By Bina Thomson

Shelter is a concept on which Jennifer Almquist meditates often. She asks questions like “What does true shelter look like?” and “What is it like to not have it?” Her attempts to answer these questions have led her to curate an art show in the Royal Arcanum Building in Norfolk, titled SHELTER. 

Over the last few years, Almquist has built connections with homeless shelters and soup kitchens in northwestern Connecticut, and she is familiar with the stories of people without stable housing. Her recent show at the Norfolk Library showcased portraits of unhoused folks she met through the Gathering Place, a daytime drop-in center in Torrington. The Gathering Place provides a much needed safe space for unhoused individuals to use during the day before the permanent shelters open in the evening. This drop-in center for homeless people is managed by Nancy Cannavo, a psychiatric nurse at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital for the past 25 years, and president of the board of New Beginnings, a non-profit organization supporting the unhoused population in Litchfield County. “It’s uniquely a rubber meets the road situation. [They’re] really giving people a leg up and out of homelessness,” Almquist explains, detailing the benefits of the daytime shelter. “McCall Behavioral Health Network makes calls there to provide treatment, folks can take a hot shower, do their laundry, use the internet, receive help applying for housing vouchers, and have a mailing address  all critical things for getting out of homelessness.”

The Gathering Place is utilized by up to 75 people a day, and the demand has grown significantly over the last year as lack of affordable housing, inflation and cost of living have increased. Cannavo shared with Almquist  that her average operating costs per month are $3,000,  and funds are needed to keep the Gathering Place open. 

Almquist had the idea of donating the proceeds from an art show to support the shelter and has used her previous experience operating The Almquist Gallery in New Preston, as well as her artistic connections, to gather painters, sculptures, and other artists to contribute to a show. “The name of the show is SHELTER, in all caps, because that’s the focus. We want to use this show not only to raise money but also awareness. The folks living in the woods, sleeping under the stars are not doing it by choice, or with LL Bean gear. And the woods are not a safe place to be.” 

Almquist plans on having  an event each of the seven weekends the show is open, starting with the opening reception on Sunday, Oct. 13. State Representative Maria Horn will be at the opening to speak on the issues of homelessness, and musician Natalia Zukerman, who will also display her art in the show, will provide the evening’s entertainment. Donnie and Eileen, employees of the Gathering Place who have transitioned out of homelessness, were interviewed and photographed by Almquist two years ago. They will also attend the reception to share their previous experiences of homelessness. Refreshments will be offered and artists will speak on their work. 

“I feel so good about the vehicle of the show. It’s also bringing artists together. The show focuses on themes of friendship, too.” Almquist hopes to raise $25,000 for the shelter.  When a piece of art sells at the show, the artist will get 60 percent  and the remaining 40 percent  will be donated to the Gathering Place. 

The artists contributing work include local talent such as Tom Fahsbender, Ann Getsinger, Cheryl Heller, Jim Jasper, Babs Perkins, Sam Guindon, Michaela Murphy, Mark Burke ,and Jon Riedeman, as well as artists Eric Forstmann, Peter Murkett, Matt Wood, Peter Woytuk, and Natalia Zukerman. 

SHELTER’s opening reception will be on Sunday, Oct.13 from 2 to 6 p.m. . in the Royal Arcanum Building at 3 Station Place. The show will be open Oct. 12 to Nov. 24, Fridays through Sundays and by appointment.