This story has been updated.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The public is invited to attend the “Water Baskets” project dedication and celebratory public reception on Sunday, Jan. 12, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

It will be held at the Middletown Art Center, or MAC, 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in Middletown.

The event is free to the public and refreshments will be available.

Tribal and civic leaders as well the artists will be present. The public is also invited to weave a small chi or hitch from tule to contribute to the piece “Calling the Chi - Hitch” at the Reciprocity EcoArts Sculpture Walk.

Community members wishing to walk up to the Water Baskets on Rabbit Hill are encouraged to do so following opening remarks by Middletown Rancheria Tribal Chair Moke Simon, Lake County’s Assembly member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and other speakers.

The Water Baskets will be particularly spectacular at 4:30 or 5 p.m. following the reception, during the golden hour, sunset or dusk.

“The Water Basket project represents true collaboration between our Middletown Rancheria Tribal Nation, the Middletown Art Center, Callayomi County Water District and our local community,” said Tribal Chairman Moke Simon. “Water is life. And as the first people of this land we are honored to be a part of this historic project.”

The project honors the cultural legacy of the original stewards of this land, and the Indigenous flora and fauna of the Middletown area. It also reflects the unification, regeneration, and revitalization of the Middletown community as a whole, after the 2015 Valley Fire.

The selection process for the Water Basket designs was comprehensive and inclusive. It followed a call for proposals for 360° designs inspired by Pomo basketry design patterns. Pomo Baskets are renowned worldwide for excellence in aesthetics, craftsmanship, durability, and form and function. Several workshops, led by Pomo artists, were held to increase artists’ and the public’s awareness about the distinct design patterns and plant materials used in Pomo basketry and their relationship to this region’s ecology.

After careful consideration of over 20 designs, a jury of 14 diverse local stakeholders chose six designs to present to the public. Models were on view for voting for three full weeks at three locations. The designs now seen on Rabbit Hill are a reflection of the public’s choice.

“Tsúkli - To Shine Forth” by Trelasa Baratta, graces the larger tank.

“I come from the Chappo and Knight families of Middletown Rancheria,” Baratta said. “My design incorporates personal variations of common Pomo basketry patterns. It is dedicated to our ancestors, whose lives embodied Native survival and resilience, and a resolute commitment to preserving our culture.”

“Echoes of the Land,” which graces the smaller tank is by Lorraine Triana Rueda, a local artist originally from Colombia. “This mural tells a story of unity, respect, and shared harmony,” Lorraine shared. “It connects the community’s rich heritage with the natural beauty of the Middletown area’s land and wildlife, honoring the traditions, ancestral knowledge, and the people.”

The Water Basket project is funded in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional funding from the Middletown Rancheria, the Callayomi County Water District, MAC, Calpine at The Geysers and Lake County Tribal Health Consortium. The project was initiated and produced by MAC.

Middletown Art Center is a Lake County non-profit dedicated to engaging the public in art making, education and 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 or to donate to support cultural and other arts programs at MAC please visit middletownartcenter.org or call 707-809-8118. The MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175 in Middletown.