EASTON — For Susa Schauer, art has stayed consistent in her life no matter her career. Whether it was being a professional woodturner or a neuroscientist, her heart has kept its love for creativity. Schauer's The Zebra Gallery has provided Easton with a collection of "evolutionary" art and artists.
Her journey to opening the business began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she was diagnosed with cancer. She described her diagnoses as a wake-up call. It pushed her to make her dream gallery a reality.
“I thought if I'm ever going to open a gallery, maybe I should (now),” Schauer said. “Life is short. So this beautiful spot across in the Tidewater came open, and I kind of leapt into it.
” Schauer’s decision to not wait allowed her to create a place that would not only help her through the pandemic and her illness, but also helped her establish a community she loved. Schauer said her choice in name for her gallery came as a bit of surprise to her. She did not have a particular connection with zebras growing up, but one day she received a text from her daughter-in-law saying her grandson, who was 3 years old at the time, had just been diagnosed at Johns Hopkins with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, an illness that affects the skin, joints and blood vessels.
After some research, she learned the symbol for Ehlers Danlos Society is a zebra. The symbol called to her and she decided to name her gallery after the animal. Additionally, she made a commitment to give 10% of proceeds to .