Betty and Martin Koop, owners of Temming Art Studio. (Photo courtesy of Theresa Brown)

SARANAC LAKE – Historic Saranac Lake will present a new John Black Room exhibit, “The Art of the Cure.”

Members of Historic Saranac Lake will be invited to an opening reception on Tuesday, June 25 and the exhibit will open to the public on Wednesday, June 26. The exhibit will be on view during the open hours of the Saranac Laboratory Museum, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round.

“Art of the Cure” will remain on display until late Fall 2020.

This exhibit will highlight the origins of Saranac Lake’s rich history in the arts. The Trudeau Sanatorium and the Study and Craft Guild offered groundbreaking occupational therapy programs to tuberculosis patients, many of whom went on to become accomplished artists, writers, and craftspeople.

“The Art of the Cure” will present more than twenty-five individuals and their accomplishments, such as composer, Bela Bartok, potter, Mott Chapin, and jewelry makers, Betty and Martin Koop.

The exhibit also highlights the impressive collection of local art that is displayed at the Saranac Lake Free Library. Visitors can view original works, listen to audio interviews, and participate in interactive art activities as part of this fascinating new exhibit.

An Action Grant from Humanities New York supported the creation of the exhibit in consultation with Art and Museum Consultant and Director Emerita of the Adirondack Experience, Caroline Welsh. As part of the consultation, Welsh developed a catalog that provides more information about the artists featured. The exhibit was also made possible by support from the New York Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

A volunteer panel of community members, including Ted Comstock, Jan Dudones, Mary Hotaling, Linda Jackson, and Shirley Morgan, advised on the exhibit’s creation.

“We are really looking forward to sharing this exhibit with local residents and visitors,” said Executive Director Amy Catania. “Our staff members, Kayt Gochenaur and Chessie Monks-Kelly, have put in a lot of time to make this a special exhibit that the whole community can be proud of.”

“It’s been a challenging project,” said Gochenaur. “And that was mostly because there are so many impressive artists and works to choose from. It was hard to hone down the list.”