MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Middletown Art Center has announced the grand opening reception for Reciprocity, EcoArts Sculpture Walk at Trailside Park on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event is free to the public. Middletown’s Trailside County Park is located at 21435 Dry Creek Cutoff off Highway 175.

See new work, meet the artists, enjoy poetry, music, community and nature.

The EcoArts Sculpture Walk, previously dormant due to the devastating 2015 Valley fire and subsequent challenges of COVID, is now experiencing a renaissance thanks to the dedication of local artists and community members.

Through a grant award from the Upstate California Creative Corps and California Arts Council, with additional support from the Lake County Public Services Department and District One Supervisor Moke Simon, revitalization of the EcoArts Sculpture Walk – Reciprocity was made possible. It will be the 15th EcoArts Sculpture Walk and includes both permanent and temporary works.

“Up until the Valley Fire burned the park and Sculpture Walk in 2015, we opened 13 outdoor exhibits,” said MAC’s Artistic and Executive DIrector Lisa Kaplan. “While we were able to reopen in 2019 with support from a National Endowment for the Arts Challenge Grant, COVID stymied our momentum. It has been 5 years since we installed new work at the park! We are excited to share new work with the public, as well as how much the park has rebounded since the fire.”

In 2023, the California Art Council launched a program aimed at supporting and amplifying the work of artists and cultural practitioners called the California Creative Corps.

The Upstate California Creative Corps or Northern California region, is administered by the Nevada County Arts Council, which partnered with county arts councils across the region including the Lake County Arts Council, to form selection panels and provide support to grantees.

The California Creative Corp fosters community engagement and promotes cultural awareness by addressing civic engagement, public health, environmental issues and social justice through artistic expression in all media.

It also encourages partnerships with, and integration of the arts into civic life, local government and agencies.

The initiative emphasizes engaging underserved communities to encourage economic and community development. The program plays a vital role in enriching the local social and cultural landscape and driving positive change in the region.

As part of this effort, MAC brought together 19 artists and culture bearers to embark on an art-making journey designed to unite people in nature.

The Reciprocity project focused on learning about land stewardship and honoring each other's cultural and personal identities.

Over the course of a year, free public art-making workshops were held, offering opportunities to create from natural and discarded materials, learn about fire mitigation, native and non-native species, the role of pollinators, the plight of the Hitch, organism habitats, using plants to make cordage and cultural diversity.

Workshops were offered in the park, at MAC, at community festivals, and within specific demographic communities. Participants engaged in creative expression and collaborative problem-solving, enhancing their connection to the environment and to each other.

Revitalization of the EcoArts Sculpture Walk at Trailside Park through the Reciprocity project symbolizes a profound connection between art, community, and the natural world. The opening event highlights the park’s remarkable recovery and signifies a collective commitment to nurturing and respecting the environment.

Attendees are invited to celebrate this transformation, embrace the spirit of renewal, and engage with artworks that reflect a shared journey toward a more harmonious coexistence with nature. The continued success and inspiration of this meaningful project are greatly enhanced by the support and participation of the community!

Middletown Art Center is a Lake County nonprofit dedicated to engaging the public in art making, art education, and art appreciation. Through exhibitions, performances, workshops, and community events, the Art Center provides a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, striving to create an inclusive and accessible space for all.

To learn more and donate to support this or other MAC arts and cultural programs visit www.middletownartcenter.org.

For inquiries or further information, please contact the Middletown Art Center at 707-355-4465 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175 in Middletown.