‘Celebrating Unconditional Love’—

Art Show Benefits Local Animal Rescue Groups

 

By Kendra Bobowick

From beneath a tent casting shade on artists and their work came a tiny sound. Moving closer to a small crate, Maddie and Carter Mixon peeked inside at little faces and laughed as they heard the kittens cry again. The brother and sister soon cradled small black and gray bundles in their hands as the kittens blinked and adjusted their eyes to brighter light.

Nearby on easels, or covering table tops on the lawn at McLaughlin Vineyards on Saturday, September 3, were oil or acrylic paintings, short story illustrations, and literature about animal rescue and adoptions, all presented as part of  “Celebration of Unconditional Love Arts Festival” to raise funds for The Animal Center of Newtown and ROAR of Ridgefield. Sponsoring the event were local artist Richard Budman and The Animal Center, Inc.

Animal Center Director Monica Roberto admired the many artists’ animal-themed work, noting that many “upbeat” pieces celebrated the “joy and happiness pets bring to our lives.” Some of the work was “stunning,” she said.

Up near the vineyard’s main room where wine tastings were underway was another collection of artists and their work including paintings, photographs, and artistic photo images of horses, pets, and local scenes. Pottery filled one table while local musician Jeff Smith volunteered his time to fill the air with his acoustic guitar music.

With his own display set up for the afternoon, Mr Budman noted his own pet-themed stories and illustrations, saying, “I have been helping animal shelters for a long time.” He started his effort several years ago when the Ridgefield-based ROAR (Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue) sought his participation in their art show fundraiser in 2005.

Finding a spot in the shade just a few tables away from Mr Budman, cat-lover Janet Haringa held up the small gray kitten that Carter Mixon had been holding.

“Oh Monica, let me foster them!” she said to Ms Roberto. Visiting the art show were Diana and Rob Meyer with their daughter Julia who spoke with Glory Hurtuk, who attended the show with her sister and artist Susan Hurtuk.

Local photographer Marleen Cafarelli featured her photo images of her cat Furboy — an adopted pet — dressed in themes and set against familiar local backdrops.

The weekend show’s theme celebrated the love, joy and happiness that companion animals bring to people’s lives.

Featured artists included Mr Budman, of Sandy Hook, with acrylics on canvas; Ms Hurtuk of Sandy Hook and Ms Cafarelli of Newtown, with photography; Karen Schneider Kensek of Bethlehem, with mixed medium paintings; Carla Devens of Golden Bridge, N.Y., and Christian Kennedy of Wilmington, N.C., with watercolors; Emine Cichowski of Storrs, with sculpture and clay works; Chris McCormick of Newtown, with acrylics and oil on canvas paintings; and Kyla Clendenin of Bethlehem, with mixed medium works.

The Animal Center is an all volunteer, non-profit animal welfare charity. Its programs include a foster-based, No-Kill rescue and adoption program for homeless and injured cats and kittens; a Feral Cat Assistance Program that provides spay/neuter and vaccination assistance to caregivers of free-roaming, unowned cats in the community; and a dog program that rescues adoptable dogs scheduled for euthanasia. It is a 501(c)(3) publicly-supported charity.