LOCALadk Magazine

Jim Sausville races Pipe Dream, a kayak he built himself, painted by Cain. LOCALadk 17 As legendary North Country paddler Jim Sausville prepared to compete in the 2025 multi-sport race cryp- tically called "3P" (Pole, Pedal, Paddle) he decided his hand-crafted sea kayak needed a dose of mystic soul. He had a feeling he knew who could deliver the goods. Sausville had spent some time with acrylic artist Sar- ah Calzada Cain and friends while kayak camping on Valcour Island in Lake Champlain several years earlier. Cain's work is known for capturing the ethereal essence of nature. Conversations between the campers on the island that outing touched on the link between creativ- ity and the outdoors, and the passion that the Adiron- dacks inspired in all of them. Upon learning that Cain and her then-fiance were planning to settle down near his home in Saranac Lake, a plan was quickly hatched and they got to work. The kayak, which Sausville had named Pipe Dream, quickly became a collaborative vision shared by the boat-builder and the Bolton Landing-raised muralist/art- ist, whose company is called Acrylic Earth Art. "Jim imagined a trippy mu- ral representing sun rays and water currents with warm reds, oranges, and yellows at the bow fading into cool blues, greens, and purples toward the stern," Cain said. "He gave me full creative freedom and access to his woodshop as my studio. I began painting shortly af- ter moving to town and we had the kayak varnished and ready before race day." At an event where outdoor gear, bikes, boats and skis always seems to be an infor- mal topic of conversation amongst racers, Pipe Dream could have been voted best of show. Held the first Saturday in March each year, the Saranac Lake 3P launched in 2023 to showcase the mag- nificent front-country recreational activities that are prominent in the region. Racers, who compete alone, or as a part of a relay team, often wear funny costumes, but Sausville's boat was the first-time an actual artist was ever commissioned to sexy things up a bit. Race Director Scott McKim said the original idea for the 3P race was to involve as many different aspects of North Country life as possible, including the arts. "Our first year we held an art contest in town where kids cre- ated 3P posters," McKim said. "The artwork, created by kids who grow up embracing the skiing and paddling and biking here… it just reinforced the idea that the race was showcasing something very special." There are similar 3P races in places like Salida, CO, and Bend, OR, and there are shoulder season triathlons as close as Vermont. Each race in each community has its own soul, however, which is why they lend themselves so easily to local artistic expression. "It is technically a race in that there is a starting line and a finishing line, and we do have people who come to compete - includ- ing former Olympians," McKim said. "But sometimes it feels like keying in on the race aspect misses the broad- er point that this is about community and how it inter- acts with its natural surroundings." That is where Cain's creative approach to her craft is a perfect fit. While competitors say participating in the race is a thrill, Cain said bringing Sausville's vision to life on a moving vessel brought its own kind of joy — very dif- ferent from the murals and canvas pieces she typically produces. "I'm used to my work being stationary on a wall," she marvelled. "Watching it move through the landscape was absolutely surreal." Like the 3P, Cain's art is grounded in nature and fu- eled by a lifetime of hiking and a love for the mountains, waters, people, and crea- tures of the Adirondacks. She considers herself an en- vironmentalist with the soul of an artist. "I describe my style as ab- stract realism. I aim to rep- resent nature authentically, but in an expressive, whim- sical way that allows you to see the brushstrokes and emotion behind the work," she said. Her background makes it look like her appreciation for art and her love for the natural environment were somehow meant to someday converge. As a high school student, she attended the New York State Summer School of the Arts in Fredonia, where she was exposed to a wide range of visual art techniques. At the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syr- acuse, she earned a degree in Environmental Biology. Cain never thought of herself as a full-time artist un- til COVID hit in 2020. At the time, she had been working seasonal environmental jobs. As the work temporarily slowed, she started selling artwork to pay the bills. She was surprised when it took off. "From there, I kept creating and slowly built a busi- ness - launching a website, selling original work, and taking on painting and mural commissions," she said. "I haven't stopped since, and I feel incredibly grateful that what began as a necessity turned into a lifelong

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