Special art made by special hands will be sold at Melbourne event to benefit Bridges

CeeCee Rodriguez is an accomplished potter whose works are highly coveted. Her already significant talent is even more amazing given the fact that she has been blind since birth.

“I can’t see what I create, but people seem to be impressed by it,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez didn’t even realize she had an inner potter just waiting to burst out until local nonprofit Bridges nurtured her abilities.

“I started out as a client, and I wasn’t always into art,” said Rodriguez, board chair for the Client Advocacy Council at Bridges, a Space Coast institution that has served individuals with disabilities for more than 60 years.

CeeCee’s pottery, as well as her equally outstanding paintings, will be on exhibit and for sale during the Special Art Special Hands event hosted by the Bridges Foundation on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Kate Di Iulio, senior manager of community programs at Bridges, expects that CeeCee’s works will sell briskly during the event, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5, at Adventure HQ and the Back Yard in Palm Shores.

“She is one of our most accomplished artists,” said Kate DiIulio, senior manager of community programs.

When the 26-year-old Rodriguez started at Bridges, she had no idea how creative she could be.

“We have a lot of artists who didn’t know they were artists,” said DiIulio.

In order to fulfill its mission of “building bridges to better lives,” Bridges provides enrichment programs that open up the world of art to individuals with significant intellectual, developmental or physical challenges.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, for the organization touches all aspects of the lives of its clients with housing and employment opportunities and life skills training. The agency serves approximately 350 clients daily.

The nonprofit provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to learn valuable skills and to be paid decent wages for their labor. In addition to job training, a range of educational activities encompasses everything from driver’s education to budget planning.

More than 50 adults, including Cece Rodriguez, live at one of Bridges’ three group homes. Individuals who prefer to live on their own also have support from Bridges on daily life skills that help them keep their independence.

Bridges also operates Patriot House, a home for disabled and homeless veterans that provides stability as vets transition back into the community and search for employment and affordable housing.

Behind Bridges is the Bridges Foundation, the philanthropic arm that develops sources of revenue for the charity. One of the foundation’s signature events is Special Art Special Hands.

For this unique evening, many of the 50 Bridges clients who participate in the arts program are being mentored by some top-notch celebrity artists, including internationally known collage-meister Derek Gores, inspirational painter Kyle Heinly, and the husband-and-wife team of muralist Jean Filipski and abstract artist Jeff Filipski.

“The artists have been working with the clients on a regular basis, and they plan to do special pieces together,” said Carey Gleason, executive director of Bridges Foundation.

Gores has been working on a painting with Rodriguez for exhibition at Special Art Special Hands.

“She can’t see, but she feels the painting,” said Gores. “The experience was really special for me.”

The art program offers clients much more than an artistic outlet.

“It allows folks who may have trouble communicating to communicate through their art,” said DiIulio.

The art they create is curated, displayed and sold in the same manner as a conventional gallery. Artists receive 50 percent of the sales for themselves, just as they would in other galleries, and the rest of the revenue goes back into the Bridges programming.

For artists with disabilities, sales are more than just about the money. They are also a great source of pride.

The Bridges artists will have additional opportunities for expression when later in October the agency completes its multi-media center, which will offer them additional studio space, plus classroom space for dance classes.

“It’s a really big deal,” said DiIulio.

Special Art Special Hands

What: An art sale to benefit the Bridges Foundation

When: 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5

Where: Adventure HQ and The Back Yard, 5270 N. U.S. 1, Palm Shores

Tickets: $75

Info: 321-690-3464 or mwilliams@mybridges.org. More details can be found at mybridges.org.

Also: The fundraiser features food and beverages, unique art, live music and a raffle.

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Sonnenberg is a Melbourne-based freelance writer.