WARREN, Pa. — Art that speaks of change, wear, and regrowth is on display at the Crary Art Gallery with Sara Baker Michalak’s exhibition titled “Metaphysical.”

Paintings are built-up, layer upon layer of mixed-media, such as paper and other materials found in nature and collected through the years. By using techniques like scraping, sanding and scratching back down through the layers, she creates an effect that might resemble city walls that have had years of posters applied or, in another frame of reference, that resemble the subtle layering of organic matter as it falls on to the forest floor.

For the exhibition’s first day, the public is invited to an open house on Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. Michalak will be on-site and available to talk about and answer questions about her work. On display until July 3, she will also be available to meet the public from 4 to 6 p.m. on closing day. The gallery recommends wearing a mask and practicing social distance and is relying on the honor system for optional mask wearing for vaccinated guests.

Michalak hails from Dunkirk, N.Y., and in 2020 won the first-place award in the spring exhibition of the Buffalo Society of Artists. She holds a Master of Art degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the State University at Fredonia and a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Fiber Art. She has exhibited her work extensively and has taught at various places including Chautauqua Institution School of Arts and Aspire of WNY.

Crary Art Gallery is located on the corner of Sixth and Market streets in Warren. Exhibition hours are Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4. Admission is free. For more information, visit craryartgallery.com.