Why bridges, why now
When we started building Hera, one thing quickly became clear: the older adults we were serving felt invisible.
Not because they lacked for things to say, or for work worth showing. Quite the opposite. One client had been writing his own piano compositions for decades; another was an unpublished poet whose work rendered us speechless.
They felt invisible because our culture has a habit of tucking older adults away. In America, aging happens offstage. The stories don't go anywhere, but the audience stops showing up.
We believe something powerful happens when generations show up for each other. That’s why we created Bridges.
Building Bridges
Hera Bridges is an intergenerational events program that spotlights the talents, stories, and life's work of older adults, from painters and pianists to poets and chefs. Through live events and community gatherings, Bridges creates moments where older adults are front and center.
Each Bridges event is intergenerational by design. The greatest distance in our culture isn't geographic, it's generational. Bridges aims to help close that gap.
How It Started
Last fall, we ran into 88-year-old Ben Feldshuh in a chance encounter at the Gemini Diner in Murray Hill, a place he goes to every day.
We started talking, and over coffee, he told us his story: he’s a retired psychiatrist whose lifelong passion has been painting. He’s done hundreds of pieces through the years. About 35 years ago, he held an art show at a gallery, but no one bought anything. Dismayed, he turned his focus back to his practice and never shared his art with the world again.
Now retired, he told us his biggest fear as he ages: not finding homes for his work before he's gone. With no support person in his life, he has no one to help him do this.
When we saw the pieces – incredible stretched canvas oil paintings, some of them 5 to 6 feet tall – we decided we needed to help.
"For the first time, I've got an audience. People want to see my work. I've never been motivated as strongly as I am now.
I'll never have the words to express the wonderful gift you gave me of recognition. Thank you, my friends."
— Ben Feldshuh
We decided to host an art show for him, and the response was momentous: the TikTok went viral. NY1 covered it. Peerspace reached out and offered a bigger venue. On the night of the show, every single one of Ben's 40+ paintings sold. All proceeds went directly to him. Over 300 people came. There was a line at all times just to meet him. Some people brought flowers, some brought notes.
