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Hudson’s Dog statues move from streets to homes
  
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Paul Crossman
HUDSON — The brightly decorated fiberglass dogs which adorned the streets of the Hudson Business District since July 4 were taken down on Oct. 8, and on Sunday were auctioned off for charity at Helsinki in Hudson. This year’s proceeds will go to Perform Columbia and The Columbia County Council for the Arts - a collaboration of 24 different art groups sponsored by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.
“Last year we gave about $10,000 to the organizations involved,” said David Colby, the president and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce - the main sponsor of the event - adding that he didn’t think it would be quite as much this year, but that the numbers weren’t in yet.
After the crowd of easily over 100 people ate a decadent buffet-style brunch catered by Georgia Rays Country Caterers, they made their way upstairs with full stomachs and waited for the main event to begin.
Out of over 40 dogs, only one was not bought at the auction, and according to Colby that dog will be auctioned off at the chamber’s Bi-local expo on Nov. 22.
“I think it was great,” he said, “It was an excellent exhibition, and the auction was great too. It was a very successful program. Having the dogs on the streets created a lot of interest.”
The auctioneer started off the bidding for each dog at $300, and many of the painted canines sold for well upwards of $600, with some, like “Queenie” by artist Kelly Young, even going into the thousands.
Queenie was auctioned off to local resident Carmela Cannavo for $1,000 and according to her, she was glad to pay it.
“[My favorite part of the event] was getting Queenie,” Cannavo told the Register-Star. “The artist did an amazing job, very classy and appropriate. (Queenie) has a royal presence.”
Young, participating in the event for the second time, was glad to see her dog go to a good home.
“You get very attached to them,” she said, looking fondly at her creation, “It’s a lot of fun.”
The dog which raised the most money of the day was “1609 Canine,” painted by Ramond Sperzel and sponsored by Coldwell Banker Bartolotta, which went for a whopping $1,500.
The auctioned statues ranged the entire spectrum of artistic aptitude, from detailed works portraying the flowing fields of Columbia County, to painted faux stained-glass, to flashy modern art pieces covered in mirrors.
As the auction wound down, it seemed that many of the auction-goers agreed with Cannavo about their new pieces of art being their favorite parts of the auction, with people either showing off their new trophies, or delicately carrying them down the stairs to load safely into their vehicles for the ride home.
Mike Sullivan, the Chairman of the Board at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, agreed that the event was a real success.
“It was a great afternoon,” he told the Register-Star. ‘It was good to see a nice crowd, and we’re very grateful to our sponsors and the artists.”
Though bidders and spectators alike agreed that the event was a lot of fun, many expressed sadness and distress at a rumor they had heard that the painted dogs would not adorn the streets of Hudson again next year.
According to Colby though, these people need not be worried, as even though the Chamber has decided not to display painted dogs again next year, they are definitely planning on doing something similar, possibly including more of the county rather than just Hudson.
“We’ve done dogs, and people really like them,” he said. “But now over 100 people have these dogs in their homes. I think it’s time for something new.”
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com.
HUDSON — The brightly decorated fiberglass dogs which adorned the streets of the Hudson Business District since July 4 were taken down on Oct. 8, and on Sunday were auctioned off for charity at Helsinki in Hudson. This year’s proceeds will go to Perform Columbia and The Columbia County Council for the Arts - a collaboration of 24 different art groups sponsored by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.
“Last year we gave about $10,000 to the organizations involved,” said David Colby, the president and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce - the main sponsor of the event - adding that he didn’t think it would be quite as much this year, but that the numbers weren’t in yet.
After the crowd of easily over 100 people ate a decadent buffet-style brunch catered by Georgia Rays Country Caterers, they made their way upstairs with full stomachs and waited for the main event to begin.
Out of over 40 dogs, only one was not bought at the auction, and according to Colby that dog will be auctioned off at the chamber’s Bi-local expo on Nov. 22.
“I think it was great,” he said, “It was an excellent exhibition, and the auction was great too. It was a very successful program. Having the dogs on the streets created a lot of interest.”
The auctioneer started off the bidding for each dog at $300, and many of the painted canines sold for well upwards of $600, with some, like “Queenie” by artist Kelly Young, even going into the thousands.
Queenie was auctioned off to local resident Carmela Cannavo for $1,000 and according to her, she was glad to pay it.
“[My favorite part of the event] was getting Queenie,” Cannavo told the Register-Star. “The artist did an amazing job, very classy and appropriate. (Queenie) has a royal presence.”
Young, participating in the event for the second time, was glad to see her dog go to a good home.
“You get very attached to them,” she said, looking fondly at her creation, “It’s a lot of fun.”
The dog which raised the most money of the day was “1609 Canine,” painted by Ramond Sperzel and sponsored by Coldwell Banker Bartolotta, which went for a whopping $1,500.
The auctioned statues ranged the entire spectrum of artistic aptitude, from detailed works portraying the flowing fields of Columbia County, to painted faux stained-glass, to flashy modern art pieces covered in mirrors.
As the auction wound down, it seemed that many of the auction-goers agreed with Cannavo about their new pieces of art being their favorite parts of the auction, with people either showing off their new trophies, or delicately carrying them down the stairs to load safely into their vehicles for the ride home.
Mike Sullivan, the Chairman of the Board at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, agreed that the event was a real success.
“It was a great afternoon,” he told the Register-Star. ‘It was good to see a nice crowd, and we’re very grateful to our sponsors and the artists.”
Though bidders and spectators alike agreed that the event was a lot of fun, many expressed sadness and distress at a rumor they had heard that the painted dogs would not adorn the streets of Hudson again next year.
According to Colby though, these people need not be worried, as even though the Chamber has decided not to display painted dogs again next year, they are definitely planning on doing something similar, possibly including more of the county rather than just Hudson.
“We’ve done dogs, and people really like them,” he said. “But now over 100 people have these dogs in their homes. I think it’s time for something new.”
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com.
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