The Arts (And The Odds) Pay Off and Out in Cobleskill.
CPI’s Art in Action for the win (and for us all) as artists line an Upstate NY Main Street. 
Adam Columbo of Kerhonkson was one of 15 artists who raced the clock to create for a fundraising auction at the Cobleskill Partnership’s inaugural Art in Action Festival.
A poster in the window of a Main Street, Cobleskill business advertises CPI’s inaugural Art in Action Festival, an event that proved, once again, that the arts = economic development in Upstate NY.
Out here we know two things:
Never bet on June.
And never bet against the Cobleskill Partnership.
Against the odds (unless you know CPI), those June odds included the weather (rain, sun, rain, winds, and finally, sun to stay), and the calendar (graduations, concerts, Schoharie County’s first-ever Pride Fest, the Gas-Up, car shows…)
But CPI beat them all with its first-ever Art in Action Festival:
15 artists who raced the clock (they had 90 minutes) to create works for a fundraising auction.
Arts demonstrations and talks in Centre Park.
30 arts vendors along both sides of Main Street.
An America 250th community mural (grab a paintbrush and show us what inspires you) and an Artist Jamboree, a chance to create a block for SEEC’s own mural in its 187 Main Gallery.
Art in Action organizers took their inspiration from the Jackson Hole, Wyoming Fall Arts Festival, now in its 42nd year.
Their goal: Supporting a vibrant, welcoming Town and Village of Cobleskill with community-driven events through collaboration, local investment, and creative placemaking.
“You have to start somewhere and today was a great start,” said CPI Vice President Chris Gildnar with about an hour to go, honestly, a different man than when he woke up to rain–and and then spent the next few hours should-we, shouldn’t-weing moving the event from downtown to SUNY Cobleskill.
Because the artists?
They were on their way. Some from as far away as Baltimore (and as close as Cobleskill.)
In the end, Guldnar and his volunteers stayed the course. By mid-afternoon, he was catching his breath and catching lunch before putting his hand and a paintbrush to the America 250 mural.
Festival-goers add to the America 250th community mural in Cobleskill, NY’s Centre Park, part of CPI’s Main Street Art in Action Festival.
CPI got its start 25 years ago with the goal of developing downtown Cobleskill as a business center while making it a destination of choice for recreation, entertainment, services, and shopping.
Cue the arts. Because we know in New York State, the arts = economic development.
[In 2023, Upstate Creative Spark: How the Arts is Catalyzing Economic Vitality Across Upstate New York (a study paid for with a grant from The Community Foundation of Rochester) found artists are fueling the upstate economy.
On their own and despite declining levels of public investment in the arts across the state.
Between 2011 and 2021, the number of working artists in upstate New York–reviving art galleries, festivals, theaters and concert halls– increased by 26.5 percent as they helped breathe new life into downtowns with increased tourism and the creation of coffee houses, restaurants, and other small businesses.]
Inspiration Bob Ross keeps an eye on things from Cobleskill artist Bob Strong’s booth in downtown Cobleskill’s Centre Park.
With that in mind, Art in Action was also a fundraiser: Half of the proceeds from the Quickdraw auction went to the artists, half to CPI’s projects. “It’s a great day for Cobleskill,” said Doug Cater of Schoharie, working his way through Centre Park. He was there as auctioneer.
CPI cast a wide net to find the festival’s artists. Some came from as far away as New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland…even Utah.
Others, like Bob Strong, came from Cobleskill. One of the Quickdraw artists, Strong’s only been painting for a few years. His inspiration and online mentor? The late Bob Ross. (Ross, in the form of a coffee mug holding some of Strong’s brushes, still keeps an eye on things.)
“It’s just something I wanted to try.”
Successfully.
Dozens of scenes lined his booth walls.
Other local artists included Bill Combs Jr. of Cobleskill (The Eagle Guy), who shared nature photography tips, and Dmitri Kasterine of Richfield Springs, also a photographer–though his subjects–and stories–featured celebs like Mick Jagger, Stanley Kubrick, Johnny Cash, Steve Martin, and HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Even before the last artist had packed up, CPI was moving on.
They’re hosting Sparkle & Shine 2026, a free July 4th celebration of patriotic fun at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds, with a parade, music, and fireworks.
And then there’s Art in Action 2027.
Because Jackson Hole’s got nothing on Upstate New York, Schoharie County, Cobleskill, or CPI. Those are winning odds.
Looking for more on the arts here? Root-Access has you covered.
