MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – For their first work of art, founders of a new art center in Middletown are seeking to bring 300 artists, artisans, art lovers and the aesthetically minded in Lake County together in their center’s first year of operation.
The drive for members already is taking place, with an artists’ premiere and reception planned for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the new center, a renovated building at the corner of highways 29 and 175.
The reception will feature the work of the center’s “Founding Five.”
As you read this, work is under way toward converting a 2,400-square-foot space that for a short time was a secondhand book store (and earlier a gymnasium) into a building dedicated to art with multiple exhibition spaces and classrooms.
The conversion is headed by Lisa Kaplan, who earlier was lead designer for the Lake County International Charter School in Middletown.
As one of the art center founders, she is filling the role of director of education and outreach.
The other four artist-founders are John Hanses, director of the treasury; Renata Jaworska, technical director; and Francesco Calisco and Sariah Reeser.
In addition, Kristina Della Valle is the gallery specialist and director of operations and marketing.
The group is in the process of renovating the exhibition salon and office space, and is asking for artists, art lovers, collectors, students of the arts, friends and family to come together to help them get the project off the ground.
“It’s not just artists; it’s also community members who will be participating in classes,” said Kaplan.
“We estimate our membership will be about 300 for the first year. The artists will be invited with the possibility of participating in art shows. We won’t refuse any members. If you want to be a member you can be a member. We are expecting to reach out to a broad variety of community members of all ages,” said Kaplan.
“It’s important to note that we would like to provide a place for youth and young adults,” she said. “At the same time, we are trying to appeal to the global market so we are interested in artists who have a name globally. We want to become a county destination. “
There are more immediate objectives, such as completing a segment of the center in time for the grand opening.
A section containing two classrooms will not be finished, but the classrooms are expected to open sometime in April.
Then there is the matter of raising the money needed to run the center.
“There’s a lot of parts to this,” said Hanses. “We’ll probably start with as little as $7,500.”
The initial funding, expected to be in the $27,000 to $30,000 range, will cover the center’s initial six-month budget.
“It will give us a finished gallery, classroom space advertising, all our supplies and finish the walls and air conditioning and heating,” said Hanses.
While the March 28 opening will display the artwork of founding members throughout the center, more importantly, said Della Valle, it will be a showcase to encourage artists from the community and other artists to participate in shows at the center.
“I think people would be surprised by how many artists we have in Lake County,” she said. “For example, we just started our fundraising campaign and had 41 people contributing. At least half of them are artists.”
To maintain a high standard of art, exhibitions will be juried. But the center is accepting two- and three-dimensional mixed media, functional art and small works.
Anyone interested can call 707-809-5398 or visit www.middletownartcenter.org for guidelines for membership and submissions.
The center will offer professional feedback and guidance on composition.
“Basically, what we’re doing is saying, to come and teach. The community wants to learn. Come and teach with us,” said Kaplan, who is one of the teachers.
Della Valle said that there will be six shows, each of six weeks' duration, at the center this year.
Already, she added, works have been submitted for a show that opens in May themed “Innovative Approaches To Landscape.”
“There will be some dedicated solo or duet shows a little later in the year,” Della Valle said.
In its early existence the center’s lifeblood will be sales, new memberships, the aforementioned crowd funding and other forms of community support. A proposed $15,000 grant is in the works.
“The $7,000 we’ve already raised does not include the cost of the paint,” Kaplan added.
Incidentally, the paint – 30 gallons for the walls and six gallons of varnish for the floors – was donated by Mario Richner, while Stephen Hebert donated paint and labor.
“Our fundraising campaign is for $10,000,” Kaplan said. “We encourage all community members to donate $10 or $20 or all that they can. If everybody donates a little bit it becomes $10,000.”
For those wishing to donate to the center, there are several options.
Visit http://www.middletownartcenter.org and click on the donation button at the right-hand side of the page in order to access PayPal.
Checks can be written to EcoArts of Lake County with “MAC” in the memo line and mailed to EcoArts, P.O. Box 1616, Middletown, CA 95461.
An online fundraiser also is available https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-fund-middletown-art-center .
To keep updated on the Middletown Art Center's progress, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/middletownartcenter .
Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .