Art

Exhibit at Valley Art Gallery: Arrivals and Departures paintings by Connie Ryan, through Aug. 5. Connie Ryan, born in Ireland, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her paintings are rooted in remembered landscapes that she carries with her, and explore ideas about land, memory and belonging. Meet the Artist from 2 to 5 p.m. July 15 and Aug. 5. Free, open to the public, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday. Valley Art Gallery: 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek, www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311

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LAA Summer Exhibit and Coffee Klatch at Papillon Cafe & Gallery! Lamorinda Arts Alliance is proud to present its “Summer” Show at the Papillon Cafe & Gallery in Lafayette. The exhibit runs through Sept. 12. Fifteen member artists will be showing a selection of paintings, collage, encaustic and prints. Papillon Quality Gourmet Coffee & Tea is located in La Fiesta Square, at 67 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette.

The Lafayette Public Art Committee is pleased to announce the opening of “Freedom of Abstraction” by artist David Lew, whose work has been shown at the Bedford Gallery. This collection of vibrant abstract paintings and collages reflects the artist’s focus on freedom in life and through artistic medium. The visual effect of the paint’s fluid movement in these works invites the viewer into the process. The exhibit is on view through Aug. 3 at the Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St, and is open to the public for free during theatre hours. Lew will be giving the featured artist’s talk on Saturday, July 15, as part of the Lamorinda Arts Council’s Art Embraces Poetry event from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre. Immediately following the program, the Public Art Committee will host a reception for the artist from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

Music

California Symphony presents 4-part music education course for adults “Fresh Look: The Symphony Exposed” at the Don Tatzin Community Hall in Lafayette Library. Award-winning instructor Scott Foglesong takes you on a journey covering what a conductor does and how the orchestra came to take shape, through to Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and beyond. $30 for all four classes, Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8 p.m., on July 12, 19, 26, and Aug. 2. Information and tickets at californiasymphony.org/FreshLook

Theatre

Town Hall Theatre Company announces Staged Reading “Starlight.” An original piece written by San Francisco-based playwright Christian Wilburn, “Starlight” will have a one night only staged reading on Saturday, July 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $15. Pay-What-You-Can tickets will be available at the door. 3535 School Street, Lafayette, www.townhalltheatre.com/starlight.

Bharatanatyam Arangetram by Avya Poddatoori. Bharatanatyam Arangetram, graduating performance of a classical South Indian dance by Avya, a sophomore at Miramonte High School. Avya is a disciple of Shyamjith Kiran and Viraja of Kalakshetra. The event is at 3:30 p.m. on July 29 at Hofmann Theatre, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. The event is free to general public. Details: www.avya.org

The Eugene O’Neil Foundation is proud to present the premiere of the play Yellow Wallpaper 2.0 2020, which was developed at Tao House by LA playwright Jennifer Maisel, one of the artist-in-residence fellows. Performances will be held at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Danville. Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 20, 2 p.m. Tickets will go on sale in July. For more information about the festival, go to eugeneoneill.org

This year’s Eugene O’Neil Foundation festival will be headlined by the production of Eugene O’Neill’s “Anna Christie” in the Old Barn at Tao House, Danville. Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 10, 2 p.m., Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 17, 2 p.m., Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 24, 2 p.m. Tickets available in early July. For more information about the festival, go to eugeneoneill.org

Literature

Thursday, July 6, 11 a.m. Pat’s Book Club will read and discuss “Foster” by Claire Keegan. A piercing contemporary classic, “Foster” is a heartbreaking story of childhood, loss, and love. All readers are welcome.

Thursday, July 13 and Thursday, July 27, 11 a.m. Orinda Books Story Hour: Bring in your little bookworms (ages 2-6) and snuggle in for a reading of popular children’s books with Megan.

Tuesday, July 25, 6 p.m. Ethan Scheiner will introduce “Freedom to Win: A Cold War Story of the Courageous Hockey Team That Fought the Soviets for the Soul of Its People—And Olympic Gold.” During the height of the Cold War, a group of small-town young men would lead their underdog hockey team from the little country of Czechoslovakia against the Soviet Union, the juggernaut in their sport. As they battled on the ice, the young players would keep their people’s quest for freedom alive, and forge a way to fight back against the authoritarian forces that sought to crush them. This is a free event—register at www.eventbrite.com/e/ethan-scheiner-author-of-freedom-to-win-tickets-647664581197

Other

Knit a cap or scarf for a child or adult undergoing chemotherapy, a debilitating illness, or experiencing homelessness. As part of Community Service Day, new knitted items will be distributed to patients at John Muir Hospital, Kaiser Hospital, Hospice of the East Bay, Warm Winter Nights and Safe Parking. Items knitted over the summer will be gathered in late September to distribute to the agencies. Any size, style, color ... let your imagination guide you! (Items for pediatric oncology patients need to be from a pet-free home...please label them as such; other children’s items do not need to be.) Contact Bobbie Preston at barbarampreston@comcast.net to arrange drop-off of your gifts in September.