LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Ekphrasis exhibit: Improv jazz for artists and authors


The visual artwork and the author's writings were displayed in pairs in the Ekphrasis Collaborative Exhibit hosted by three arts organizations. Photo courtesy Kathy Molloy

Curator and Board Member Bill Carmel of the Lamorinda Arts Council (LAC), past president and V.P. Linda Hartmann of the California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch (CWC) and President Donna Arganbright and V.P. of Exhibitions Ruth Stanton of Lamorinda Arts Alliance (LAA) collaborated for two years to bring the Ekphrasis exhibit to the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library on May 6. The event was standing room only, with approximately 250 people filling the Library auditorium.

LAC President Sue Farmer introduced Mayor Inga Miller who opened the event in the Library Auditorium. Initiator Artists' spoke about their work which was projected on a big screen. Responding Authors then recited their writings. An audience Q&A followed each of the six presenters. LAC curator Bill Carmel said, "Ekphrasis is like improvisational jazz because authors and artists inspire each other to create new works of written and visual art. Fifty artists and 50 authors worked anonymously as names are not revealed until the exhibit opens."

All artwork available for sale can be purchased at https://lamorindaarts.org/product-category/ekphrasis/. For more information, visit Lamorinda Arts Council (http://lamorindaarts.org/ekphrasis/); California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch (https://cwcmtdiablo.org/ekphrasis/) and Lamorinda Arts Alliance (https://laa4art.org/calls-for-artists/).