The thought provoking watercolors of Valerie Patterson will be on display at the Adirondack Carousel on Thursday, September 20th from 5 to 7:30 as part of the Art Walk event in Saranac Lake.

Patterson’s striking watercolors reflect a sense of social consciousness in a broad range of themes. She describes her motivation as a means to “create images that provoke action, thought and a feeling of commonality, often transcending the decorative, entertaining, or ‘easy’ in the hopes that my art can be a force for discovery, unity, humanity and support in difficult times”.

A prolific artist, Patterson has exhibited her work throughout the country. Among her numerous awards are the 2009 Peace Prize for the Arts at the 1st Annual Arts for Peace Exhibition in Dayton, Ohio and a 1st Place Profile Award in the “HerStory Competition” at Manhattan Arts International in New York.

The art exhibit is part of the Adirondack Carousel’s vision to fuse art, education and entertainment in ways that foster imagination and inspire people of all ages.

The Carousel will be open during the fall from noon to 5 Wednesday through Sunday but is extending its hours to 7:30 on Sept. 20th for Art Walk. For more information, visit the carousel’s website at adirondackcarousel.org or friend the carousel on Facebook.