When Yvonne Gordon-Moser, manager of the Branford Art Center, interned with the Giant Steps Art Therapy Program at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, she saw firsthand the impact art therapy could make on people’s lives.

“It was amazing and transformative and you did that through the vehicle of art,” says Gordon-Moser, who interned with the program from August 2013 to May 2015. “The art gave them a way of saying what they were feeling without having to talk about it initially.”

Gordon-Moser worked with three different groups of veterans who had various life challenges, whether mental or physical. The groups expressed themselves through art therapy and they also had a garden group and a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder group.

“We had veterans come into the program who really had difficultly speaking to others, but once they started creating art, they started to talk about the art they were creating,” said Gordon-Moser. “They ultimately found their voice and were able form friendships with other veterans in the group.”

Since completing her internship, Gordon-Moser has taken on the role of manager at the newly formed Branford Art Center, which not only showcases resident artists, but also holds classes, special events, and more.

Gordon-Moser recalled the “amazing” results she saw through the Giant Steps program and wanted to give back. After speaking to Ted Aub, a veterans advocate, she decided to put together a Gallery Hop for Veterans, working with galleries from the Milford area and up the shoreline to the Connecticut River.

Local Galleries Join In

Gordon-Moser and Meg Giannotti of Artfish42 in Milford approached several local galleries with the idea. Eight other galleries joined the Branford Art Center and Artfish42 for the event, which will be held the weekend of April 8, 9, and 10.

The other galleries involved in the Gallery Hop are The Birds Nest Gallery and Salon of Guilford, Maple and Main of Chester, Cindy Stevens Fine Art of Clinton, the Clinton Art Gallery, the Firehouse Galley in Milford, the Davis Gallery of Orange and the E Street Gallery of Derby.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Giant Steps program. The committee—made up of gallery owners, volunteers, and Aub—recently met to finalize the details of the Gallery Hop.

“Everyone was excited,” said Gordon-Moser. “Ted [Aub] is really excited and thrilled to be involved with this.”

People can buy a “passport” for $20, which entitles them to participate in five raffles among the 10 galleries. Passport-holders will receive five raffle tickets and can decide where to enter upon visiting each gallery. Additional raffle tickets can also be purchased for $5. Prizes include paintings, gift baskets, gift certificates, and more.

After each visit, the passport will be stamped and once the passport is full, it is turned in to the final gallery owner to be entered to win the grand prize. The grand prize, valued at more than $200, will include pieces of art, gift certificates for art classes, and more.

When passport-holders visit each gallery, they will not only be able to view the regularly displayed artwork, but there will be artwork created by veterans as well with each participating gallery displaying several pieces.

“Everyone involved is very excited about the event,” said Gordon-Moser. “Ted Aub has been talking it up and has gone to American Legion and the VFW.”

Opening Night Reception

The Gallery Hop for Veterans will kick off with an opening reception on Friday, April 8 at the Branford Art Center at 1229 Main Street in Branford, from 6 to 9 p.m. The Branford Art Center will showcase between 20 and 30 pieces of work created by veterans and there will be a silent auction with proceeds going to the individual veterans who created the art.

In addition to the veterans’ work, 8 to 10 sculptors and glass works artisans will display their work and local artist Sally Brown will be the featured artist for the month in the front gallery. Brown will also have her own opening reception with a silent auction for a giclée print with proceeds to be donated to the Giant Steps Program.

Laura Spinelli, the director of the Giant Steps program, will give a presentation at the opening reception. Several veterans will also provide jazz music entertainment.

There will be refreshments following the presentation. There is no cost to attend the opening reception, but donations for the Giant Steps Art Therapy Program are welcomed. Passports for the weekend-long event will be available for purchase at the reception.

“It’s a really good cause, bringing awareness about how art heals for all people, but especially for veterans,” said Gordon-Moser. “I saw miracles happen when I was interning there and I’m thrilled that this event is coming together.”

Passports are available for $20 at all participating galleries. Gallery hours on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10 are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artists and veterans will be on hand at the various galleries from 1 to 3 p.m. For information, call Yvonne at 860-334-4642.