Judy and Don Scammell pose Thursday, June 16 at the “Side by Side by Side” exhibit opening at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. (Photo provided — Naj Wikoff)

The exhibition, “Side by Side by Side,” which opened Thursday, June 16 at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, showcases the talents of three distinctive local artists: Annoel Krider, Judy Scammell and Cree Scudder.

Initially planned as a two-person exhibit for BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake by Krider and Scammell, Scudder couldn’t resist an invitation by her two friends, which also led to the exhibit opening at the LPCA and then moving to BluSeed, where it will re-open on July 15.

Discussions for the group show were solidified last fall, and since then all three have been creating new pieces for possible inclusion. Scudder’s pieces reflect two phases, paintings created years ago and a more recent series that is a mix of collage and painting. As she exhibits rarely around here, for many this will be their first opportunity to see her pieces, which are all quite lively and thought provoking.

“I love seeing the work up,” said Scudder at the opening. “I am delighted to see all our work exhibited together. We are all happy about it.”

Scudder credits Jon Donk, manager of the LPCA’s Gallery 46 on Main Street with encouraging her to increase the size of her recent work. Further, she praises her husband Ned for his enthusiastic support.

Cree and Ned Scudder pose Thursday, June 16 at the “Side by Side by Side” exhibit opening at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. (Photo provided — Naj Wikoff)

“I’m always impressed by what Cree does,” said Ned. “She goes to her studio and comes out and I go, ‘Wow!’ I never know where ideas come from. I so admire what she does. Her paintings and collages have such wonderful energy. And I like how well her work goes with the others. They each have such distinct styles, each expressive of each artist’s talents.”

Scudder started out with a degree in journalism back in 1974 but later decided to get training in art at the Philadelphia Academy of Art in 1995 and hasn’t looked back. Recently, she has exhibited group shows at Florida’s Vero Beach Art Museum in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Scammell’s focus has long been on expressing the spiritual power of animals. A Lake Placid native, she credits her Lake Placid Central School art teacher Sue D’Avignon for encouraging her to express herself through painting. Another mentor, so to speak, was the late legendary guide, explorer, artist and authority on dogsledding Jacques Suzanne, who lived on Bear Cub Road. Scammel credits both his paintings and the animals he kept and encountered for inspiring her interest in not just painting wolves and bears, but expressing their spiritual nature.

“My mentor was Sue D’Avignon,” said Scammell. “I loved her and learned so much from her. She was a wonderful, wonderful teacher. Sue was instrumental in helping me along and so many other kids. My inspiration was a totem created by Jacques Suzanne. I found it buried in a woodpile 45 years ago when we first got our house. I didn’t like it at first, but then I started uncovering it, and it opened a door for me. He was an incredible artist.”

Like Cree, Scammell praises her husband Don for his support, and for his eye. He feels that Judy helped him understand and appreciate art, that if he has a good eye, she helped nurture and develop it.

Peter Martin and Annoel Krider pose Thursday, June 16 at the “Side by Side by Side” exhibit opening at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. (Photo provided — Naj Wikoff)

“I’m honored that she comes and asks me what I think, what she can do to make some aspect better, and how can she paint this damn paw,” said Don, laughing.

“Hanging the show, placing the artworks was a challenge,” said Krider. “We came and spread our work out, and then we just stared at it wondering where to put everything. Then Jon Donk came in and put three of Cree’s pieces together right away on that central panel. After that they started to fall into place.”

Donk credits the three artists in hanging the show. He said he saw three pieces by Scudder that he felt would work well together, put them up, and that opened the door through laying out a potential approach.

“Sometimes the hardest part is just starting,” said Donk. “The show features three very different perspectives. Their work demonstrates that there is a place for having artistic diversity here the Adirondacks, and in your home.”

Krider’s artistic explorations came naturally and were encouraged early on by her mother, who was an arts and humanities professor and a painter, and her father, who was an architect. Locally, Krider is known for the variety of her work from weavings to mixed media that include painted branches to paintings.

A recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship and the New York Council on the Arts Sponsored Work Grant, Krider studied weaving in Cuernavaca, Mexico as well as with the Scheur Tapestry Studio in New York City. She has exhibited widely and is represented by galleries in New Mexico, Washington and Pennsylvania.

“I grew up creating art, viewing art and going to museums,” said Krider. “I explored a lot of different media. I’m really enjoying doing paintings as I have so much more control.”

Krider’s husband, Peter Martin, views himself as her biggest fan and supporter. He said he loves the way her work has evolved and how she has incorporated natural materials describing her as a true Adirondack artist.

“He’s learned that he cannot come in my studio and make any kind of comment whatsoever about the painting I’m working on. He has a good eye. Every once in a while, I’ll get stuck. I’ll say, ‘Peter, I need you. Come in now, what should I do here?’ He always has the right answer. But otherwise, I can’t stand having someone interrupt me when I’m working.”

“Side by Side by Side” is on display at the LPCA from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday until July 10. It will reopen at BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake on Friday, July 15 and be on display there until Aug. 28.

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(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley. He has been covering events for the News for more than 15 years.)