie is a regular volunteer at the gallery and a collaborator when it comes to collecting. Once a novice in the greater points of wine appreciation — a trivet in their kitchen reads “Forgive me, for I have Zinned” — Debbie, who drives a purple PT Cruiser with a license plate customized with “MY GRAPE,” now has a strong affinity for fine wine.

Together, the Bergerons seem poised to make 2008 a good year. Enjoying their well-fit home and treasured collections, the couple holds fast to an old Italian expression that hangs above the entrance to their kitchen: “Vive bene, spesso L’amore, di risata molto” — charging friends, family, and each other to “Live well, love much, laugh often.”