Piece-by-Piece: The Art of Assemblage, Where 1 + 1 = 3

Discover the magic when individual objects, no matter how similar or different, are joined into an entirely new work at the Cove Gallery in Rocky Neck

August 27, 2026 – September 20, 2026 Cove Gallery
Opening reception: Thursday, August 27 from 5 to 8pm

Gloucester, MA — The act of assembly reveals, to the artist, new forms, new relationships of color and shape. Perhaps another unit can be placed over here, or a new piece added there, giving a fresh and unexpected whole. These works by five Rocky Neck members explore assemblage, in its broadest sense. Using materials ranging from wire, corrugated cardboard, reclaimed wood and hardware, to toy figures, rocks, and recycled flameworked glass the pieces become, in the hands of the contributing artists, surprising and delightful 3-D works.

The artists in this show include:

David Covert has been involved in art making for nearly fifty years. Basically self-taught, by virtue of continuing to draw, paint, and occasionally sculpt since the late sixties. Much of his work has been in the two-dimensional arts, dominated by drawing and painting and printmaking. His training has been mostly informal, interspersed with individual classes at Boston area art schools including the Museum School of the MFA, Mass College of Art, and the late DeCordova Museum school. For more information see https://www.davidcovert.art/.

Brian Murphy graduated from Rhode Island School of Design, then off to NYC honing agency skills. He settled in Beverly, Massachusetts, where he continues to work with ad agencies and individual clients. In between he still finds time to create original artwork made from scrap materials. To learn more, visit https://brianmurphyartanddesign.com/.

Marion Powers is a mixed media artist and a painter who lives and works in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Her assemblages incorporate objects collected during her travels. Her work begins with a found frame. She composes intuitively using an evolving collection of jewelry, watch parts, hardware, book covers and other objects that she has collected over time. Some pieces have personal history, while others are chosen for their beauty or character or the story they suggest. She transforms these elements into compositions I call “jewels”. What was once discarded or put aside becomes precious. She creates these works to encourage others to look for beauty in the ordinary and overlooked objects and to recognize the potential in everyday objects and to, hopefully, inspire curiosity, reflection and a deeper appreciation for the unexpected. Marion earned her BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Her work is held in private collections in New York City, Cape Ann and beyond.

Judy Robinson-Cox creates miniature shadowboxes, collages and small assembled sculptures using a variety of found objects and tiny plastic people. She creates these light-hearted artworks to make people smile and appreciate the world in which we live. She attended NYU School of Fine Arts and earned a BFA from the University of Connecticut with additional classes at Montserrat College of Art. For more information, see https://judy.robinson-cox.com/.

Beth Williams explores the qualities of glass and color. Using light and transparency in surprising ways along with layering color on color helps her to create unusual contemporary beads, jewelry and small sculptures. She gleans inspiration from her gardens, the ever-changing light on the ocean, the seascapes that surround her … anywhere colors collide in nature. To learn more, see https://www.bethwilliams.com/.

About the Rocky Neck Art Colony
Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, nurtures excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, residencies and vibrant cultural events for its members and the public. On picturesque Rocky Neck in Gloucester, Massachusetts, RNAC operates three exhibition spaces, open to the public for free: The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck (6 Wonson Street); The Salted Cod Arthouse (53 Rocky Neck Ave.), a partnership gallery and café; and Cove Gallery (37 Rocky Neck Ave.), open seasonally in the former gallery of local artists Gordon and Judith Goetemann. Check the website www.rockyneckartcolony.org for hours, openings and special events. For more information, see the website or call 978-515-7004.

IMAGES (high-resolution images available on request)