Later that night the CCCA Gallery and the Cannonball Factory hosted opening night parties. Down at the CCCA Gallery at 209 Warren Street, Hang Dog artist and dog lover Ken Polinskie got the party started. Small dog-themed drawings, paintings, prints, felt work, and sculpture graced the gallery walls. Artists Dea Archbold, Beth Bird Parker, Richard Bach, Peter Donahoe, Katarina Holbrook, John Jackson, Maj Kalfus, Cheryl Lickona, Holly Northrop, Ken Polinskie, Antonella Preve, Dan Rupe, Judith and Michael Sacks, Vimala Steadman, and Kathy Velts Turan were represented in the show.

A couple blocks uptown on Columbia Street, CCCA members and guests enjoyed the magical night. Colleen and Michael Schaffernoth greeted the partygoers at the CCCA table. Board member Karen Hummel and her volunteers handed out gift bags featuring the adorable book Bow Wow, by Sue Chiafullo and Patrick Harbron, with pictures of all of the “Best in Show” dogs, for the price of a CCCA membership. It was a packed house both upstairs and down as the revelers enjoyed the refreshments. Then it was time for the entertainment. 

Sondra Loring and her UpRiver/Downtown Dance Company created a study in contemporary movement that undulated in and around the cavernous room. Next the Diata Diata International Folkloric Theater rocked the house with their African drumming and dancing. Andre and Pamela Badila and their talented family wowed the crowd with their performance. It was a great party.

Friday night the streets of Hudson were packed with gallery goers and the restaurants were crowded—proof positive that art can drive the economy.

Saturday was ArtsWalk Kids Day. At the Cannonball Factory, handpainted cutout wood pooches crafted by local school students were on display. Stephanie Monseu of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus instructed kids who might someday want to run away to join the circus in juggling, plate spinning, and balancing acts.    

Budding artists from Greenport and Chatham elementary schools, under the direction of their teachers Dana Fisher and Susan Grybas, created portraits of people passing by in the pocket park next to the Mexican Radio.   

At the First Presbyterian Church, Hudson author and writer Lia LaMonica read from her new book, You and Me, as Big as the Sea, while the kids drew and colored smaller versions of the two-dimensional Best in Show templates. Carline Murphy, CCCA’s Arts in Education Director, and Sue Chiafullo, Acting Interim Executive Director for CCCA, both champion the importance of art in a child’s life. “They’re the ones who grow up to be artists.” said Sue.

The weather on Saturday was brilliant and the streets of Hudson were packed. Michael Harris, owner of Lick, the ice cream shop on lower Warren Street, reported that he sold out of ice cream on Saturday afternoon.