Neighbor News
A French-American art collaboration at FIAF Montclair
Painting Exhibition FIAF Montclair May 20- June 16
MONTCLAIR, NJ – Artists Laurence de Valmy (France) and Mary Beth McAllister (USA) are pleased to announce their respective exhibitions French Reflections and Les Gardiens du Jardin at the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) in Montclair. The exhibitions will open on Friday, May 20 and will remain on view through Thursday, June 16, 2016 in FIAF Montclair’s new, expanded space.
An opening reception will be held at FIAF Montclair on Friday, May 20th at 7pm with both artists and the FIAF Montclair team. The exhibitions are included on the Montclair Art Walk tour, which takes place that same evening from 6 to 9 pm. Both exhibitions are curated by Marie-Catherine Glaser, Director of FIAF Montclair: “While both artists have different universes and backgrounds, they share a love for French culture, and their work is full of joie de vivre,” said Marie-Catherine Glaser.
The collaboration was born from the friendship between McAllister and Valmy. The artists met at an event organized by Arts by the People at the Artist Baker cafe in Morristown, NJ. . As Valmy considers herself an Americanized French and McAllister an “American in love with France” the collaboration with FIAF Montclair is a perfect fit and an illustration of the long-standing tradition of French-American artistic collaborations.
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About Laurence de Valmy:
After falling in love with the American artistic movements of Contemporary Realism and Photorealism, French painter Laurence de Valmy became a realist painter herself. Valmy believes that what we see influences our mood; therefore she chooses to paint colorful and bright paintings to create happy and peaceful moments in time. Born in Africa in 1974, Valmy grew up in France and the UK, and now lives and works in Basking Ridge, NJ. Valmy studied art at the University of Michigan and in France. Today, her work is exhibited internationally and included in several private collections in the US, Europe, and Asia. Recent shows include O’Cabanon in Chelsea, NYC ; the Ukrainian Institute on New York’s Upper East Side; Trygve Lie Gallery in midtown Manhattan; and Richelieu Drouot in Paris, France. Valmy is among the artists featured on www.photorealism.org.
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www.ldevalmy.com / FB Laurence de Valmy Fine Art / Instagram @laurencedevalmy
About Mary Beth McAllister:
American artist and designer Mary Beth McAllister was influenced by a magical childhood garden, which became a muse for the worlds she creates in her paintings, sculptures, and designer showhouses. A student of fine arts at Marymount College and Richmond College in Surrey, England, McAllister found inspiration in her wanderings through France. She was on the original staff of Condé Nast’s Self magazine launch. Her own label of garden-inspired accessories sold to Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman and was covered in Vogue and Women’s Wear Daily. She expanded into murals and painted furniture for residential interiors. Mary Beth’s latest Mansion in May Designer Showhouse was inspired by her illustrated characters The Garden Keepers, mischievous seed packets masquerading as landscape architects and the like. McAllister’s newest works, in gouache, Les Gardiens du Jardin are their French cousins!
About FIAF Montclair
The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), the premiere destination for French language and culture in the tristate area, offers French classes, workshops, and social events for all ages and levels in Montclair, New Jersey. http://fiaf.org/newjersey
About FIAF
FIAF's mission is to create and offer New Yorkers innovative and unique programs in education and the arts that explore the evolving diversity and richness of French cultures. FIAF seeks to generate new ideas and promote cross-cultural dialogue through partnerships and new platforms of expression. www.fiaf.org
FIAF Montclair
7 North Willow Street, Suite 7, Montclair, NJ Phone: 973-783-0507
The exhibitions French Reflections and Les Gardiens du Jardin will be on view during FIAF Montclair’s opening hours: Monday–Thursday: 9:30am–1pm & 2pm–8pm; Saturday: 9am–4pm ; Friday & Sunday: Closed
