Art

Moraga Art Gallery’s exhibit "Light and Fire," opening Jan. 18, features the work of two celebrated member artists from Lafayette: Lucy Beck, an award-winning photographer who uses light to capture the astonishing color, beauty and structure of small, everyday flowers, and ceramicist Donna Arganbright, hailed for her functional bowls, mugs, trays, pitchers and plates, as well as "attitude figures," i.e., vases disguised as posturing humans, hands on hips, and clothed in fresh, bright-hued glazes. John Hopper of Walnut Creek is the featured guest artist. A free reception will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. The gallery, in the Rheem Shopping Center at 432 Center Street, Moraga, is open Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

Main Street Arts first guest artist of the new year is Irenka Kudlicki. The show runs from Jan. 6 to Feb. 25, with a reception on Jan. 21, from 4 to 6 p.m. A preview of the exhibit can be viewed at www.mainstreetarts.net/

irenka-kudlicki.html. 613 Main Street, Martinez, (925) 269-8049, www.mainstreetarts.net

Music

Diablo Ballet’s 29th season continues with a mixed bill titled “Swan Lake Suite,” featuring selections from the classic ballet staged by Sean Kelly performed to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s majestic score. Swan Lake Suite performs Feb. 10 – 11 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601, Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Get your tickets now and take advantage of early bird pricing through Jan. 18. For tickets, call (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert: Connections in Time with the Horszowski Trio. Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Tickets www.gccpmusic.com

Theatre

Town Hall Theatre Company presents “Nanay,” written by Molly Olis Krost, directed by Yari Cervas. Jan. 20 and 21, 27 and 28. Tickets: $25. Jan. 28 is the Pay-What-You-Can performance. 3535 School Street, Lafayette. 925.283.1557, www.TownHallTheatre.com.

Literature

January 2023 events at Orinda Books: Thursday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. Stuart Florsheim will read and discuss his new book of poetry, “Amusing the Angels,” a collection focusing on grief and loss that was recently awarded the Blue Light Book Award. Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. Andrea Mein DeWitt will discuss her new book, “Name Claim & Reframe: Your Path to a Well-Lived Life.” DeWitt is a life coach and lives in Orinda. Her new book encourages readers to step into their power, their potential, and their truth. 276 Village Square, Orinda, (925) 254-7606, www.orindabooks.com, info@orindabooks.com

Sweet Thursday Author Series presents Camper English, author of “Doctors and Distillers” on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center in the Don Tatzin Community Hall. Learn how the Gimlet, Gin & Tonic, and Old-Fashioned were born as remedies for diseases and discomforts. The talk will be presented in-person with a Zoom Livestream option. The talk is free, but registration is required at Tinyurl.com/sweet-Jan23.

Other

Appreciating Diversity Film Series presents “Through the Night” – an intimate cinema verite portrait of working mothers whose lives intersect at a 24-hour daycare center on Thursday, Jan. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Ellen Driscoll Playhouse, 325 Highland Avenue near the corner of Oakland Avenue, Piedmont. Free, no RSVP needed. For more info see http://diversityfilmseries.org or call (510) 871-1088 or email debsaid2@gmail.com.

Garden

Lafayette Garden Club monthly meeting begins at 10 a.m. on Jan. 12 at the Veteran’s Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Catherine Watters will be the guest speaker. She is a botanical artist who paints in watercolor and lectures and shows her work in many exhibitions each year in the U.S. and abroad. She will be presenting her work and discussing techniques she has developed along with some of the history of botanical art. It is free to attend. If interested in attending or joining the club, please contact LCGMembershipCommittee@gmail.com.

The Jan. 20 meeting of the Montelindo Garden Club will feature Rose Loveall of the Morningsun Herb Farm, speaking on “Herbal All-stars in the California Dry Garden.” Membership is open to all, and interested people are welcome to visit montelindogarden.com/meetings.html for meeting and club details. Location is the Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. The hall opens at 9:30 a.m., with club meeting at 10 a.m. and speaker at 10:45 a.m. Free.