Valerie Savarie works predominantly in altered books. She takes the written story within and reinterprets it into a three dimensional piece by cutting, sewing and painting – creating a multidimensional collage while still leaving the majority of the book intact.

The characters she creates – the inhabitants of the books – are always painted in black and white, which allows them to live in balance within their predominantly black and white (text and page) surroundings.

Savarie recently opened Valkarie Gallery in Belmar along with fellow artist Karrie York. The  gallery (and their studio) is located at 445 S Saulsbury St in Lakewood.

Using scraps of pages from altered books along with a hand painted character and origami bird, this piece represents the love and peacefulness that hospice brings to the patients and their families.