ART

Art show at Orinda Books. May features the paintings of Dee Tivenan and Margie Caldwell-Gill who are both Orinda moms and abstract expressionist painters with different styles. Dee creates art intuitively by translating the moment through color and form, which allows her connection to the moment to flow and reveal the boundlessness of creativity. Margie uses traditional and non-traditional tools to explore and interact with the materials on the canvas, moving between intuition and logic to discover order from the chaos of creation. Visit the Artist of the Month at www.orindabooks.com. Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda, (925) 254-7606.

The Public Art Committee is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibition of local artist David Lew's works entitled Freedom of Abstraction at the Library Public Art Gallery in the lobby of the Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, (3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd) through Sept. 14. The show includes seven vibrant abstract works, including one that references Ukraine's fight for freedom. Lew's work was recently shown at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek. Visit the Virtual Gallery to see the works online. The Library Public Art Gallery is open to the public during public events occurring in the Community Hall. Additionally, it may be open at other times for public or private use by reservation through the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation. For more specific information, please email jrosen@lovelafayette.org.

Valley Art Gallery presents “SLOPES of Diablo” Juried Exhibition May 14 – June 25. 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek, www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311 or email us at valleyartgallery@gmail.com

Music

Lafayette Rotary Club's 27th Annual Concert at the Res. Saturday, May 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Lafayette Reservoir Stage. Featuring local bands including Acalanes High School, Stanley Middle School, and the Rossmoor Big Band. Also included young dancers and singers from the Lafayette Town Hall Education. Along with the great live entertainment, there will be food and drinks for purchase. Though the stage is just a short walk from the parking area, golf cart transportation to and from the stage will be provided for those who may desire it. Public restrooms and a children’s play area are nearby. Parking is available for $8 all day or at metered parking. All proceeds will directly support the local musical programs featured and Rotary projects.

The Diablo Women’s Chorale, one of the oldest community choruses in the Bay Area, is performing again the concert "Songs from the Silver Screen” at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Hillside Covenant Church, 2060 Magnolia Way, Walnut Creek. Order online tickets at: DiabloWomensChorale.org or call 1-800-838-3006.

The Saint Mary’s Jazz Band will host a pair of performances. The first comes May 11 at 1:15 p.m. in Ferroggiaro Quad when the Jazz Band featuring SMC Jazz Singers will host a free performance. On May 15 at 7 p.m., the Jazz Band featuring SMC Jazz Faculty will perform inside LeFevre Theatre at Saint Mary's College, Moraga.

On May 12 and 14, SMC Performing Arts will host its Choir Concert featuring Glee, Chamber Singers and Jazz Singers. The concert is titled “Cargando tu Corazón” (I Carry Your Heart With Me) and will be held in the Saint Mary’s Chapel. The May 14 performance includes only the touring choir and contributions received for these performances will support the Choir’s tour to Puerto Rico later this month. www.stmarys-ca.edu/performing-

arts/box-office.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert “Seriously Mozart,” elegant-dramatic-playful will be on Saturday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m. Pre-concert interactive experience at 7 p.m. at Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The concert will be recorded for online viewing beginning June 7. TICKETS $15-45; Online: www.gccpmusic.com, by phone: (925) 283-3728

Cantare of Oakland presents: The 100-voice adult Chorale and Nova youth singers, directed by David Morales and Julie Haydon, will perform 14 songs by American composers including Daniel Elder, Hall Johnson, Michael Jackson, Burton Lane, and more. The songs address the spiritual attributes of nature, the challenges accompanying those with dementia, the joys of life and of love, and a call to courageously stand up to make a change in our world. Saturday, May 21, at 7:30 p.m., Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Dr, Lafayette. www.cantareconvivo.org, by phone at (510) 836-0789, or at the door. General admission is $30; Seniors, $25; Students, $10.

St. Paul’s Concert Series presents Pianists Clara and Marie Becker in a 4-hand Duo Performance live from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, May 14 at 7 p.m. This live performance will be broadcast online, and we invite you to attend in-person also (as permitted at the time of the performance). To register for tickets and receive the live link, reserve a seat in-person, or to confirm in-person attendance status, visit www.stpaulswc.org/concert-series.

Literature

Award-winning author and Orinda resident Vanessa Hua will discuss her latest novel, “Forbidden City” at 2 p.m. May 14 at Orinda Books. Set in 1960s China, the novel follows Mei, a teenaged revolutionary whose escape from the countryside leads her into the arms of Chairman Mao Zedong and growing disillusionment. RSVP by phone (925) 254-7606 or email info@orindabooks.com.

Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center 24th Annual Art and Writing Challenge for students in grades 6-12 of Contra Costa County is open for submissions. Deadline for all submissions: June 1 at midnight. Writing submissions should not exceed 1,500 words. 2022 Theme: Visions of Peace. Submit at www.ourpeacecenter.org

Other

Green Sofa Cinema Series and Sustainable Contra Costa present “The Game Changers,” a film that explores the health and performance impacts of a plant-based diet. Watch the film free on YouTube or Netflix, then join us for a Zoom discussion event on May 18 from 7 to 8 p.m. with speaker, Dr. Josh Cullimore, MD, a specialist in preventative medicine for a talk on health and nutrition. Register at https://sustainablecoco.org/calendar for the event.

TV Pop Con presents Krofft Kon is the first ever con dedicated to the talents of Sid & Marty Krofft. This will be a ‘70s kids dream! Come meet your favorite stars that you watched each Saturday morning while eating a bowl of cereal from your TV tray. (Yes, cereal will be served). The day will include episodes, Q&As, lectures, costume contest, trivia games and allow you to meet the stars from your favorite Krofft shows. The Pufnstuf movie (1970) will be shown at the end of the evening to close out this fun-filled day of nostalgia and fond memories. Orinda Theatre, 4 Orinda Theatre Sq, Orinda. May 21 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets: $25 for all day or $30 at the door. www.eventbrite.com/e/krofft-kon-

tickets-278304134157

Ecology Center presents Berkeley Farmers' Market Salsa Festival on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Martin Luther King Jr Civic Center Park, 2151 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley. Cost: Free For more info see https://ecologycenter.org/events/

farmers-market-salsa-festival/ or call (925) 421-9574 or email cynthia@ecologycenter.org.

Diablo Ballet will present Coppélia, May 20 – 21 at the Lesher Center for the Arts. This full-length ballet, accompanied by the Diablo Symphony Orchestra under Music Director Matilda Hofman with feature newly created costumes by Amanda Farris and Christopher Dunn. Single tickets ($25 - $52) with senior and youth pricing available. Virtual option, which will be a recording of the live performance, streaming May 27 – June 5 and available for viewing at any time during this timeframe. Virtual tickets are on sale now for $37 per household. Call (925) 943-7469 or visit www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org.

The Forum presents “Mother+Peace” on Saturday, May 14, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at The Berkeley School, 1310 University Avenue, Berkeley. “Mother+Peace” explores healing an individual's relationship with the land by facing the tensions between parental expectations and personal identity. Cost: Pay-What-You-Can. www.facebook.com/events/

2817572248389483 or email team@theforumcollective.com.

Memorial Day Vigil on Monday, May 30 at 5 p.m. The vigil will take place at the Lafayette Hillside Memorial, across from BART in Lafayette. Thoughts will be focused on U.S. soldiers who have served on behalf of our country as well as other casualties of war, including those in Ukraine and other parts of the world experiencing conflict. It will include short speeches, music and reflection. www.lafayettehillsidememorial.org

Garden

Mark your calendars for June 5 to celebrate “Welcome to the Garden” at Rancho Laguna Park, 2101 Camino Pablo. The two-year effort to establish the Monarch Habitat and Demonstration Garden will culminate into a family-centered day of fun—beginning at noon—replete with ribbon-cutting, parade, food, games, docent tour. Milkweed and other pollinator-supportive wildflower seeds will be available. The Garden is now beginning to bloom and butterflies have been spotted. www.moragagardenclub.com