By Layla Kalinen
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CHESTER, Vt. — Married couple Jesse and Michael Alon have been building an ever-evolving legacy since they moved to Chester more than two decades ago.
“We have always been involved in the arts community together,” said Michael. “We moved to Chester in 2002 after we got married and we custom-built our first house from the ground up.”
The Alons started their unique mission of creating a living, breathing, multi-dimensional triptych that they describe as an ever-changing space.
And to them, it’s more than an art gallery.
“It was our mission in the concept of creating spaces to create something different; hence the name DaVallia,” Michael said. “We wanted to create a multifaceted craft combination art gallery that wasn’t limited to any of the keywords that people associate with the words ‘gallery or ‘exhibition.’ ”
Their unique concept is not seen in many places and is anything other than typical.
“Shortly after opening, we realized we loved it and it was really what we were meant to do,” Michael said. “After a year or two of owning the gallery, we started looking for a more permanent location that we could really expand upon and really push what we were doing.”
After opening on the Chester Green, they found their home space on Main Street and started displaying art with Michael’s hand-crafted furniture, artisan crafts and fine arts curated by Jesse.
The property is surrounded by their personally hand-wrought landscape-sculpture garden and Dijon-hued restored farmhouse, all created by them.
“We’ve looked over the last 14 years as we’ve evolved in our focus as one that has always been about truly just living and trying to help people live better,” Michael said. “It is really more of a lifestyle open-concept gallery that we have transformed the last eight years as we’ve been doing interior design.”
From 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, DaVallia Art And Interiors, at 39 North Street will debut ‘Abundance,’ their latest multifaceted fine art and interiors exhibition.
“Abundance” will display 16 new fall themed art pieces from the region, amongst the staged visions of design ideas for any person’s budget of interior design.
“We’re going to the next level and helping our clients achieve beautiful homes and spaces, whether it’s one piece or an entire home, and it has been a great journey,” Michael said.
The Alons said they inspire people to take a fresh, down-to-earth approach to art; their price range starts as low as $20 and gives everyone access to art.
“I guess you could say I am the one who makes all of our collections pretty,” Jesse said. “I stage the studio and create the schematics for how we curate our collections.”
Jesse said they strongly believe in art therapy, and both recalled their experiences post COVID.
“We want people even on a bad day in their lives to pull in, throw their seat strap off, leave their day behind and be inspired,” Michael said.
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