What do you think of when someone says “art”? Do you imagine swirling strokes of oil paint streaking across a canvas? How about watercolor saturating a soft brush and making its way, dripping, over to some heavy paper? Often when I think of art, the first thing that comes to my mind is painting, drawing, coloring - mediums that are familiar to my eyes and my life. And you can definitely find that in Saranac Lake. Paints and pencils filling frame after frame with the most beautiful landscapes you’ve ever seen. But we cannot forget about other mediums that work their way into our community and our hearts: sculpture, music, graphic design, writing, theatre, photography. All of these categories breathe life into Saranac Lake.

After moving back and forth across the country too many times, I still count Saranac Lake as one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever lived; visual reminders of the beauty of this place when I wasn’t here was one of the reasons I kept coming back. They were a lure gently tugging on my heartstrings, pulling me out of the ocean of the American West and reeling me back into the lush green environment of northern New York. The landscape of the Adirondacks is art in and of itself; the colors and textures are completely unique and capturing a moment of them is wholly important, not only for the artist and the subject, but for those who view the art. 

Art is one of the myriad ways that humans build a connection with the world around them, and those connections are what keep these sacred places safe for us and future generations. Why should this massive park be protected or cherished or respected? If you live here, you know the answer is easy: because it has a life of its own. It breathes and grows and provides. And Saranac Lakers love to capture that in their art. There are so many art studios around here that you could visit a different one every day of the week (and you should, especially when looking for the perfect gift). It’s not just the studios and galleries that make this humble village an art mecca, though. Just strolling down the street can bring artful surprises around every turn. The light poles on Main and Broadway are no longer just peeling black towers, they are mosaics mirroring the Saranac Lake brand. If you find yourself outside in the rain, don’t despair! Instead use it as an opportunity to find the hidden poetry painted on the sidewalks. And can you hear that? That’s the sound of local music wafting through the air and settling on your eardrums, imploring you to dance. 

Remember the last time you were here, or the last thing you saw that made you wish you were here. Whether you saw a video, a painting, or a photo, was it art? Probably. Something so subjective is beyond definition, but impossible to ignore - just like this town. What are you thinking of now when you see this word: art? Are you happy? Are you curious? Are you invigorated? Are you in Saranac Lake? You should be.

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The reason you may see media of people not wearing masks on our website is because all footage is from prior years. More than ever we all need to be vigilant about maintaining social distance of 6 feet or more and wearing masks when we cannot social distance.