We had the honor of attending a reception for the cartoon artist, photographer and award-winning animator Ray Favata, who was at the center of the animation world in New York City for more than half a century and who moved to my town of Cambridge N.Y., in 1997.

Ray is 94 now, and still sketches every day and takes pictures.

About a dozen people gathered at the Round House Cafe in honor of Ray’s new portrait and sketch show, which went up two weeks ago. His photographs and drawings are amazing. Ray has a remarkable history in the animation world, and also as a photographer.

His photographs are striking and evocative, they capture the lost world of New York City at a particular time and place. They are beautifully composed and shot.

He is an especially warm and gracious man, as well as a genius, one of the many exceptional artists sprinkled in and around the farms that surround our home and town. George Forss, one of the country’s great urban landscape photographers,  came to celebrate Ray as well, and it was humbling for me to see these two geniuses in the same space, they are good and loving friends to one another, as well as to others.

Once in awhile, I am lucky enough to get a cartoon sketch e-mailed to me from Ray, who says in touch. I loved sitting down with him and listening to his stories about taking pictures in New York City a half-century ago. They take my breath away. I’m lucky to know Ray and so happy to celebrate his show.

Ray is one of those rare creatives, he creates something every day of his life,it is not a part of who he is, it is who he is. He is an inspiration to me, and to Maria.