GNOSES
Darby Mae Wagner
Creative Producer, Writer, Experience Designer
United States
Darby's professional identity cannot be contained, nor can her aesthetic be singularly defined. Her body of work straddles multiple industries, from music to hospitality to experiential design (and many more in between). Her meticulousness and offbeat nature value ingenuity over safety, and excellence over perfection. She firmly believes that success reigns in the process, not the result. It is cyclical and cloud-like, an 'as above so below' story of gathering, integrating, and dispersing: allowing things to appear as they truly are, and heeding the lessons of each experience therein.
Darby distills, refines, and narrativizes. A highly seasoned creative producer, she thrives in dynamic work environments and thoroughly enjoys optimizing complex workflows (i.e. organizing the chaos, so to speak). In her work as in her life, building strong relationships are a top priority. With a global network that spans numerous industries and generations, Darby has a natural propensity for connection: managing and developing partnerships, building esprit de corps, and leading with kindness, compassion, and integrity. Teamwork really does make the dream work.
With a wealth of experience across diverse industries—both as a freelancer and a dedicated team member on domestic and global stages—Darby’s eclectic professional journey has nurtured her industrious work ethic, one that is highly adaptable and detail-obsessed. From the bustling realms of food and beverage establishments to intimate creative agencies and public education institutions, to the enchanting world of performing arts and experiential design, her foundational studies in Arts Management and French have blossomed into a unique lens on the world rarely encountered.
She lives in the vibrant metropolis of New York City, where she's been known (and celebrated) for her natural ability to transform abstract visions & goals into compelling and original content, concepts, timelines, and events. Organization and operational efficacy are her forte.
As a writer, Darby knows the difference between pithy and petulant, tailoring style and tone with care and acumen--there is a time for brevity and there is a time for ornate versions of depth. As a copywriter and brand strategist, Darby places a high value on authenticity and timelessness; the art of persuasion is a craft she wields with finesse, particularly as it relates to sales and marketing. Clickbait be damned. She believes in empowering the people through conscientious marketing practices, creating tasteful and authentic branding that assiduously reflects and refines her clients’ visions.
Darby is a very curious person. Her Montesorri and public French Immersion school educations fostered a desire to meet the world, to discover the unknown, and to connect with her creativity from a very young age. This eventually led her to founding GNOSES: a vessel for Gesamtkunstwerk; a concept-turned creative guild and nondisciplinary studio. Through a diverse modicum of artistic expressions and experiential designs, GNOSES aims to explore the cosmic interplay between cultures at large, the human spirit, and the natural world.
Beyond her professional canon, she dons many a hats: as a writer, poet, experience designer, and rogue sommelier, mediums she practices through GNOSES. Other hobbies include: interior styling & decorating, sourcing & restoring cultural artifacts (i.e. made and found), navigating the great outdoors, sweating through dance/sport/other physical activities, music discovery and mixing, reading (more non-fiction than fiction), studying the esoteric arts, and crafting meals for cherished friends.
Driven by a fervent belief in the power of building upon past experiences, Darby aspires to weave together her skills, knowledge, and passions in design & hospitality, music & the arts, and community building & education to work toward a more equitable and sustainable future. Her goal is to become a trusted consultant for individuals, businesses, and organizations committed to forward-thinking, anti-racist, and environmentally-conscious initiatives.
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In May of 2021, Darby launched GNOSES [noh-sis], a concept turned creative studio founded on the German concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, or the "total artwork". The following month, its first experience - a multi-course dinner with an accompanying beverage pairing (featuring natural wines from NY state and Mexico as well as small-batch mezcals from Oaxaca) - took place in Mexico City to much avail. The experience was designed in collaboration with chef, Abigail Julia Schmitt of Gingko Fine Dining, with the intention of amplifying the work of their partner, Queen Bee Honey, based in Merida, to whom all proceeds were donated.
Embodying the alchemical process, GNOSES is a liminal and cyclical space of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, a conceptual plane at the crossroads of reality and incorporeality, with the intent of fostering deeper connections to the self and others. On a material level, GNOSES expresses itself through a diverse modicum of artistic mediums and immersive experiences. Current and previous collaborators include: The Poetry Society of New York, The Unsent Letter Mailbox, The Autumn Salon, Atmosfera, Gingko Fine Dining, ArtX, Sitopia, and artist, Casey Baugh, among others.
GNOSES is also on Substack where Darby (and guild members) release occasional essays, poetry, and other random obscura, exploring the connections between culture, spirit, and nature.
(https://gnoses.substack.com/)
GNOSES is the co-founder and co-producer of Wine Poetic, a monthly workshop series exploring the threads between wine, spirits, poetry, and history. The program launched in 2023 in partnership with The Poetry Society of New York.
(https://www.are.na/darby-wagner/wine-poetic)
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coucou bisoux was an experimental design project centered on circularity, cultural preservation, and artistic exchange, launched in partnership with interior designer, Christina Agnes Love. Inspired by the Parisians salons of yore and our mutual love of design and wine, we transformed a rectangular art gallery into a dynamic space of storytelling and local communion--through art, furniture, and natural wine. A blend of showroom and salon, our meticulously curated collection of secondhand furnishings beckoned guests to truly immerse themselves in the space, and co-author a shared narrative. Accompanying the furnishings was a unique selection of minimal intervention wines from Eastern Europe that guests could enjoy while perusing the premises, with costs recouped through suggested donations. The space also featured works from two talented NYC artists as well as bespoke pieces by the founders, resulting in a remarkable achievement: over 90% of the 45-piece collection sold to new owners in just nine days.
(www.coucoubisoux.com)
