A year into this pandemic, and many small businesses are struggling with how to safely stay in business. Our area artists and galleries are no exception. Fortunately, we have the largest “canvas” in the world available to us – the internet!

Several of our galleries have opted to hold virtual exhibits in addition to in-gallery shows. NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery (https://northwindfineartsgallery.com) is now sharing a space in the back of the former Sears Store (62 Main St., Saranac Lake) with ADK ArtRise (https://www.adkartrise.com) – a school offering art classes.

NorthWind’s member artists are exhibiting their work in the gallery space, but their annual juried show is available on their website, They had 85 artists from all over the country submit 250 entries. Juror Dave Fadden selected the following prize winners: 1st Place to Peter Thomas for “Wings of Prey”; 2nd Place to Penny Billings for “April Showers Lifting”; and 3rd Place to Regina Quin for “Gold”. The entire show can be enjoyed online, with works available for purchase, and members work can be seen in the gallery space – check their website or Facebook page for hours of operation.

The Downtown Artist Cellar in Malone (410 E. Main St) is hosting “Bloom” – featuring Chateaugay artist Jeanne Danforth as well as others, sharing their art inspired by plants and flowers. The show can be seen in the gallery and on the website (downtownartistcellar.com).

Currently a number of galleries have put out “Calls for Art.”

The Adirondack Artists Guild (52 Main St, Saranac Lake) is hosting their 23 Annual Juried Competition and for the first time, it will be only an online exhibit. The 2020 Juried Show had been hung in the gallery last March and was all set to have the opening reception, when Covid-19 shut everything down and the gallery closed. In 2021 the Artists Guild will host the entire show on their website, while the work of the 15 members is on display in the Gallery. Current hours are Thurs-Sun, 11 – 3 and by appointment. Artists may submit entries to the online exhibit by visiting the Online Juried Shows website (https://www.onlinejuriedshows.com/Default.aspx?OJSID=48269). The deadline is March 9 and the online exhibit will be April 1 – 30 at adirondackartistsguild.com.

BluSeed Studios (24 Cedar St, Saranac Lake) is hosting “La Dansa”, a movement-themed art show and National Dance Week Celebration. This will be an actual exhibit and entries may be dropped off on March 5 through March 7, between 12 and 6 pm. The work will also be online at BluSeedStudios.org. Artists need to register online (https://form.jotform.com/60966064566162) in order to take part.

Tupper Arts (106 Park St, Tupper Lake) is holding a photography exhibit: “Give Us Your Best Shot” from May 28 – June 27. Artist registration and information can be found on their website (https://www.tupperarts.org/give-us-your-best-shot). Framed entries can be delivered 5/22-5/23, from 11 am – 4 pm, but artists must register first.

VIEW (3273 NY-2, Old Forge), has called for art for 4 upcoming exhibits! All the details may be found on their website (https://www.viewarts.org/exhibitions/callsforentry/). They all require online registration in advance and submission of digital images.

• The Annual Central Adirondack Show will be April 3 – June 6 in the Gallery and online. Shipped work must be received by 3/19 and hand delivered work on 3/25-26, 11 – 3 pm.
• The 40th Annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors will be Aug 7 – Sept 26. It is a highly competitive juried exhibition and the deadline to enter is April 1.
• UNPRECEDENTED: Art Responds to 2020, will be June 12 – Aug 1. The gallery is seeking work inspired by or done in response to the global pandemic. More details are available on the VIEW website and entry is do be done through CallforEntry.org (CaFÉ) and the deadline is April 26.
• For all quilters, there will also be a 2021 Quilts Unlimited Show – check the VIEW website for information when it becomes available.

Nothing beats seeing real art live and in person, but if you can’t come to the galleries to enjoy the exhibits in person, we hope you will take the time to view and shop on the internet. All the upcoming art events in the region, including 3 Plein Air events this summer, can be found on the Saranac Lake ArtWorks website calendar: saranaclakeartworks.org

Image included: Susan Hoffer, “Waiting for the Philosopher King”, winner of the 2020 Adirondack Artists Guild Juried Show that hung for 6 weeks in a closed gallery.