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SARANAC LAKE - Bluseed Studios exploded. At 11:01 p.m., with the announcement that Barack Obama was the projected winner as the next president of the United States as California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada flashed blue on the screen, the multitude of people gathered leapt to their feet and whooped, cheered and shouted for joy.

"I am absolutely ecstatic," said Tom Jones of Bloomingdale. "I believed in Barack Obama from the very beginning. I believe he is exactly what we need to rebuild our reputation, which was destroyed by Bush and Cheney. I think he will be an excellent president because he works with people and brings people together."

Well over 100 people gathered to participate in and watch an artistic version of network news show that seemed to be a bit of a cross between CNN, the Smothers Brothers, "30 Rock" and an Ed Sullivan green room. It also featured a decidedly low-tech approach. Where MSNBC or Fox would have large electronic screens that flash or fill in with red or blue and the latest Electoral College count, Bluseed had Mark Wilson of Saranac Lake hand-coloring in states on a map of the United States drawn to resemble a bear - a comment on the hard economic times. Where CNN had Wolf Blitzer, the studio's master of ceremonies and political pundit was artist Peter Seward of Lake Placid, the mastermind behind the night's events. Musician, humorist, inventor, filmmaker and song historian Brian Dewan, along with a cast of poets, musicians and bards, tied the evening together and filled in for the array of political heads who normally pronounce their views on television.

"I've been going to see Brian for a long time," Seward said while Dewan was belting out an Andrew Jackson campaign song before slipping into a Calvin Coolidge ditty. "I've seen him do themed songs before. I have seen him do political campaign songs tied together with temperance songs. My idea was to create a variety show. A fair number of these things were serendipitous, such as Mark Wilson with the map. I like these low-tech attractions, like his drawings on the wall instead of everyone at home watching TV. I had hoped to create a bipartisan event and invited a number of Republicans to come, and we put out signs that promoted all candidates, but I found that people would rather be with their own kind at these moments. Maybe next time we can be more successful at attracting greater diversity."

"I think the tipping point was Pennsylvania," said Wilson as he filled Illinois in blue. "I feel that was the end of the race. As for which state will put Obama over the top? I don't know, California I guess. We'll see." We were then interrupted with a huge shout from the kitchen followed by screaming and clapping. "What? What?" said Wilson. "Ohio went Obama," someone yelled. "Wow," as he scribbled furiously. "Maybe it will go sooner." Dewan, now playing an accordion, launched into a rap song.

"I voted in Catskill about 8 a.m.," said Brian Dewan wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I did some chores and then came up here. I am very interested in collecting historical songs, some that go way back, and singing them along with those that are contemporary. I'm interested in songs that are created for a certain purpose, whether they are religious, political, work songs, jingles or whatever. Sometime when I do historical songs, people don't believe the words. They think I changed the words, when I didn't. Political songs were created to persuade, which makes them very interesting. They reflect the passions and concerns that are in the forefront of the times. Looking back, their struggles seem to be a non-issue to us, as ours will to people who will live a hundred years in the future."

"It is so good that the country now has such a creative, intelligent and calm voice to lead it," said Sue Abbot-Jones, gasping for her breath from leaping about, applauding the screen, and hugging friends and anyone else around her.

"I feel really great," said Ned Rauch, of Saranac Lake. "I feel terrific. I feel genuinely optimistic. I can't wait for the next four years to unfold."