Events that have not been canceled. Cancellations are ongoing, so please check individual events for updates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ART

 

Moraga Art Gallery revives a popular tradition. Early in 2020 Covid-19 put an end to the popular receptions held in conjunction with the opening of each new show at the Moraga Art Gallery. To express their gratitude for community support since then, the gallery's members cordially invite the public to a special reception on Saturday, April 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. to be held in the plaza in front of the gallery at 432 Center Street in Moraga’s Rheem Shopping Center.

 

Art Embraces Words: Call for Writers & Visual Artists - Theme: "Courage & Heroism." Writers paint images with words. Artists tell stories with color. Together they enrich our community. Emerging writers and visual artists are invited to apply by May 9 to be presenters at the Lamorinda Arts Council's live program at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 30. For more information, to register as an audience member and access links to previously recorded programs visit https://lamorindaarts.org/art- embraces-words/, email literary@lamorindaarts.org or call (925) 359-9940.

 

MUSIC

 

Diablo Ballet presents Julia Adam’s fairytale ballet, "Once Upon a Time" May 7-16 as part of its 27th season. Virtual tickets are being sold one per household for $30 if purchased before April 28 or $35 if after, through the Lesher Center for the Arts by calling (925) 943-7469 or online at lesherartscenter.org. For additional information, visit diabloballet.org or call 925-943-1775.

 

Berkeley Chamber Performances presents Curium Trio on May 11, 7 p.m. through June 10, 11:55 p.m., at Virtual Presentation, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley. Curium brings creative and diverse musical programming by highlighting women composers and performers alongside traditional piano trio repertoire. Cost: $20. www.berkeleychamberperform.org or call (510) 525-5211 or email info@bcp1.org.

 

LITERATURE

 

23rd Annual Art & Writing Challenge & Youth Activist Grant Awards is now open for submissions. This year, the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center would like students to consider the significance of the past year and the multitude of ways it has had an impact on their daily lives, families, activism, and concept of the future. We want to hear from students who are attempting to make sense of what we have experienced over the past year. What do they envision emerging from this moment? Where do we go from here? Entries will be accepted in the following categories: Essay, Creative Writing and Visual Art. For more details on the award categories, full prompt, guiding questions, and online submission form, please visit: www.creatingpeacefulschools. weebly.com

 

OTHER

 

Lafayette resident, Papa John Kiefer, will, again, offer a Zoom workshop on Sustainable Coop Principles and Construction. Workshop is free and will be held on Thursday, May 20, 6 to 7 p.m. Registration is required, and here is the link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/ 1y9NbUtt9-OlSNHBjJWjnNepySth 189hMm4AEOJOg3yE/edit. We will send out the Zoom link shortly before the event. The Kiefer Sustainable Coop provides all the natural elements for chickens to be healthy, productive and safe. It is unique in that there is no smell and no cleaning.

Family fun event: The Child Abuse Prevention Council is hosting “Soul on the Screen,” a drive-in movie fundraiser. Bring the kids and sing-along to the blockbuster movie “SING!” Movie will be shown in the parking lot at St. Perpetua on May 1. Tickets are now available at: www.capc-coco.org

St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa Announces Cycle 17 of Workforce Development Program – Paid Jobs-Training, aimed at helping the unemployed re-enter the workforce and find stable employment. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen millions suddenly find themselves out of work. In these hard times, it is more important than ever that job applicants understand workplace expectations and have the soft skills to be a contributing employee. Mandatory orientation sessions will take place on April 21 and April 24 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 2210 Gladstone Drive, Pittsburg, and on April 28 and May 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 8890 Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood. To register call (925) 439-5060. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

GARDEN

 

The Orinda Garden Club is pleased to host a free, virtual community discussion with the artists of Ink Dwell at 10 a.m. April 22. We will be holding a Zoom discussion with Jane Kim and Thayer Walker, founders of Ink Dwell and artists committed to the natural world, blending techniques of science illustration and modern fine art. Ink Dwell creates public installations of art and murals. Their recent projects include the Migrating Mural project and exhibits at museums and other fine art institutions, including a piece entitled Le Papillon at 455 Hyde Street in San Francisco. For more information on Ink Dwell please see https://inkdwell.com. Registration is required to attend. Please register at www.orindagc.org/community- meeting. Prior to the event, you will be contacted via email with Zoom login information.

The Montelindo Garden Club May meeting begins Friday, May 21 at 10 a.m. on Zoom. Everyone is welcome. Presentation: Cymbidiums! Speaker Paul Ashby is an expert on Cymbidiums, and will provide valuable information on repotting, dividing, and fertilizing for their optimal care that differs from much of what you might have heard or read. He will also discuss outdoor mounted and terrestrial orchids suitable for the climate of Lamorinda. With over 30 years of experience gardening and landscaping in Northern California, he provides gardening, maintenance, landscaping and consulting services to customers in Lamorinda. To request a Zoom link to attend this meeting, email: montelindogarden@aol.com