ValAries GalArie gives budding artists a voice

LAFAYETTE — Artist and lover of all things creative, Valarie Fitzmauris has opened a gallery and artisan gift shoppe — tucked beneath a consignment shop in Lafayette — where new and local artists are welcomed.

Greeted by a slumbering Buddha statue by the entrance of her gallery, ValAries GalArie (Fitzmauris is an Aries, hence the name) offers a plethora of art work using varies unique mediums and provides a zen like tranquility to customers.

"Every one asks if my Buddha is for sale but she is not," says Fitzmauris smiling. "And yes, I call Buddha a she."

For Fitzmauris, opening a gallery was never something she set out to do. As a little girl growing up in Bergen County, Fitzmauris was always making things and had a strong need to create. Although she never took art classes, Fitzmauris came from a creative family and thrived on being around creative minds. She got a job at Sony music and worked around the art directors, then with the encouragement of her husband, began painting seven years ago.

Drawn to the vibrant colors in abstract art, Fitzmauris gravitated to painting angels, Buddhas and guitars in that style. When a good friend told her she had something special in her work, Fitzmauris decided to go for it.

"I have opened this gallery in honor of my dad, and my cousin who were creative but chose to do the responsible thing and take care of their families," she says. "I kept hearing my father say it's never too late in life to start something new, and that is what inspired me to do this."

"Although I want artists in here, my gallery is geared to those who don't make a living out of art but have that need to create. They deserve to have their work acknowledged," she says.

Giving budding artists a voice, as well as a place to express themselves is important to Fitzmauris. She has started a meditative art workshop in her gallery where artists can gather, relax and create, whether they have been painting for years or just starting out. Fitzmauris leads the group through meditative exercises which helps rouse the creativity and allows class members to let go of any thing blocking them. Fitzmauris approaches her own work the same way.

"I can stand in front of that blank canvas with nothing in my mind and not knowing what I will paint," she says. "Then I began to meditate and let things come to me."

Fitzmauris does have an affection for painting abstract, brightly colored guitars in honor of her late father who had a talent for playing the instrument. She plans on eventually holding intimate acoustic concerts in the gallery, and also will be hosting poetry readings which writers can sign up for.

"I even have a 10 year old girl who asked if she could read her poetry here. People are very excited about it," she says.

Wanting to offer the community a peaceful creative hub, Fitzmauris was drawn to this cozy space with an architecturally interesting stone wall. She has been frequenting the shops of Lafayette for years and felt it was the perfect place to open her gallery. Her challenge now as curator is to get the word out to local artists.

"Right now it's all word of mouth and I am so excited to find new artists," she says. "I am happy to be here because I am so in my element, and I like to find new talent. I love it when people don't even realize they have talent, it makes me happy to acknowledge them."

Walking around the gallery, the air thick with the sweet smell of a gingerbread candle, Fitzmauris beams as she describes each piece of art hanging in her gallery. From studious portraits of Edgar Allen Poe, to stylish accessories made of recycled bicycle tires, ValAries GalArie brims with work from passionate, talented locals.

Tucked in a far corner, Fitzmauris' own pieces are displayed — a collection of shapes and colors. She credits her husband, whom she lives with in Sparta with their 13 year old son.

"I call him the not so silent partner," she says. "He has always encouraged me to paint and he keeps me grounded."

Fitzmauris says her son has talent in art as well and she encourages him to paint, "but right now he just wants to play basketball," she smiles.

Fitzmauris says she admires abstract expressionism artist Jackson Pollock, and Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky.

"There is such a talent in abstract art, the movement of shapes, the way one person can see one thing and someone else sees it differently," she says.

"That is why it is important to connect with art, and everybody connects differently."

"One piece of art can speak to somebody in such a unique way."