Roughly 75 people gathered at 40 Acres Art Gallery in Oak Park to watch the Jan. 20 inauguration of Barack Obama. Doors opened at 8 a.m. and the available chairs were filled quickly.

Jan. 20 also marked the first day of the new exhibit, "African American Currents: Contemporary Art from the Bank of America Collection," at the gallery. Kim Curry-Evans, gallery director, couldn't think of a better way to celebrate a new exhibition and a new president.

"It just so happens this exhibition this is the first day for the show, so I thought, what better way to celebrate history by opening our gallery doors early so people could come be a part of this," Curry-Evans said.

"I mean I don't want to do this by myself. I want to watch this with other folks. So it's just worked out perfect," she added.

The gallery's atmosphere was upbeat, with many attendees clapping, chanting and shouting with emotion during the proceedings. During Pastor Rick Warren's invocation, several people shouted "Amen!"

Clinton John, a local Sacramentan attending the event with his daughter, said he was "so, so proud" and that the inauguration of America's first black president was "a great day for America."

Another resident, Sandra West, when asked what she hoped to see Obama do first, said, "One step at a time, I'm sure he'll follow through with the promises he made." She continued, saying "It isn't about what he has to do. It's about what we have to do."

Outgoing President George Bush's final departure by helicopter received a loud round of applause.

The gallery was completely silent as President Obama took the oath of office and then exploded with applause and cheers once he finished.

Strangers shook hands while Martinelli's sparkling cider was poured into plastic cups by the organizers of the event.

For Kim Curry-Evans, the inauguration of a new president really hit home. "My daughter is at West Point and she literally will be on the front lines defending our country," Curry-Evans said.

"And now she's going to be doing that under President Obama, and so for me it just doesn't get much better than that, because she's representing the country on not my behalf but on everyone else's behalf," she said

Sacramento High School sophomores (and siblings) Lanisha Redd and Elijah Mcdonald took the morning off from school to witness the inauguration.

"We were kinda nervous because we're supposed to be at school. I don't want to miss any days, I don't want to start off bad but today's really an important day," Redd said.

This is 15-year-old Mcdonald's first inauguration and had special significance for him.

"When we were young our parents told us we could be anything we want to be. Then when I got older, I noticed that we could never be president, but now with Obama in, that changes the way we think," he said.

"I can tell my little brothers and my kids that they can be whatever they want to be," Mcdonald added.

Redd and Mcdonald said they planned on returning to school after watching the parade.

This article was written in collaboration by Raoul Kleven and Colleen Belcher.