Photo: Jodie Mozdzer Pat Valeria points to the painting her husband, Rick, completed in an Art Therapy class at Hewitt Health and Rehab Center.
Left without the use of the right side of his body — including his dominant right hand — Valeria, 64 of Seymour, started painting left handed in an “Art Therapy” class at Hewitt Health and Rehab Center in Shelton.
Thursday, Valeria’s first completed artwork was displayed for the public for the first time at a ceremony at Hewitt.
The nursing home and rehabilitation center hosted a public gallery of paintings by about a dozen of the residents. The paintings have slowly been placed on the walls in the center’s main corridor over the past month.
“It’s been up for a month, and he wants to stop by here everyday,” said Valeria’s wife, Pat. “He goes by, and he salutes it.”
Photo: Jodie Mozdzer Rick Valeria, left, poses with his son, Brian, at the art gallery ceremony Thursday.
“I can’t tell you how many times someone tells me they don’t know why God keeps them alive,” Lynch said to the dozens of residents, family members and staff that gathered in the hallway Thursday afternoon.
“I can tell you, you are here because you have a very important purpose in life,” Lynch said. “You help us. This is one way you give to us and there are many other ways.”
Photo: Jodie Mozdzer Dozens of residents, family members and staff at Hewitt Health and Rehab Center attended a public art show of resident work.
During the classes the staff put on classical or 1950s music to help get the creative juices flowing, according to Rachel Matteson, the recreation director at Hewitt.
“When I first started here, (the walls) were bare naked,” Matteson said. “Ever since we’ve started putting up the art, we’ve had positive feedback.”
Mayor Mark Lauretti attended the ceremony and gave certificates to each of the artists who had work on display.
