Art of the Cure – historic saranac lake

HISTORIC SARANAC LAKE PRESENTS:

THE ART OF THE CURE

This exhibit highlights 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. Art of the Cure will remain on display until late Fall 2021.

Click the buttons below to jump to different parts of the exhibit, and use the slideshows to learn more!

The Art of the Cure exhibit is made possible by Humanities New York
and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

WELCOME TO THE WORKSHOP

Click play to listen to the sounds of the workshop. What activities can you identify?

Saranac Lake’s thriving arts community is rooted in its history as a health resort. Many talented artists came to Saranac Lake as tuberculosis patients. Here they refined their skills. Some shared their talents as teachers. Occupational therapy offered thousands of patients the opportunity to learn new skills in arts and crafts. Saranac Lake boasted a cosmopolitan arts community which still flourishes today.

Download the Art of the Cure Catalog and Map (above) to learn more about the arts in Saranac Lake today.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

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Priscilla Goss on Temming jewelry. Historic Saranac Lake Collection.

Curing could be a lonely experience. Far from home, patients spent many hours alone on the porch. The Scholfield Workshop was a place to make friends with fellow patients. Some, like Betty and Martin, even found romance there. Where do you meet new people in your community?

TRY IT YOURSELF: DRAW DR. BROWN!

Use the photos to sketch Dr. Brown, founder of the occupational therapy program at Trudeau Sanatorium! Email your sketch to mail@historicsaranaclake.org.

THE STUDY AND CRAFT GUILD

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Elise Chapin on the Study and Craft Guild. Courtesy of Shirley Morgan.

TB patients were often confined to bed and isolated from loved ones. The Study and Craft Guild classes helped keep patients occupied and gave them a sense of purpose. What hobbies keep you occupied?

THE ART LEAGUE

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Having TB could make doing everyday activities almost impossible. Occupational therapy helped isolated patients regain their strength. Charlotte Geffken spent thirty years healing patients through arts and crafts. Do you know anyone who has benefited from occupational therapy?

THE PAINTERS

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Print of Jack and the Beanstalk by Maxfield Parrish. Parrish illustrated a series of advertisements for Ferry’s Seeds, all featuring fairy tale subjects. Historic Saranac Lake Collection.

The Dinky Bird by Maxfield Parrish. Public Domain Image.

Jonas Lie [The Birches], c. 1923. Courtesy of Ted Comstock.

Jonas Lie Mt. Baker & the Saranac River, 1925. Courtesy of Ted Comstock.

Paul Sample Sunday School Class, 1933 Courtesy of the Adirondack Collection, Saranac Lake Free Library

Henry Uhl Still Life in the Dead of Winter, 1944 Historic Saranac Lake Collection.

Samson Feldman Santanoni Dinning Room, 1943. Courtesy of Kay and Marvin Best.

Sometimes challenges are good! They can help us to think in new ways. For Maxfield Parrish, the bad weather forced him to learn a new medium. As a result, he produced some of his most famous works. How have you turned a challenge into an opportunity?

THE ARCHITECTS

The Baldwin House, Church St. Saranac Lake. Designed by William Coulter.

The Porcupine Inn, Park Ave. Saranac Lake. Designed by William Coulter.

The Hotel Saranac, Main St. Saranac Lake. Designed by Scopes and Feustmann.

Will Rogers, Saranac Lake. Designed by Scopes.

Faced with their own mortality, many TB patients dove fully into life. William Scopes became interested in architecture while watching construction at the Sanatorium. A correspondence class in architecture unlocked a skill and helped him discover a new passion. What new skill would you like to learn?

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Phoenix Cottage and Its Happy Occupants - Harry Seikini and Dr. James Halloran, by Richard Ray. Historic Saranac Lake.

Winter Carnival, 1939, by Richard Ray. Historic Saranac Lake.

Old Friends and Fresh Flowers are Good Medicine - Jack Longhine and Tom Burden, by Richard Ray. Historic Saranac Lake.

A camera-shy Tray-boy, by Richard Ray. Historic Saranac Lake.

Self Portrait, by Richard Ray. Historic Saranac Lake.

by Katherine McClellan. Historic Saranac Lake.

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Artists closely observe the world around them. Through photography, Kollecker became well acquainted with the community. Look at the room around you as though you were going to photograph it. What new details do you notice?

THE WRITERS

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Confined to bed, many TB patients took to keeping journals. These memoirs inform much of what we know today about the curing experience in Saranac Lake. In what ways do you document your personal life?

THE PERFORMERS

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"Evening in the Country" manuscript by Bela Bartok. Dated 1943, Saranac Lake. Historic Saranac Lake.

Signed copy of "My Melancholy Baby" by Ernie Burnett. Historic Saranac Lake.

Because TB was so contagious, patients were isolated from their family and friends. Institutions like the National Vaudeville Artists Home brought together patients with similar interests. Having a community was an important part of “the cure”. How do your interests connect you to your community?

THE ARTS IN SARANAC LAKE TODAY

Selection of Winter Carnival buttons, artwork by Garry Trudeau. Historic Saranac Lake Collection.

The arts are an important part of community in Saranac Lake. Many artists find inspiration in the natural vistas of the Adirondacks. In times of trouble, being creative can help combat anxiety. What role does art play in your life?