MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Middletown Art Center welcomes the public to its 45th exhibit, opening “Clusters” on Saturday, April 2, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The opening will take place in-person only at MAC and falls around the anniversary of MAC’s initial opening March 28, 2015.

The title “Clusters” originally was chosen in reference to a series of works connected by an inquiry or exploration of form, subject matter or concept, materials or format.

“As artists began submitting work, additional interpretations and perspectives of the word ‘cluster’ emerged, which we encouraged,” explained Lisa Kaplan, director and co-curator at MAC.

“Come to the opening to see what different artists came up with,” said Kaplan with a smile.

Clusters features work by familiar and new local and regional artists including Cobb Mountain artist Alana Clearlake. Her submission for Clusters came from “a little inspiration applied to some leftovers” from paper-on-felt vessels from her previous series The White Album.

She recently became intrigued with eco printing, a form of natural dyeing where the colors from plant material are transferred to fabric and paper.

“Since I had extra vessels that felt unfinished, I tried eco printing on them”, said Clearlake. “All of the pieces have warm coloration, as many of the leaves that provide good print quality print orange or red. Because I enjoy the play of complimentary colors and the vessels have paper incorporated into the wool, I was able to add cool colors using media, such as watercolor and pencil in some of the vessels,” she said.

Selections from a new series of work by French-American artist Anne Ducrot are also on view. "These evening musings appear spontaneously under my brush, “ she explained. “They are an expression of the deep inner-stirrings of my soul. Fresh. Alive. Full of details and magical marks yet sometimes ambiguous, and continuously surprising me with utterly unexpected delight. The multiplicity of readings they evoke is unique to each viewer and fascinating to me — reflecting as much the viewer's inner life as that of the artist.”

Clusters will be on view through June 26, Thursday through Monday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment by calling 707-809-8118.

A virtual tour will be available on MAC’s website by April 8, and a conversation with the artists will take place in hybrid format in May.

Find out more about programs, opportunities, and ways to get involved, support, and celebrate the MAC’s efforts to weave the arts and culture into the fabric of life in Lake County ​at www.​middletownartcenter.org.​