LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Abundant Art Exhibit at the Moraga Country Club


"Surf" by Claudia Jimenez-Bossert Photos courtesy Cindy Raleigh

Cindy Raleigh, curator of the new Moraga Country Club art exhibit, was amazed by the talent of local artists when putting together the Moraga Country Club Art Faire.

"I chose 20 artists from the Lamorinda Arts Alliance, some well know and some new talents, and created a show with more than 50 pieces," she says. "This exhibit is an opportunity for residents to discover many very interesting local artists."

Raleigh, who owns crfineart.com, a service for artists and companies that want to promote arts, was contacted by LAA when they heard about the previous exhibits she curated in the new clubhouse. Raleigh reviewed works from tens of local artists and had to make a choice. "I found it challenging to say no to some of the artists," she says, "but I wanted something that would be grouped by themes, artwork that would match and I could not take too many pieces because free wall space at the club is finite."

The show includes oil paintings, watercolors, pastels and photography, but no sculpture. "During the full swing of the summer, with children running around, it was not feasible, unfortunately, to have stands for sculptures," she says.

Raleigh spent a lot of time on the premises to fit and group the artwork to make it logical and harmonious. Small and large canvasses form groups of vignettes; there are landscapes, figurative, flowers and abstract ensembles. Some pictures are bold, others are peaceful; some feel comfortable while others challenge the visitor. "This is a palette of talents where everyone will find something they'll like," affirms Raleigh.

Among the artists she chose are Gerry Severson, who paints beautiful local landscapes, and Lafayette painter Geoffrey Meredith, well known for his somewhat simplified and luminous scenery. "I also discovered artists I didn't know like photographer Bill Klaproth who is able to capture a real depth of feeling," she says, pointing at a picture of the San Francisco skyline that is particularly stunning.

Each artist was asked for one to four pieces of work and Raleigh says that the size of the exhibit is stretching the limit of what can be done at MCC. "There is a piece, 'Surf' by Claudia Jimenez-Bossert, a 48-inch by 72-inch acrylic that I put in the men's locker room!" she says. Raleigh adds that some of these artists have never been seen outside of the Moraga or Lafayette galleries and don't have websites of their own. Pieces can be viewed on Raleigh's website at crfineart.com.

The exhibition reception scheduled from 5 to 7:30 p.m. July 24 includes complimentary wine tasting, and there is a $15 fee for those who want to sample Chef Kevin Able's renowned cuisine. To make a reservation for the buffet, call (925) 376-2200 or email frontdesk@moragacc.com.

While the country club is a private venue, Raleigh says anyone wanting to see the exhibit, which runs through Sept. 14, is welcome; simply check in with the MCC receptionist. The Moraga Country Club is located at 1600 Saint Andrews Dr. in Moraga.