MILLBROOK, June 9 — The Millbrook Regional Art Museum welcomed more than 600 visitors over its opening weekend for Rivers & Roots: Landscapes of the Central Valley, a sweeping new exhibition featuring the work of 17 painters, photographers, and mixed-media artists, all of whom grew up or currently live within 100 miles of Millbrook. Museum Director Claudette Varga called the turnout "deeply encouraging" and said advance ticket sales for the coming weeks suggest the exhibition may set a new attendance record before it closes in August.
About the Exhibition
The show spans the museum's entire east wing and traces the visual history of the region's landscape — from 19th-century oil paintings depicting the Sallow River before the dam was built, to contemporary drone photography capturing agricultural patterns in the flatlands south of the city. Standout works include Nadia Przepiórka's large-format photographic series After the Flood, shot in Garfield Heights following the 2021 storm event, and a trio of oils by 81-year-old Millbrook native Cornelius Ashby that have never before been displayed publicly. "Cornelius almost didn't let us include his work," curator Tamsin Brooke said with a laugh. "He kept saying they weren't finished. They are absolutely finished. They're extraordinary."
Admission to Rivers & Roots is included with general museum admission: $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, free for children 12 and under. The museum also has a free community day scheduled for June 22, when all admission is waived thanks to a sponsorship from Millbrook Savings Bank. A companion program — a six-week series of workshops on landscape sketching and nature photography — begins June 18 and is open to all skill levels. Registration is available at the museum's front desk or online at millbrookregionalart.org. The exhibition runs through August 17.
