ART

 

The Moraga Art Gallery announces the opening of a spirited new show, "Singularities," a title derived from the unique visions of the show featured member artists: Orinda’s Linh Kang and Walnut Creek's Susan Erickson. Feb. 2 to April 10, also consists of paintings. etchings, prints, ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, glasswork and photographs by the gallery’s other members and additional guest artists.  432 Center Street in Moraga's Rheem Shopping Center, open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. www.moragaartcallery.com, or call 925-376-5407.

 

19th High School Visual Arts Competition Registration is Open! Registration is open for the High School Visual Arts Competition (HSVAC). Deadline is midnight, Feb. 22. Cash awards, merit citations, in-person exhibit in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library and online public exhibit. Hosted by the Lamorinda Arts Council. For information and registration, visit www.lamorindaarts.org/vac. Questions? Call 925.359.4490.

 

Art Gallery at Wilder: Virtual Exhibit – Abstract Artist Valerie Corvin Held Over. The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view Valerie Corvin’s virtual exhibit at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries through Feb. 28. She has added new abstract work to her show, which is held over from January. Corvin builds "layers of marks, first bold dark marks, and then colorful shapes … that communicate unique shapes in nature.” For in-person viewings, email Aniston Breslin at wildergallery@lamorindaarts.org.

 

 

Art show at Orinda Books. February features the paintings of Lisa Gunn. Lisa has a long artistic presence in Orinda.  Her style is a "California Impressionism" involving plein air, landscapes, and abstracts.  She notes, "I am hoping that people will connect with my painting and find some attachment that speaks to them whether it be through color, composition or some thread of energy transmitting from one human to another."  Visit the Artist of the Month at www.orindabooks.com. Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda, 925-254-7606.

 

MUSIC

 

Pacific Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Lawrence Kohl, presents “Words!” with the chamber orchestra version of Gustav Mahler Symphony #4 and William Walton Façade: An Entertainment. Marnie Breckenridge will be soprano soloist for the Mahler and the reciter for the Walton. Performances are Saturday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Auditorium theater of the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda and Sunday, March 27 at 3 p.m. at Bankhead Theatre, 2400 First Street in Livermore. Tickets online at pacificchamberorchestra.org and additionally for the Livermore performance by calling 925-373-6800 or visiting the Bankhead box office at 2400 First Street in Livermore

 

Live concert! Gold Coast Chamber Players. Culture, Crisis, and Creativity with the Horszowski Piano Trio Friday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Tickets: $15-$45 https://www.gccpmusic.com/

 

LITERATRE

 

Bookmark contest is back! FLLLC invite all Lafayette K - 8 students to create an original bookmark illustrating a favorite book. Entry forms will be distributed to Lafayette public schools and St. Perpetua School. Additional forms will be available at the Lafayette Library and the Friend’s Corner Book Shop. The contest opens on Feb. 11 and all entries are due at the library by March 4. Winners will be announced on April 27 at the library. Winning bookmarks will be on display at the library and book shop, and will be handed out to library patrons as well. Start creating!

 

THEATER

 

“Cinderella’s Wedding” performs at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Performances are: Friday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Single tickets are on sale ($25 - $52) with senior and youth pricing available. Diablo Ballet will also present a virtual option, which will be a recording of the live performance, streaming Feb. 18 – 27 and available for viewing at any time during this timeframe. Price $37 per household. For in theatre or virtual tickets, call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org. For a link to the Lesher Center for the Arts safety protocols that are currently in place, please visit: www.lesherartscenter.org.

 

Shotgun Players presents “Passing Strange” March 5-April 10: Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 5 p.m.; except March 10 at 8 p.m. and no performance March 9, at Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave, Berkeley. A young bohemian charts a course for 'the real' through sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Loaded with soulful lyrics and overflowing with passion. Cost: $0 - $40.  For more info see https://shotgunplayers.org/online/

article/passing-strange or call 510-841-6500 or email boxoffice@shotgunplayers.org.

 

OTHER

 

AAUW-OML is sponsoring a Girls4STEM webinars for high school girls. Sheryl Mordo, P.E., B.S., Civil Engineering from UC Davis, will talk about her career path from math classes in high school to a career as a construction project engineer and manager at Intuit, one of the world’s largest business software companies, with an internship at DisneyWorld along the way.  Her webinar is on Sunday, March 6 at 4 p.m.  Get more information at https://oml-ca.aauw.net/girls4stem-webinars/

 

Acalanes High School Class of 1971 - 50 year reunion. April 9, at the Coop in LaFiesta Square. For more information please contact: Katrina Neblett Silvani 71Acalanes@gmail.com

 

Registration for the free online Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase is now open.  This year there will be four days of inspiration: two days online, and two days in-person.  This tour will also showcase green home features. Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Bestselling author Doug Tallamy will kick off the April 16 event. The online Tour will feature beautiful, water-conserving native plant gardens, as well as visits to homes with Tesla solar panels and Powerwall backup batteries, heat pumps for heating and cooling the house and heating water, induction ranges, and more. www.BringingBacktheNatives.net

 

American Association of University Women- Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette Branch (AAUW-OML) general meeting on Tuesday, March 15, 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda, presents Bonnie Spindler, a real estate agent with 30 years experience in advocating and educating about historic properties.  She has appeared on HGTV, has been interviewed on numerous news and entertainment shows, and is a regular contributor to American Dream TV.  Free and open to the public.  More information at https://oml-ca.aauw.net.

 

Sustainable Lafayette and Project Earth host free screening of the film “Idle threat” at Town Hall Theatre on Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m., 3535 School St., Lafayette. RSVP at TownHallTheatre.com.  Tickets are limited, first-come-first-served. “Idle Threat” follows its director/producer George Pakenham as he brings the attention of New York motorists to the dangers caused to the environment by idling cars.  Following the film, Project Earth will lead a youth panel to discuss the film and ways we can combat the effects of vehicle exhaust on a local level.

 

GARDEN

 

The Montelindo Garden Club, membership open to all, presents landscape designer Katie Creighton talking about Early Bloomers — the Harbingers of Spring, Feb. 18, email montelindogarden@aol.com to learn if the meeting is via Zoom and to request a link. For further information, including times and in-person location, see the website at montelindogarden.com.

 

The Seed Library, sponsored jointly by the Moraga Public Library and the Moraga Garden Club as a way to share free seeds for individuals and families to grow in their home gardens, opened Feb. 15. Residents may get six packets of seeds every visit to the Moraga Library, during open hours – you don’t need to have a library card to get the seeds, and you don’t have to live in Moraga. The seeds will be in cabinets like old-fashioned card catalogs, organized alphabetically by name (local Girl Scout Troop 402 has done the lions-share of this organization). You will only need to tell the check-out desk how many packets you are taking.  For more information, email MoragaSeedLibrary@gmail.com.

 

The Orinda Garden Club is pleased to host a free online discussion with famed local master gardener and writer, David George, who will discuss natural ways to deal with fruit snatching rodents and other pests in our gardens at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24. George is a famed local master gardener with UC and Contra Costa County and a writer. His monthly sustainable gardening column is featured in the Diablo Gazette, known by his pen name, The Naked Gardener. Naked from pesticides, not clothing! His column delves into eco-friendly, all-natural gardening techniques. For more information and to register (required to attend) please visit: www.orindagc.org/community-meeting.html

 

Moraga Garden Club. Feb. 17 general meeting program “Good Bug, Bad Bug," features Master Gardener John Pike. Anyone is welcome to join on this Zoom meeting. Please, contact moragagardenclub@gmail.com and you will be provided a Zoom link. New in Town? Want to learn about our organization, improve your gardening skills, volunteer or join? See our website: www.moragagardenclub.com for more information.

 

 

 

 

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