MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – This Saturday, Aug. 4, from 1 to 5 p.m., the Middletown Art Center is offering “Re-Story,” a mixed media class with Sage Abella as part of the center’s Restore project.

“There is no question that art can really help people make it through difficult times like these,” said Middletown Art Center Director Lisa Kaplan. “During crisis, in the aftermath, and when trauma is retriggered, art making is extremely helpful in transforming anxiety, stress and grief into creative expression – it’s a very life affirming and response to all of the destruction we have witnessed.”

Kaplan lost her home in the Valley fire and has been making art in many of the classes offered at MAC to process her experience.

Move and process some of the stress of wildfires and evacuation with paint, writing and collage in a safe, compassionate, and supportive environment.

Adults and children of all ages are welcome to join for just $5. All materials and supplies are included. No one turned away for lack of funds and all levels of experience newbie to professional are welcome.

Register ahead of time at www.middletownartcenter.org/Restore, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your spot.

Sage Abella, one of the key instructors at MAC explains more about this weekend’s class Re-Story.

“We’ll use a whole palette of colorful paints, oil pastels, chalk pastels, collage and other things we find in the studio as we explore where we are today, in this very moment,” Abella said. “This is an intuitive or process approach to using art to explore our inner worlds. When we explore what’s real and moving in us now inside a community of others, we find surprising new things in us because of the focused group energy. Plus, in these challenging times, it’s just sweet to come create things inside a circle of others.”

Since evacuation was lifted after the Valley fire, MAC has been offering low cost classes to Lake County residents to express, process, and reframe the fire experience.

At this point, the whole county has experienced the stress and devastation of wildfire. MAC encourages everyone to attend one or many of its Restore offerings on Saturdays throughout the year, to experience and participate in the healing power of art.

Restore is MAC’s current fire recovery project. The next class, “Extreme Papier Maché” with Christalene Loren is scheduled for Aug. 18, also from 1 to 5 p.m.

Beginning in September MAC will offer Restore workshops most first through fourth weekends of the month.

Classes will explore a variety of sculptural and mixed media techniques and approaches including clay, woodworking, metalworking, concrete, and assemblage to name a few.

Printmaking and creative writing will also be offered. Residents throughout Lake County, ages 12 to 85+ of all artistic abilities, backgrounds, and experience are invited to work with a variety of media, and engage in both personal and collaborative projects. Please register in advance so instructors are prepared for you.

The Restore project will culminate with the reopening of the EcoArts Sculpture Walk, a new art trail on Rabbit Hill, as well as a second chapbook of writings and prints.

MAC’s previous recovery project, Resilience, recently came to a close after a year of activities. Exhibits continue to be on view at Lakeport and Clearlake City Halls, Adventist Health Hospital, and Clearlake’s Mountain View Café.

Resilience, a chapbook of writing and prints created during the project is available for sale at MAC and on the MAC’s homepage.

Restore was made possible thanks to the generous support of individual donors, local businesses and organizations including Calpine at the Geysers, Beckstoffer Vineyards, the Lake County Land Trust, Lake County Council for the Arts, Lake County Rural Arts Initiative and a Local Impact grant from the California Arts Council, a State agency. Visit arts.ca.gov to learn more about the California Arts Council.

Join the folks at MAC and fellow Lake County residents for healing art classes and community events. Visit www.middletownartcenter.org, or like MAC on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ARTMiddletown/ to stay informed about upcoming class schedules and be a part of a growing arts scene in Lake County.