ART

In the spirit of the season, the Moraga Art Gallery presents “Holiday Magic in Porcelain and Paint,” a colorful new show featuring the works by two of Lamorinda’s most celebrated artists: Lafayette’s Donna Arganbright and Orinda’s Maria SantaStefano. The show, which includes paintings, jewelry, ceramics, photographs, and many other gifts of art by the gallery’s 14 members and guest artists, runs through Jan. 5. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

Valley Art Gallery’s annual Artful Giving show runs through Dec. 29 and includes a wide variety of beautifully crafted ceramics, wood and glass pieces, original designer jewelry, fiber arts, holiday decorations, small paintings, and many other unique, one-of-a-kind gift items all handcrafted by our talented East Bay artisans.

Third Annual Small Things Exhibition at the Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery through Dec. 22. Over 35 artists have been chosen to display 3D and 2D artworks in a variety of media and styles. www.jenniferperlmuttergallery.com
 
Bedford Gallery, located in the Lesher Center for the Arts, offers enriching, educational volunteer opportunities. Train to become a docent from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 16, 23, 30 and Feb. 6, 13. Docent volunteering is fun and provides opportunities to make friends, learn about art, and help foster the arts in our community. No prior art knowledge is required. To sign up, contact Carmen Kelly at (925) 295-1416 or kelly@bedfordgallery.org. Learn more at: http://www.bedfordgallery.org/support/volunteer

MUSIC

Benefit Concert to support aid to victims of the Paradise Camp Fire, 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 451 Moraga Way in Orinda.  The concert features accomplished guitarist Mark Holzinger. While trained in classical and jazz, Mark Holzinger, who grew up in Orinda, enjoys playing many kinds of crowd-pleaser music to fit the age and interest of the audience on hand. The concert will include plenty of holiday music for everyone’s enjoyment! For more info, email Rev. Michele Robbins, shalompastor3@gmail.com.

Join the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus for ’Tis the Season for Singing, beloved seasonal carols and songs to celebrate winter solstice, yuletide, and holiday festivities at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Drive Lafayette. Whether you’re a lover of wintertime or a Scrooge, this concert will warm your heart and fill you with the spirit of the season. https://tistheseasonforsinging.eventbrite.com

Sing-Along Messiah concert 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16 in the San Ramon Community Center located at 12501 Alcosta Blvd. in San Ramon. More information is available at the San Ramon Arts Foundation web site events page at https://www.sanramonarts.org/events.

Drum, Relax and Learn at the monthly Lamorinda Drum Circle from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7 at Lamorinda Music, 81 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. Enjoy learning to drum in a fun small-group environment. Drums are provided. Meetings on the first Monday of each month. Suggested donation $10-$20. www.MusicForTherapy.com

THEATER

An art chat and dance performance: “Moving, Feeling & Generating: a site for Chicano Resistance” with professor Catherine Marie Davalos and members of the Davalos Dance Company from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec 13 at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga. Beverages available at 6 p.m., performance at 7 p.m. Free.
   
A Charlie Brown Christmas, based on the animated special, Friday, Dec. 14 through Sunday, Dec 23. at the Poison Apple Playhouse, 847 Arnold Drive in Martinez. Tickets and showtimes at http://poisonappleproductions.org. Tickets are $16 for general admission.

The Peter Pan Foundation presents its winter musical, “Into The Woods” Dec. 14 through 16. This award winning show is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales in a musical format that follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel – all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them. There will be six performances held throughout the weekend at the Northgate High School Little Theatre and ticket information is available at peterpanfoundation.org.

Mountain Shadow Film Society presents a delightful comedy “Swimming with Men”, 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. at the Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway Street. Based on the 2007 Swedish Men’s Synchronized Swimming World Champions, a group of middle-aged men attempt to stave off their midlife crises by forming a synchronized swim team, the first rule of which is: “Don’t talk about swim club.”  Accompanying the feature film is an animated short, “Coin Operated.” Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis for $12. More information at http://mountainshadow.org.


“The Great God Brown” by Eugene O’Neill directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes, 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Danville. Prior to the plays of Eugene O’Neill, masks were seen as a theatrical way to become another person or animal or to become unrecognizable. In this play, for the first time, characters wear masks to hide their true feelings and take their mask off to show how they really feel or see themselves. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.eugeneoneill.org.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Free Photo with Santa from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. on Dec. 15 at 5A Rent-A-Space 455 Moraga Road, Moraga. Cookies, fruit, cocoa and candy canes will be served, and children will complete and take home arts and crafts. Fun for all ages. Everyone welcome.

A “Living Nativity” with live actors and many animals will be presented from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 at 11 White Horse Court, Walnut Creek (at the intersection of Boulevard Way and Kinney Drive) at the Sanctuary of Sufism Reoriented. The public is invited and parents are encouraged to bring their children to enjoy the event which will include holiday music and free refreshments.
 
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5A Rent-A-Space presents Santa’s Secret Wrapping Room from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 1-24. Equipped with colorful paper, ribbon, bows, boxes, scissors and tape. Everything needed to wrap gifts free, without the watchful eyes of the recipients! Open to the public.

Celebrate love this holiday season by adopting a wonderful kitten or cat from Community Concern for Cats. All CC4C cats live in foster homes and many can be seen at this weekend’s adoption event, Dec. 15-16. Hours are 1 to 4 pm at Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill and Petco in Walnut Creek. For more information, see www.communityconcernforcats.org.

Friends Corner Book Shop, located at the corner of First Street and Golden Gate Way in Lafayette, is having a half-price sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15.  We are currently featuring holiday books in addition to regular inventory.

Hospice East Bay’s Tree of Lights 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16 at the Moraga Country Club, 1600 St. Andrews Drive. https://hospiceeastbay.org.

Pause to honor the longest night of the year at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21 on the outside patio of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church located at 1035 Carol Lane. Enjoy a warm drink as a local fire arts performer brings light to the darkness.  Solstice poetry and a brief reflection will guide participants into a candle light labyrinth walk as we honor the wonder of winter. This child-friendly event is sponsored by the Order of the Sacred Earth. Dress warm. Donations welcome.