Auction will benefit Bridges

The Downtown Milford Business Association will hold the 2nd Annual Open Doors of Downtown Milford Auction from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at Daniel Street Café, 22 Daniel St.

The free event is open to everyone. The Open Doors auction, for which former Miss Connecticut Heidi Voight, is host, with auctioneer Joseph Kabe, will conclude the free-to-the-public art exhibit that features 24 artists whose design interpretations on plain, recycle doors, many of them donated by the Milford Historical Society, are on display throughout downtown Milford, organizers said. The exhibit offers visitors and collectors a unique opportunity to experience the cultural excitement of Connecticut’s thriving arts community in an outdoor, informal setting, organizers said.

The artists’ works will be auctioned with proceeds being divided between the artist and a local charity. A portion of the proceeds will also go to the DMBA to partly defray cost of the exhibit. Last year’s auction raised $15,000, with the proceeds being divided between the artist and a Connecticut charity. This year the DMBA will donate a portion of the proceeds from the Doors auction to Bridges, a Community Support System, in Milford. Bridges provides a comprehensive range of outpatient mental health, addiction, community support and home-based services for children, families and adults, in Milford, Orange, West Haven and their surrounding communities. The agency provides services to about 5,000 people annually. For more information on Bridges, visit, http://www.bridgesmilford.org/.

Additionally works from this year's public Paint-a-thon, held on September 13th, will be displayed and available for purchase at the auction. The 150 feet of canvas that was painted by the public has been transformed into framed and unframed pieces of art, tote bags and pillows. The DMBA represents more than70 businesses in downtown Milford; it is devoted to enhancing downtown through free, cultural and family friendly events, association officials said. For more information on DMBA visit http://www.downtownmilfordct.com/ For more information on The Open Doors of Downtown Milford, contact Susan Ashelford, 203-878-2625 or email, brocollishoes@juno.com