Hunkering down with Adirondack arts in late fall

Entering the late fall period marks the transition from summer into winter. Sunsets come earlier every day and with it the gradual lowering of temperatures. Adirondackers tend to hunker down in front of the fireplace or wood stove with a hot cider on those chilly days and nights of late fall.

Most of our outdoor events have had their day until the outdoor winter events begin, but this is the time of year we embrace the arts in the Adirondacks! Saranac Lake tends to embrace the arts in a bigger ways than many communities in America.  It would be interesting to know the per capita percentage of artists in Saranac Lake, as it seems there’s an awful lot of talent in this small community!

One of our local arts organizations is the Adirondack Artists Guild. Their gallery, located at 52 Main Street in downtown historic Saranac Lake, is an ever-changing exhibition of one or another of the artist’s works in the Guild. For the month of November the gallery will feature the photography of the winner of the 2013 Adirondack Juried Art Show, Jon Chodat. The opening reception takes place from 5 - 7 pm on Friday, November 1.  It is free and open to the public, as is the gallery all other days. 

Pendragon Theatre folks have been working for weeks on the Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex. The Greek tragedy is a haunting story of man’s search to find the truth. Considered the first detective story, the drama is a kind of epic who-done-it.  Pendragon will present six shows of this classic at the theatre on Bandy Brook Avenue in Saranac Lake.  

At the Visitor Interpretive Center of Paul Smiths  College, their gallery will feature an exhibit “New Moon Art Show: Brush with the Past”. Three artists will have their work on exhibit - artist Matt Burnett, photographer Ed Murphy and artist Melissa Burnett. This show runs only through November 2, so make sure to get out to the VIC so you won’t miss it.

If you’ve never experienced an Irish Ceilidh, stop in at the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce building for one of Saranac Lake’s Ceilidh music sessions. A group of very talented folk musicians gathers every Thursday night to play their favorite Irish and Scottish folk tunes. It’s a social evening with dancing and merriment, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Spectators are always welcome and the group plays from around 7 - 10:30 pm each Thursday evening. The featured video here is this very group!

There are lots of other cultural offerings on the events calendar for November, from learn-to events to poetry readings. Check the calendar to find one that appeals to you.  Hunker down with some cider by the fire, but don’t forget to get out a bit too and help support the many fine artists, theaters and galleries  in the Saranac Lake Region.