MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Art Center announces its upcoming fourth wildfire commemorative exhibit “All That Is Now.”

This year, the MAC has invited artists from all over the Northern California region to participate with work that explores the breadth of the wildfire experience, its aftermath, ongoing recovery, and the acceptance of what Is now.

There is still time to submit work. The exhibit will open with a reception on Friday, Sept. 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. and runs through mid-November.

Each year since the devastating Valley fire of 2015, the MAC has hosted a commemorative exhibit and poetry reading to honor our collective experience, memorialize loss, and celebrate our healing.

About half of MAC's 60 affiliated artists at the time lost their homes and studios or place of work in the Fire.

The Valley fire of 2015 still burns in the fabric of everyday life in south Lake County, and that loss is reinforced each year with more fires.

Since 2012, more than 50 percent of Lake County has burned, and Lake County shares the wildfire experience with communities throughout the region.

“Making and viewing art has the capacity to heal and reframe trauma by giving expression to the experience through materials, color, and form,” said Lisa Kaplan, director of the MAC. “We are honored that artists from neighboring counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte and the rest of California are submitting work. We continue to encourage artists who have responded to the experience in their work to join us for what is sure to be a very compelling exhibit.”

Artist submissions close on Wednesday, Aug. 21, with accepted work delivered to the MAC on Monday, Sept. 9.

For information on how to submit, visit www.middletownartcenter.org/artists.

Samples of work from previous commemorative fire exhibits at MAC can be viewed at www.middletownartcenter.org/exhibits.

Middletown Art Center is an arts nonprofit located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in the heart of Middletown.

To stay up to date on classes, exhibits and events, and support this valuable Lake County arts and culture resource visit www.middletownartcenter.org.