Celebration of the Arts brings artists, musicians and tourists

A few people milled about on the second floor of the Conference Center on Saturday afternoon, looking at the various art that was on display as part of the first-ever Lake Placid Celebration of the Arts.

This three-day event over the Columbus Day weekend featured about 55 artists who presented different styles ranging from realism to abstract and worked with various media, including oil paints, colored pencils, stainless steel, recycled materials and photography.

"So far, what we have seen is pretty interesting," said David Burton of Saratoga Springs.

"It's the differences, the types of mediums that are being used," added Andrea Burton, also from Saratoga Springs.

Most of the artwork displayed at the festival was for sale. The pieces ranged in price from less than $100 to thousands of dollars.

Some of the artists were present at the festival, talking to attendees about the pieces they had on display.

One such artist was Renea Menzies from Houston, Texas, who said it takes her, on average, a month to complete one of her sculpted oil paintings that usually feature flowers.

"I actually sculpt parts on a palette and then they're taken off the palette and placed on a canvas with a knife," she said. "And I use a glazing medium to protect it afterwards."

All the art on display at the festival could be viewed free of charge. Also free was the opportunity to perform in front of an open mic during the course of the three-day festival, something 10-year-old Chris Cooley, of Herkimer, took advantage of Saturday.

Additional entertainment came in the form of the screening of the film "Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend," which made its North Country premiere at the festival.

Event directors Victor Forbes and Jamie Ellin Forbes scheduled musical acts to perform each night, including Ghislain Dion, Celine Dion's sister, on Friday. Playing Saturday were Savoy Brown with guitarist Kim Simmonds, Keene Valley's Roadside Mystic, harmonica player Frank Latorre and the King Bees. A John Lennon Birthday Tribute with Heidi Little and special guests the Vee Tones and friends took the stage Sunday.

A decent-sized crowd showed up to Saturday night's concert inside the Olympic Center. Audience members tapped their feet, nodded their heads and even got up and danced.

"It was fantastic," said Peggy Fickes, of Newington, Ontario, after Saturday night's performances. "I'm really glad we came. I liked the energy, the variety and seeing Ghislain Dion from Montreal."