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05/11/2015 10:30 AMGreg Robbins has walked up and down Main Street in Branford for his whole life. He remembers it as a child and now is even more familiar with it as a real estate agent, often working with the businesses and landlords along the Green and its surrounding areas.
Robbins noticed a lack of art and artistic opportunities in Branford’s downtown area and when the property at 1229 Main Street became vacant, he took it as a sign to realize one of his dreams.
“I’m not an artist, but I have a great appreciation for art and that, combined with my experience as a real estate agent and fielding calls from artists and seeing what being involved in arts has done for my kids led me to see this as an opportunity,” said Robbins. “When the space became available, I thought I could make a go of this with a ‘Build it and they will come’ mentality.”
Robbins put a sign in the window saying that he was seeking artists to get involved in a co-op. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for Yvonne Gordon, who had been taking a class toward her art therapy master’s at Albertus that had asked the students to set their intentions and goals.
“I said I’d love to have a gallery and do classes with art and wellness until I get my license to practice art therapy,” said Gordon. “That was March 1, a couple weeks later, I saw the antique shop close down and thought, ‘That’s sad, but that’d be a great place to have a gallery,’ and then a sign appeared that said, ‘Co-op coming soon.’ It was like a dream come true.”
Gordon contacted Robbins and the pair began to work out the details and seek out artists as they created Branford Art Center Gallery and Art Workshop. In addition to displaying local artists’ work, they wanted to involve the community, host classes, and include charitable giving.
“We really want to bring the arts and healing powers of art to the community in Branford and have a revitalization of art in the town,” said Gordon. “Having art in the community brings the people together. The arts give people the opportunity to say what they can’t say with words.”
So far, the gallery has attracted eight artists who will rent space to display and sell their artwork, as well as two visiting artists. The gallery section will be in the front of the building, while there will be classrooms in the back. Classes will be offered for people of all ages on a variety of topics and in a range of mediums.
Robbins has also reached out to the art teachers at Branford High School as he wants “the high school students to have a place to express themselves and showcase their work because they are so talented.”
“This gives us an opportunity as a community to have art on Main Street,” said Robbins. “We have a lot of artists in town and art does so much for a community and having the gallery and shops there will transcend those gaps Main Street has been missing.”
Branford Art Center Gallery and Art Workshop will celebrate with an opening reception on Friday, May 15 beginning at 7 p.m. The artists’ work will be displayed, along with smaller pieces created especially for the opening.
“We’ll have a wide variety of pieces available designed especially with the idea that people can purchase them as a souvenir from our opening night,” said Gordon.
In addition to viewing artwork, guests will also be treated to wine and light bites, along with music by jazz guitarist John Dwight, who is one of the gallery’s featured artists. Patty Todd of Shoreline Consign & Design is also sponsoring a cannoli truck that will provide free cannolis to guests.
The gallery will also begin its charitable giving at the opening reception. For a donation, guests can paint a square that will adorn one of the gallery’s walls. Proceeds will benefit a scholarship to send a child to the Branford Parks & Recreation Department’s summer camp.
“Folks can leave their mark on our wall,” said Gordon. “The squares will stay until December when we will have another fundraiser for another local cause.”
Robbins has been impressed with the way the parts have fallen into place and the support he has gotten from the town, from the landlords of the building, from local artists, and from Gordon.
“Everything has come together nicely and I envision this taking off,” said Robbins. “Yvonne has stepped up with right energy and right ideas – I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. Our landlord really saw the vision, they’re all about Branford and are on board. Art is so universal and it transcends all nationalities, religions, ethnic groups, and age groups. I’m thrilled we can find a group of artists and be able to have Yvonne step in and organize the artists and allow me to do the business side of it. I’m excited to be part of it.”
For information on classes, the gallery, or displaying art, contact Yvonne Gordon at 860-334-4642 or ymgordon@albertus.edu.