A Show that Dares You Not To Smile

A Show that Dares You Not To Smile
Works by Rodney Alan Greenblat, including “GodOverCatskill,” above, are included in a visually joyful new show at Hudson Hall. Photo submitted

After a dark winter and spring, we could all use some bright color and whimsy. The opening of Hudson Hall in Hudson, N.Y., will offer a solid shot of both when it reopens to the public on Saturday, June 27.

Hudson Hall is a repurposed former town hall, now used for media and arts activities. Their new show, which runs until Aug. 3, features the paintings of Rodney Alan Greenblat, a New York City artist who gained fame in the 1990s as a designer of video game characters including PaRappa the Rapper and for his children’s books featuring Thunder Bunny (and a universe of adorable ancillary merchandise).

Now a resident of the Hudson River Valley, Greenblat had a store in the center of Catskill, N.Y., featuring cheerful merch based on his characters and designs. The store closed down last winter but will open sometime this year in Leeds, N.Y. There is also a “virtual” shopping experience, with products available online at www.whimsyload.com/big-gallery.

To see the artwork in full size and living color, stop by Hudson Hall, while observing quarantine precautions: Visitors must make a reservation and wear a mask while taking a guided tour of the show (which is called Something To Look Forward To). Tours will be offered at 4 p.m. on weekends; the cost is $10 for nonmembers. 

For more information, go to www.hudsonhall.org.

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