Cat'n Around Catskill 2007: A Summer Long Celebration Throughout Catskill, New York

Visitors to the Village of Catskill, New York are asking: what are those painted cats that have been exhibited all around town for the past few months? And why is the pavement of Main Street covered with colorful painted paw prints?

It's all a part of Cat'n Around Catskill 2007, a summer long celebration of art, music and entertainment going on throughout the Village and Town of Catskill, New York. The festivities continue through September, so there's still time to check out the cats and experience all that Catskill has to offer.

Cat'n Around Catskill

One of the main attractions of the celebration are the 50 fiberglass painted cats displayed on Main Street and throughout town, installed on pedestals in front of local businesses that sponsor each cat. Last year, local and national artists submitted their ideas for decorating the cats, and patrons chose which design they would like to see transform their sponsored cat.

The result is a riot of colors and textures. Each finished piece has its own "theme" that reflects the artist's own unique vision, and many of the painted cats depict the history and flavor of Catskill.

On a recent stroll through Catskill one sunny late summer afternoon, I noticed a variety of fun, fascinating felines keeping watch in front of the businesses along Main Street. If you are visiting Catskill this September, pick up a Cat'n Around Catskill brochure from one of the local businesses and follow the "Cat Mappin," a list with details about all 50 displayed cats and where to find them around town.

Several of the intricately painted cats are inspired by the Hudson River School of Landscape painting, including "Hudson River School Reflections" by Elizabeth Giordano-Sullivan. It is fascinating to see quite a detailed landscape rendered on the back of "Old Kaatskillian Cat," painted by Jim Cramer.