SARANAC LAKE — Local artist and partowner of ADK ArtRise Brittany Sternberg has been awarded two grants to create a mural with help and input from community artists and organizations.

The theme of the mural, which will be installed on the exterior wall of ADK ArtRise facing the parking lot, will be “Welcoming and Belonging.” Sternberg is currently seeking more artists and community organizations who would like to input design ideas or actually create (sculpt, paint, collage, tile) a 12-by-24-inch panel.

Funding for this project is coming from the National Endowment of the Arts, Our Town Blu/Pen Artist in Residency collaboration between BluSeed Studios and Pendragon Theater, as well as from the Statewide Community Regrants opportunity provided by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts. Other community supporters are the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

“This mural began as a spark of an idea about how we might engage college students in community activities. From there, it grew into a collaboration to invite artists and local organizations to participate in sharing what they love about our home. We want viewers — residents and visitors alike — to see their individual interests, hobbies, goals or dreams reflected in the details that make up the larger pattern of the quilt that is the fabric of the community. This mural will be cheerful, positive and forward facing. It will inspire folks to find (or make) their happy place here and get involved.” Sternberg said.

Interested artists and organizations should email Britt@adkartrise.com. BluSeed Studios will be hosting two workshop dates for involved artists and organizations to get together and have access to exterior paints and other supplies: Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, April 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. both days.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the State Legislature and administered by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.