Record-Bee Staff
Middletown >> “Subversive Biology,” Middletown Art Center’s (MAC) eighth exhibition opens Saturday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and runs through May 1.
Lake County residents and visitors are invited to see artists’ interpretations of the combination of two generally unrelated words: Subversive: “tending or intending to overthrow, destroy, or mutate an established or existing system” and, Biology: “A branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and vital processes: the plant and animal life of a region or environment”.
There will be music by Tear Drop Trailer, refreshments and community. Children welcome.
Founded in partnership with EcoArts of Lake County, MAC provides a year-round arts and cultural presence in south Lake County where formerly there was none. Team members transformed the old Middletown Gymnasium into a space for contemporary art, performance and events.
The back portion of the building serves as a studio where classes in drawing, painting, ceramics, photography, drama and more are offered for children, teens and adults.
The art center opened doors March 28, 2015 and has presented exhibitions featuring work by local artists, including the 13th Annual EcoArts Lake County Sculpture Walk.
The first year of operations of MAC was fruitful, but also dramatic. Nine of 10 MAC and EcoArts board members lost their homes to the Valley Fire. Twenty-five affiliated professional artists lost their homes, studio, or place of work. But board leadership understood the pressing need to bring back a sense of normalcy to the Middletown area community, despite their own crises. MAC immediately resumed classes following the fire, to encourage the public’s engagement in self expression and healing through the arts. The center has provided free, and continues to subsidize classes to those in greatest need. MAC’s key goals are to inspire every child and adult to express themselves and grow through the arts and arts exposure, while bolstering the quality of life and sustainability of the community in support of a healthy local economy.
EcoArts and MAC have even more to celebrate thanks to #LakeCountyRising — The Lake County Fire Relief Fund which is a joint project of the Lake County Wine Alliance, The Lake County Winery Association and The Lake County Winegrape Association. EcoArts and MAC were given a major grant to support their continued growth and contributions to both community and economic development.
Soon, the community will be able to participate in the making of a mural and enjoy benches, shade structures, gardens and sculptures outdoors at MAC. More people can benefit from engaging with the arts through expansion of MAC’s scholarship fund; the studio and gallery will have lighting improvements; MAC artist’s web presence will grow and outreach beyond the county to encourage visitors will increase.
MAC is an arts nonprofit made by community members. Aside from art openings every six weeks, MAC hosts musical performances, open mic or hootenanny’s every other Friday.
The MAC Theatre will soon be auditioning for its first production, “It Was So Sudden I Wasn’t Prepared,” a live multimedia theater performance commemorating the Valley Fire. Organizers are seeking stories of residents and first responders who were impacted by the fire to be included; visit www.middletownartcenter.org to fill out a survey.
The gallery is open Friday-Saturday noon to 6 p.m. or Sunday noon to 5 p.m. (subject to seasonal changes).
MAC’s Gallery will be closed today and will re-open on Saturday at 6 p.m. for the opening.
MAC offers an array of memberships with benefits, as well as tax-deductible donation and volunteer opportunities.
Find out more about MAC online at www.middletownartcenter.org, email middletownartcenter@gmail.com, call (707) 809-8118 or visit at 21456 Highway 175 (at junction 29).
