Blue and White Beach Ball, 1972

On saturday afternoon we took a drive up the thruway to Hudson, NY.  Joe and Leighann invited us to the opening of Joe’s father’s retrospective at Carrie Haddad Gallery.  The gallery is nestled on Warren Street, a classic Hudson Valley mainstreet, about a 2 hour train ride from NYC…and the turnout was remarkable.

I guess the rediscovery of towns like Hudson is all part of the ‘Catskill revival’…but there is no way that the town was anything close to resembling the boutiquey, health food, antique shop haven it has become when Edward Avedisian moved here in the 1970’s.

Joe worked hard to be a good host, while the Haddad family presented and discussed the work with friends and prospective collectors.

When Wes turned his head for one moment, this lady stole a handful of snacks…but I caught her.

Then Wes went on a mission to document the evening’s events for his blog.

Phil showed up, while Lynch enjoyed the vino.

The Haddad’s invited us all to their amazing house for dinner, a converted church full of an extremely impressive collection of art.  It was nice food and good conversation…an honest celebration of Edward’s life and legacy in the most appropriate atmosphere.

Here is a great picture from the gallery website of Joe with his dad…check out the site, and please check in and see the paintings if you’re upstate at all.