Middletown >> For days into last September’s Valley fire Harlan Sadberry thought his latest paintings had gone up in flames. Now some of them are being exhibited.
The day the fire started the 70-year-old artist was working at Harbin Hot Springs. He helped with evacuation of the new-age retreat as the fire raced in its direction. That evening he tried to reach his Anderson Springs home and studio, first by car and then on foot, but quickly realized that the hamlet of a hundred homes had become too dangerous.
Both Harbin and Anderson Springs were devastated by the fire. More than 100 trees on Sadberry’s property were burned, but, remarkably, the structures were spared.
It seems fitting, if mind bending, that a series of abstract paintings titled “The Tree of Life” survived the fire in the midst of a decimated forest. Three of the large, colorful canvases will be on display at the Middletown Art Center from Saturday through May 1. The entire series can be seen at the harlansadberry.com website.
Sadberry and other artists will be on hand at an opening reception for an exhibition called Subversive Biology exhibition from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday at the Middletown Art Center, Highway 175 at Highway 29. Admission is free.
