April & May 2023 Virtual Exhibit
Lamorinda Arts Council presents a virtual gallery of award-winning Walnut Creek artist, Mary Claire Stotler's figurative and abstract paintings in the Art Gallery at Wilder from April 1 to June 3.
Stotler is a multimedia artist and her interest spans pottery, photography and the watercolor media. Just as she has explored and evolved through different mediums, Stotler's art is an emotional journey that evolves on the canvas. “For me abstract painting is a combination of memories, imagination, and a bit of my soul,” she wrote on her page on the Valley Art Gallery website (https://valleyartgallery.org/artist/mary-claire-stotler/). She’s been exhibiting for over a decade in the Bay Area and is recognized for her abstract work in galleries and exhibits.
March 2023 Exhibit
Lamorinda Arts Council presents a virtual gallery of original illustrations by featured artist Hilary Mills Lambert in the Art Gallery at Wilder, Mar. 4- April 1. It's no secret that animal characters have been featured in books, films and storytelling through the ages. Saint Saens' “Carnival of Animals” comes to mind when viewing Lambert's paintings. It is one of the most joyous pieces of music written for young musicians. View her work at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries/.
Lambert, of Alamo, has focused on drawing and painting animals since 2020. "Inspired by the critters in my life and my previous job at Sesame Street, the creatures, sometimes realistic and sometimes whimsical, translate into those universal human traits. Currently, I’m on the Board of Ivory Orphans,
subsidized by the African Wildlife Trust," said Lambert. Learn more at http://www.millsgallery.com.
January + February 2023 Exhibit
Lamorinda Arts Council presents a virtual gallery of original illustrations by featured artist and author Elaine Drew in the Art Gallery at Wilder, Jan. 7 through Mar. 3. Meet a bevy of colorful characters in Drew’s historical fiction graphic novel, “A Knight’s Bad Day.” View her work at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries/.
Elaine Drew's love affair with the Middle Ages began when she worked at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. She enjoyed wandering the galleries looking at the luminescent color and gold of Medieval painting. "After I married I lived in England for four years, surrounded by history. Our small village was within walking distance of Winchester, the royal seat of the early English kingdom of Wessex." Her graphic novel is set in Wessex in the year 800, her favorite time period. Learn more at https://elainedrew.com/
November & December 2022 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council (LAC} presents portrait photography of featured artist Juleen Lapporte in their virtual Art Gallery at Wilder from Nov. 1 through Jan 6. Meet the artist at a reception in her honor on Sun. Nov. 6, 2:30 - 4:30 pm. View her work at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries/.
Juleen Lapporte, an award-winning portrait photographer based in Lafayette, is exhibiting 13 photographic portraits of women with the theme, "Celebrating 40 Over 40" in The Art Gallery at Wilder. "With a strong societal focus on beauty and youth, women are often viewed as less relevant as they age, said Lapporte." Continuing, "In contrast, I find myself feeling more alive, vibrant and free. I welcome my future of 60s, 70s and 80s. Fear of the unknown may always be with me, but I choose to dance with my fears and live a life with joy and wonder." Find out more at: https:/www.studiojule.com.
Lapporte noted the diverse range of women coming to her includes everything from women with high-powered jobs to women who stayed home and raised their family, plus everything in between. "I love to work with all types of women," she said. "Let's transform the representation of women over 40 to showcase their authenticity, audacity and beauty." "They talk about things they're discovering that surprise them as they age," she said. "There are difficulties, but 40 is really a fabulous age for women. We are able to let go of a lot of our insecurities and a lot of things that have pulled us in different directions. Then we really find ourselves coming into our own power," she said.
Visit https://lamorindaarts.org/gallery-2/ for directions to Wilder & scroll to "For Map directions ..." in paragraph one.
July & August 2022 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council presents the woodwork designs of Grant Glossop at their Art Gallery at Wilder on Sun., July 10 through Sat., August 6. Meet the artist at his opening reception on Sun., July 10 from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. where light refreshments will be served. Glossop will demonstrate a variety of woodworking treatments including patination options at different stages of design completion during his reception.
Glossop hails from Yorkshire in the U.K. and now lives in Novato. He originally trained as a jeweler in the U.K. where he developed his love of working with metals. After finishing art school he became interested in creating larger pieces. This led him to incorporate wood into his designs. For many years Glossop designed and created work for himself but during the pandemic that changed. Glossop launched a website to expand his reach. “Creating during quarantine helped me find some kind of balance during a challenging time,” he said. His goal is to make something that someone else sees as beautiful. His 12” x 4” x 4” “Loxley Floating Box” made of treated wood and paint seems to hover above its resting place, catching the eye and imagination. Learn more about Glossop’s work at www.grantglossop.com.
June 2022 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council hosts Carrie Vanhouten as the featured artist at their solo Art Gallery in Wilder from Sunday, June 4 to Saturday Jul. 9. Meet the artist at a reception in her honor on Sunday June 19 from 2:30 – 5 p.m. where light refreshments will be served and an interactive Community Collage event will take place.
In the first two years of the pandemic Vanhouten learned how to transform salvaged pieces from many sources into whimsical works of art. Her collages portray hidden positive messages combined with magical creatures. In the first few months of COVID, she began learning more about healing and decided to become a Reiki practitioner. Reiki is a Japanese form of alternative medicine featuring hands-on healing.
At the same time she was learning Reiki, she was learning how to create collages. “My healing practice and my art are intertwined,” she said. Flea markets and thrift stores inspire her where she finds frames, mirrors, buttons and vintage books. “The joy is in the hunt!” she said, “I find it very satisfying to rescue a rusty-dusty old frame, bring it to my studio and give it a full glam-squad makeover! I only make ready-to-hang [framed] art.”
Vanhouten is showing 25 artworks within her theme, “Positivity.” She said, “I have come to believe that everyone has healing gifts of some kind.” Just as I believe everyone has an inner artist.” She says her Interactive Community Collage demo will help people of all ages get in touch with their playful side.
This playfulness is reflected in some of her collage titles such as, “The Fluffy Gourmet,” a 20” x 20” vintage collage; “How are You Different,” a 12” x 15” collage with semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli, amethyst and citrine; and “Cozy Gnomes,” a 3’ x 5’ unframed painting on canvas depicting the underground habitats of gnomes.
May 2022 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view virtual and in person exhibit of the artwork of Hallie Strock during the month of May. Join us for the opening reception May 8, at 2:30-4:30 pm.
Strock, of Berkeley, turned to collage during the pandemic because it is one of her favorite ways to work. She describes the collage process as being like a jigsaw puzzle that gives her a way to silence the noise, forget what might be worrying her, and totally occupy the moment. “Life is messy, and I just had to get out of my head and let the art pour out of me,” she said.
She likes the appropriating nature of collage. Collecting and making imagery and various materials for her is just as exciting as making the collage itself. The littlest thing can speak to her with significance.
For her 16” x 20” paper collage on wood panel, “Uplift,” Strock printed handmade colored circles using a gelatin plate, stamps and stencils. The circles she created give the appearance of balls suspended in the air. “Four Birds in the Bush,” a 16” x 12” collage on wood panel, is part of a series about birds in fantastical settings. She hopes they bring viewers a sense of joy because she had fun making them by juxtaposing disparate elements, styles and colors against one another.
April 2022 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view virtual and in person exhibit of the artwork of Matthew Sun during the month of April. Join us for the opening reception April 3, at 2:30-4:30 pm.
According to Sun, he has loved drawing since childhood. He says that he found reproducing images that interested him on paper or canvas endlessly fascinating. The ten pieces he is presenting are oil paintings he worked on over the last two years. “I strive to discover and capture what is hidden, emphasizing the unspoken over verisimilitude. This tendency is from my years growing up in China where much is hinted at, but rarely spoken aloud. These experiences sharpened my awareness of the invisible burdens born by people everywhere,” said Sun. “Transience – Paintings of Disquiet and Uncertainly” is an exhibit about Sun’s ideas and experiences while living through the pandemic. This surely is a topic many people can relate to. His work is in collections in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and China and has been selected for exhibitions in San Francisco, New York and Seattle. To learn more about his work visit www.matthewfelixsun.com or follow him on Instagram @matthewfelixsun.
See Sun's virtual exhibit through images at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries or watch the video preview.
March 2022 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view virtual and in person exhibit of the artwork of Bill Carmel during the month of March. Join us for the opening reception Mar 6, at 2:30-4:30 pm. He is showing three large abstract paintings composed as public art projects and recent work of three large prints on vinyl. For the remainder of March, unless the City of Orinda changes its COVID-19 precautions, you can view his exhibit at the Council’s virtual gallery HERE. Private viewings can be arranged by contacting Curator Aniston Breslin at wildergallery@lamorindaarts.org.
His public art projects are part of an ongoing relationship with other artists and community partners engaged in making collaborative artwork. The piece entitled “Veil Tapestry” is a work that asks members of our community to paint sacred words on a large traveling canvas. The pieces he titled “Festival Wheelies” were done with Danville artist John Barry, creator of the trAction painting process. The work was painted during the 2019 Art and Wine Festival in Lafayette. In trAction painting, paint is dribbled onto wheels of vehicles driven by the artists and laid down as colorful tracks. Plus, it’s fun. For the festival, wheels of toy cars were dipped in acrylic paint and driven over the canvas, building up colorful layers and patterns over time.
Carmel created a mural entitled “The Ballad of Rocky the Squirrel and Andy the Hummer” for Maggie Boscoe’s Artify Orinda project in 2020. You can see it on the side of the Mash Gas building next time you are in the neighborhood. He is also part of the curation team in the Art Gallery in the Orinda Library. “
An art educator, Carmel said, “I am creating a workbook that uses art to teach the other academic subjects. It is inspired by Common Core Standards and uses art lessons to bring creativity and critical thinking into the study of other academic subjects. Not only does Common Core curriculum emphasize critical thinking skills and creative strategies but it promotes Social – Emotional Learning.”
Jan/Feb 2022 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view virtual and in person exhibit of the artwork of Valerie Corvin during the months of January and February. Join us for the opening reception Jan 9, at 2:30-4:30 pm.
Corvin, of Piedmont, has been painting for 20 years. Growing up she was surrounded by art as both her parents were artists. She studied fine art at the California College of the Arts and with numerous Bay Area painting teachers. “I love to paint and draw because I can use my body. I like to move and dance when creating lines and shapes. I love color, all colors, but I am most attracted to blues, yellows and white,” said Corvin. She is exhibiting about eight large scale works within her “Whispers of the Heart” theme, which describes the feelings and emotions she wants to communicate.
She wants people to know she creates energetic works that speak to the heart and mind, and a connection to the human experience of awe and wonder when in nature. Corvin holds a Master of Arts, Museum Administration and worked for the SF Museum of Modern Art as a museum educator. As one of the founders of the Piedmont Center for the Arts, she applied these skills towards bringing the Center into being. Her love of painting has many layers, much like her mixed media canvases. “I love getting to know other artists and learning from them. Every time I am involved with a show at the Piedmont Center for the Arts I gain some knowledge or ideas or inspiration,” she said. For more about Corvin’s artwork visit www.valeriecorvin.com.
See Corvin's virtual exhibit through images at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries starting on Jan 5th.
December 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view virtual and in-person exhibit of artwork with the theme, "Orinda in the Abstract,” by Christian Ehrhorn during the month of December. Join us for the opening reception December 5, at 2:30-4:30 pm.
Ehrhorn said, “I am drawn to the abstract expressionist style because of the subjective component that takes precedence over an objective and figurative approach to a subject. In other words, the mood that a particular landscape or cityscape evokes can be expressed with color, spontaneous form and textural choices … all coming together in a dreamlike composition that represents the memory of a place rather than an accurate representation of the subject matter.”
An Orinda resident, he is showing seven oil paintings, each of which are abstract representations of Orinda and other local landscapes and downtown scenes. Ehrhorn said his interest in this technique endures because his perspective is never static. He tries to employ a consistent style, but also changes the way he represents what he’s seeing by layering different parts of the landscapes that inspire him.
Ehrhorn explains, “A viewer of Caldecott [a 36” x 36” oil painting on canvas] might experience different sections of the painting come in and out of focus as they look at different parts of the canvas. They might ask themselves, ‘Are all the details symbolic?’ Or, ‘Is that misty fog floating all over the canvas?”
The most important message he wants to get across to people is that there are innumerable ways to experience a time and a place. “I try to represent my vision and experiences in a way that no one has seen before. Accurate, recognizable, and detailed representation of a subject is not important to me. I want you to look at one of my paintings and get lost in your own interpretation and sensory experience,” said Ehrhorn. View more his work at www.christianehrhornfineart.com/
See Ehrhorn's virtual exhibit through images at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries in December.
November 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view virtual and in person exhibit titled "Welcome Home: Memories in Brushstrokes" of the artwork of John Anderle during the month of November. Join us for the opening reception Sunday November 7th at 2:30-4:30 pm. The subjects for John’s bold and colorful oil paintings rely mostly on photos he has taken while traveling throughout the world, to every continent except Antarctica. The exhibit includes a selection of interesting places and people he has encountered along the way, as well as a few still life subjects.
John’s “painterly” style uses visible brush strokes, simplified shapes, and vivid colors to express his personal vision. His freestyle relies less on calculated decisions and more on an instinctual approach, emphasizing the beauty of painted canvas as much as the beauty of subjects before him. See Anderle's virtual exhibit through images at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries in November.
October 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view virtual and in person exhibit titled "Day Dreams" of the artwork of Carol Jenkins during the month of October. Join us for the opening reception Sunday October 3rd at 2:30-4:30 pm. Jenkins has been a professional artist for 15 years. “My fascination with paint grew slowly. I longed to learn a visual language, to be creative without words. So I started to take painting workshops, one after the other. I joined critique groups and rented a studio. It was a steep learning curve—it still is, but I was driven to learn. Very quickly I realized that I wanted to paint what I loved: the colors, the movement, and the textures of wild terrain. Some of my favorite artists are abstract painters: Richard Diebenkorn, Joan Mitchell and Wolf Kahn,” said Jenkins.
As far as process, she begins with spontaneous mark-making, then the laying on of bold shapes, followed by layers of acrylic or oil paint that she draws into and scrapes away. Once an interesting line or color pulls the painting in a direction she wants to follow, she builds the layers more deliberately into a composition. This year she was awarded second place in the West Coast Biennial at Turtle Bay by David Pagel, art critic for the Los Angeles Times and a cash prize. For more about Jenkins’ work visit www.caroljenkinsart.com. See Jenkin's virtual exhibit through images at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries.
September 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view virtual and in person exhibit titled "Opened Ended" of the artwork of Katie Korotzer during the month of September. Join us for the opening reception Sunday September 12th at 2:30-4:30 pm. Korotzer, of Orinda, has been doing art since childhood. She is a candidate for the Certificate in Painting at UC Berkeley Extension. “Art has always been a way for me to express myself without being concerned about whether anyone thinks I’m doing it correctly. I’m always experimenting when I’m in the studio and through my art I can bring forth my fears, my joy, my thoughts and feelings,” she said.
During COVID-19 quarantine she created a number of paintings on very large (5’ x 5’) pieces of unstretched raw canvas. Her theme, “Open Ended” explores the fact that despite our best plans, life throws the unexpected in our paths. “During the pandemic I traveled back and forth to Georgia to help out with a family member who had been ill. The sense of distance, the loss of control over my daily environment during such a dangerous time and the feeling of entering into the unknown territory of illness gave me a lot to process when I was able to paint in my studio,” she said. For more about Korotzer’s paintings visit www.katiekorotzer.net, follow her on Instagram @katiekorotzer.
August 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view a virtual exhibit titled "The Ambient Fence" of the photography of Grant Rusk during the month of August. Rusk, whose work is included in collections of San Francisco MOMA and the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley among many others, also serves as a member of the Moraga Art in Public Spaces Committee. Rusk, of Moraga, has never worked as a photojournalist or in advertising. “I came in the era when photography was incorporated within the curriculum of university and college art departments. I have always made photography as an artist,” he said.
His interest in photography came from his father, who was a dedicated photographer. Rusk said, “Things rub off. I progressed from the subject of his photographs to the author of my own. I have always believed photography to have the capacity to control, to record an element of chance and to surprise.”
Never at a loss for new ideas for photographs, he says social, natural and environmental issues arise on a regular basis. He feels these issues need his attention as a photographer. For ten years he has been teaching at the Harvey Milk Photography Center in San Francisco. The interaction of students to the promotion of personal vision gratifies him. Previously he worked as a program specialist in the Art Research Library at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
July 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view a virtual exhibit of paintings by Sophie Sanders. All Wilder art exhibits are virtual until COVID-19 restrictions change. See Sander's virtual exhibit through images at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries. Sanders was born and grew up in Taiwan. At the age of one, she contracted polio, which severely impacted her ability to walk. Throughout childhood she depended on two crutches to move about. Since she couldn’t play with kids outdoors, she spent her time learning how to draw. Fast forward to the Bay Area where in 1979 she enrolled at the California College of Arts and Crafts (now called California College of the Arts); in 1982 she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts. She married and lived on the East Coast for a while then relocated back to the Bay Area in 2008.
Due to Post-polio Syndrome (known as PPS), under medical advice she began using a wheelchair for mobility in 1989. This helps her conserve her dwindling energy which she prefers to use creating drawings and paintings. These creations give her a sense of liberation -- something not available to her in the physical world. She keeps developing her skills and talent for drawing and painting because working from pure imagination allows her to construct a world filled with beauty, harmony and whimsy.
Sanders explains, “I just draw or paint whatever happens to come to my mind, either from imagination or from memory, in the moment. It is truly “playing” on paper! Accuracy is not my concern, but ‘having fun’ on paper is! My main goal in creating art works is to be liberated from reality, to gain a form of freedom, which doesn’t exist in reality due to my severe disability.” The world she inhabits in her art is far from any wheelchair. The way she links lines and shapes into a lush floral reality filled with interesting details begs you to linger. Each drawing is a world unto itself, a look at floral whorls and twirls you never imagined could live together in such harmony. Her drawings offer us bouquets from her imaginary garden.
June 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view a virtual exhibit of paintings by Janell Lumley. All Wilder art exhibits are virtual until COVID-19 restrictions change. Janell Lumley, of Walnut Creek, says, “I was the child who always wanted to draw or read rather than run and play.” Life intervened and she returned to creating once her family was raised. She began by taking oil painting classes a dozen years ago and is delighted that she still loves the experience of painting in a group. “I think the friendships I have developed in class are the best reward I get from painting and the main reason I will continue,” says Lumley.
Prior to COVID-19 Lumley and her husband traveled extensively, always with copious picture taking. As she derives most of her subjects from the photographs on their travels, keeping her work fresh is a built-in bonus. She considers painting an experiment rather than a science and like many artists, is always working to learn and improve. She says she paints for the fun of it and that it is okay to just like a painting without analyzing it or getting the artist’s meaning. Analyzing and taking herself or her painting too seriously is not her style.
Déjà Vu is the feeling that one has already lived through the present situation before. Perhaps you will experience déjà vu after viewing Lumley's paintings in her June 2021 exhibit.
May 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view a virtual exhibit of portraits by Annie Jacquemet during May. All Wilder art exhibits are virtual until COVID-19 restrictions change. Jacquemet’s virtual exhibit was entitled “Around the World in 12 Portraits.” Jacquemet, who lives in Concord, closed her psychotherapy practice in 2008 and began watercolor classes right away. Taking classes at Walnut Creek Community Center fulfilled a promise she made to herself when she retired.
Although she grew up in Orleans, France and worked in Paris as an adult, neither art nor music was part of her early life; yet she was always attracted to art. She visits France regularly and is still close to childhood friends. Some of her favorite artists include post-Impressionists such as Norwegian painter Severin Kryoer (1851 – 1909), Swedish painter Anders Zorn (1860 – 1920) and Spanish painter Joaquin Sorolla (1863 – 1923). Prior to the pandemic she visited Sorolla’s Madrid home, which is now a museum of his work. Each of these painters has a unique way of treating light in their work which she admires and finds fascinating.
Jacquemet’s husband, Michael Barrington, travels around the world in aid of humanitarian causes, always returning with photographs of his projects. Often these photos serve as models for her portraits. You will see portraits of people of all ages from the U.S. to Guatemala to Ethiopia, Ghana and Japan.
She enjoys taking classes with Patsy Taylor and Gary Bergren at the Community Center. “I work at loosening up by brushwork and keeping my mind and eyes open,” says Jacquemet. Projecting emotions and feelings through her artwork to show that she cares about people is her goal. In her statement paintings, her intention is to denounce injustice. One look at Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s level gaze in RBG, her 11” x 11” oil painting on canvas, tells quite a story. For more about her work visit www.anniejacquemet-art.com.
March/April 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view a virtual exhibit of the late Heather Metcalf’s (1944 – 2016) artwork during the months of March and April. Brian Metcalf, Heather’s husband, mounted this exhibit because “I really felt that her large work was her best work and had rarely been exhibited in any gallery. She had this beautiful work done in the last 10 years sitting in our house; this is an opportunity to display it.”
Because Metcalf was an active member of the Moraga Art Gallery, the Arts Council is pleased to announce their companion exhibit of her actual paintings, March 1 – April 25. President Lucy Beck reminds us that the Moraga Art Gallery, located at 432 Center St., is open Saturdays and Sundays from 12 – 3 p.m. and by appointment. Details are available at www.moragaartgallery.com, by calling 925.276.5407 or emailing moragaartgallery@gmail.com. Donna Arganbright, Moraga Art Gallery Vice President and Gallery Manager, who remembers Heather well, said, “Heather Metcalf was a beloved member of the Moraga Art Gallery. Her graceful presence and insightful thoughts were always welcomed by our members. Her paintings are bold, big beautiful canvases of color. We felt fortunate to have them hang in our Gallery. Her presence is still missed and we are delighted to have her paintings hang once again in our Gallery.”
Both Heather and Brian hail from Perth, Western Australia. Heather initially trained in Australia as a graphic artist and worked professionally in that field not only in Australia but in New Zealand and London. After, she took up residence in France to study fine art. She completed the four year Diplome en Peinture at L’Ecole des Art Decoratifs in Strasbourg, France. Metcalf relocated to the U.S. in Cincinnati, exhibiting in both private exhibitions and corporate sponsorships. A later move to Philadelphia allowed a return to fine arts, and she graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy for Fine Arts (PAFA) in 2000. After a move to California in the same year, more exhibits ensued, including at In-Art, Santa Fe and Gallery Sam in Berkeley She also showed work in her private studio in Moraga. She continued exhibiting at locations such as the Claremont Resort, Hall Winery in St. Helena, and the Orinda Library Gallery, among others. Peruse her work at www.heathermetcalf.com. Heather’s most recent work – her koi pond series – was kindled by the fluid images in the aqueous world of her koi pond. Floating shadows and florals twirling in watery currents inspired paintings built with layers of transparent, luminous colors. No matter your taste in art, exploring Metcalf’s oeuvre will prove her artistic legacy worth experiencing.
February 2021 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council will display a virtual exhibit of Leon Kennedy’s paintings during February as part of celebrating Black History Month. All Council art exhibits remain virtual until COVID-19 restrictions change. Kennedy’s virtual exhibit is entitled The Twelve Apostles. The title refers to a metaphor about Kennedy’s habits. He loves the church he attends – outdoors during COVID-19 – and loves painting the people he meets as he walks around Oakland. Sometimes he paints on the surface of found objects. “My dream is to connect to all people’s dreams,” he said. Born in Houston, but an Oakland resident for some time, Kennedy is a self-taught artist. His uplifting portraits seem to dip into the core of those he paints. John Hildenbrand, Kennedy’s agent said, “Once you are familiar with Leon Kennedy’s paintings, you’ll recognize his work anywhere.” One look at Thank God for Giving Me My Heart, an 18” x 24” acrylic on canvas, draws the viewer into the deep pools of the woman’s eyes, brilliant with the light shining from her heart. Jan and Chuck Rosenak’s iconic 1996 book, Contemporary American Folk Art, features Kennedy’s artwork. The Smithsonian purchased 200 works from the Rosenak’s collection in 1997 for its groundbreaking American Art Museum exhibit. Kennedy’s Untitled (large wall hanging with numerous figures) 1995, mixed media on bed sheet, was in that collection. Kennedy has frequent shows and workshops at Oakland Public Library branches. On Thursday, February 18th St. Mary’s Center will host Kennedy in a virtual Zoom meeting from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. honoring Black History Month and celebrating the music and art of Oakland. The meeting ID is 857 0496 8720, passcode 472245; RSVP to jcastillo@stmaryscenter.org.
To view more of his work visit his website at leonkennedy.com.
January 2021 Exhibit
The Art Gallery at Wilder invites you to view a virtual exhibit of 12 watercolor and oil paintings by Rashmi Rajesh during January. See her virtual exhibit through images HERE starting on January 1st and the exhibit video HERE. Rajesh, of San Ramon, is a self-taught artist who was drawing pencil sketches at a very young age in India. As an adult she relied on her drawing skills again as she pursued first acrylics, then oil paint and watercolors. Initially she didn’t take to painting with acrylics. Instead of giving up she tried oil paint and says both the process and the results were delightful.
After painting with oils for some time she began exploring watercolors. “The looseness and transparency of watercolors instantly draws you in as a viewer. As an artist they keep me challenged enough to have control over the medium to know when to let go to achieve lightness in my creations. The more I paint, the more there is to learn. That’s what keeps me coming back to these two media, oil paints and watercolors,” says Rajesh.
You’ll find florals, landscapes, abstracts, and still life works in her show. To keep her work fresh she experiments with different techniques and subject matter. She hopes her work sparks some kind of connection for viewers because for her, connecting people together one of the beautiful qualities of art. To that end she also teaches art classes for beginning and intermediate students. Visit her website to view more of her artwork and get in contact at www.rashmisartcarte.com.
December 2020 Exhibit
The Art Gallery at Wilder invites you to view a virtual exhibit of Lafayette artist Suzy Elsworth-Heithcock’s paintings during December. See her virtual exhibit entitled “Epic Nature” video HERE. Heithcock exhibits 12 works focused on landscapes, trees, figurative drawings and works from her imagination. Two companion pieces, Dryad and Nayad, really draws the epic aspects of nature into her artwork as mentioned in her theme. A Dryad is a female Greek nature spirit about whom Heithcock says, “The Dryad painting is part of my reaction to being quarantined for months, expressing the explosive need I had to feel, melding my senses with the rich banquet in Nature. The Dryad in particular feels the wind.” Nayad is the Greek name for an immortal female nymph who presides over freshwater, springs and wells. The biomorphic lines of Nayad, her 24” x 6” oil painting, recalls the fluidity and grace of moving water. You may have heard of Nayads and Dryads in books such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Illiad and The Odyssey. Heithcock is conscious of the difficulty in presenting a three dimensional world in two dimensions such as drawings or paintings. She says adding in the fourth dimension of time, such as how to show the passage of time in an old tree or how to remind the observer that wind moves tree branches about, is what she tries to convey in her paintings. “Portraying a flow of movement is fundamental to my work,” says Heithcock. For more about her work visit www.elsworthartworks.com.
November 2020 Exhibit
The Art Gallery at Wilder invites you to view a virtual multi-disciplinary exhibit of artwork from six students at Saint Mary's College in Moraga. Visiting Professor of Art Practice at Saint Mary's, Laura Elayne Miller, Faculty Advisor of the GRID, introduces the California GRID Art Club leadership's exploration of the relationship between the unknown and the re-inventor truth through subjective human belief systems. View the exhibit video of "The Human Conditional" HERE.
Professor Laura Elayne Miller said, "My students have been incredibly energized by the opportunity to share their artwork with the community." Caed Folkestad is an interdisciplinary artist currently studying Art Practice and Communication. His work is largely concerned with romanticism of youth and the inextricable connection between human beings and their environment. Carly Hodes is an interdisciplinary artist who utilizes satire to explore the gender binary and how it shapes the self-perception of males within contemporary society. K. Isaac Kim is an artist who experiments in music, painting, drawing and digital drawing. Amand Moser is an interdisciplinary artist studying Art Practice and her work is influenced by human nature and connectivity. Sierra Miller is a mixed-media artist who uses the ideas focused in psychology, philosophy, and color theory in order to help people understand how they fit into the universe. Sydney Toland is an interdisciplinary artist who focuses on creative imagery in order to capture fantastical realities in her artwork.
October 2020 Exhibit
September 2020 Exhibit
The Art Gallery at Wilder presents Lara B. Horoupian. Watch her virtual exhibit video HERE.
Lara Horoupian runs Laratelier, a popular youth art school out of her studio. She says being around the children she teaches is an unending source of creative inspiration. “I produced 27 paintings during quarantine; sometimes working 5-6 hours daily in my studio. I worked through bursts of feelings like passion, fear, mortality, and hope,” she said. At one point she ran out of paint and remembered pigments from Peru her husband gave her as a gift 15 years earlier – she had saved them for a special occasion. They were used to create paintings in this exhibit. The centerpiece of her show is a 36” x 48” mixed media work entitled Transformation. She and her 13 year old daughter Pateel worked on it together to make it more dimensional. Pateel said, “If you stand in front of it you want to jump right into the painting.” It certainly bears examining and will reward you for spending any amount of time appreciating it. All proceeds from the sale of her art in this show will be donated to rescue efforts for everyone affected by the recent tragic explosion in Beirut. Her father has a store there which was damaged; it is where she grew up. To see more of her work visit her website, HERE.
August 2020 Exhibit
The Art Gallery at Wilder presents John Anderle. Watch his virtual exhibit video HERE.
Anderle, a local Walnut Creek artist, minored in Fine Art at UC Berkeley and has maintained a love for the practice and appreciation of art throughout his life. In retirement he rekindled his interest in drawing, watercolor and oil painting at Walnut Creek Civic Arts and through self-instruction. Portrait subjects inspire him, especially those taken from photos shot at random during his travels to Europe, South America and Asia. He is a regular contributor to “The Memory Project,” a nonprofit organization which distributes original painted portraits to dispossessed and orphaned children around the world. Visit www.johnanderle.wixsite.com/mysite for more information about his work.
July 2020 Exhibit
The gallery will not be open to the public due to the shelter-in-place order regulations. The gallery curation team, working with the City of Orinda, is pleased to announce the "Walk the Park & See Some Art" taking place on Saturday, July 12th from 2:30pm to 4:30pm at the Orinda Community Center Park in Orinda. Enjoy some outdoor exercise while viewing the artwork of the Art Gallery at Wilder July artist Sherry Ravazza. Ravazza's mesmerizing paintings demonstrate her unique dimensional dot painting technique and express her favorite themes; historical/mystical, spirit animals, and plant floral designs. Ravazza is heavily influenced by Shamanic art as she personally believes art can act as both an aesthetic for the human senses and an instrument to connect to a higher spiritual source. Just as the process of creating art is meditative and healing for her, Ravazza's purpose is to put her heart and soul into the artwork so that when viewers gaze at the paintings, they too will receive healing and inspiration. Audiences will find more of Sherry Ravazza's collection on Facebook @SherryRavazzaArt and also on Youtube here.
March/April 2020 Exhibit
Art Gallery at Wilder presents the solo exhibit, "Celestials," by Joel Tesch. Tesch presents a series of nine paintings. "The series of canvas paintings brings to life a vibrant world bursting with colors, movement and contrast from an otherworldly perspective," says Tesch. Tesch finds the craft of painting to be both humbling and inspiring... relazing and invigorating. Come see the mysterious and magical images that transpire in "Celestials". Meet Joel Tesch at the artist's reception, to be held on March 7th from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Please join us! Light refreshments will be served.
February 2020 Exhibit
Art Gallery at Wilder presents the solo exhibit, "The Allure of Equine Beauty," by Barbara Brady-Smith of Lafayette the month of February. Brady-Smith agrees with John Galsworthy who says, "I am still under the impression that there is nothing alive quite so beautiful as a horse." Viewers will ultimately agree with the statement when they examine her collection of photographs depicting steeds of all kinds. Capturing a horse in motion is not an easy feat. Brady-Smith, a well known equine and pet photographer, embraces this challenge. Don't miss the beauty of these photographs at the Art Gallery at Wilder during the month of February.
January 2020 Exhibit
On exhibit in January at the Art Gallery at Wilder is, Marlene Metropolis. In her solo exhibit, "The Places They Call Home," Marlene makes use of her photography and scientific skills. Her fidelity to animals in their natural habitats is ever present in her work. Marlene depicts what she loves - naturalistic environments that usually include indigenous animals. "My art identifies whose habitat it is; who calls it home. It fulfills a longing to be reconnected to life in all its forms." Her naturalistic 2-D works are the result of digital blending her photographs and reference images. Her scientific background as a retired chiropractor speaks through the art infusing it with serene and reverent feelings.
December 2019 Exhibit
On exhibit in December at the Art Gallery at Wilder is, Linda Huffman, a now retired secondary education teacher. Her solo exhibit "It's Kind of Eclectic" will show Huffman's serene and realistic brushstroke, that materializes scenes that often go unnoticed by the average person. She sees the shadows and crevices of trees, flowers, and even on bicyclists, giving them emotion and voice. Huffman finds herself painting what appeals to her and letting the themes and techniques evolve, "into the remarkable scenes that intrigue and grab the viewers' attention into the small details of everyday surroundings." The artist's reception is to be held on December 7th from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Please join us! Light refreshments will be served.
November 2019 Exhibit
On exhibit in November at the Art Gallery at Wilder is textile artist, Bohuslava (Slavka) Ruzicka, with her solo exhibit of "Miniature Oriental Carpets Project". Born in Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic, Ruzicka was introduced to cross stitching while living in Singapore in 1987. The Miniature Oriental Carpets Project started in 1996 and was completed in 2005. This collection of magical and masterful works was inspired by Frank M. Cooper designs. Ruzicka will be demonstrating her technique at the artist's reception held on November 2nd from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Please join us! Light refreshments will be served.
October 2019 Exhibit
Come visit the Art Gallery at Wilder to view featured artist Sydney Chaney-Thomas during the month of October and meet the the artist at her reception on October 5, 2:30-4:30 pm, with light refreshments served.
Sydney Chaney-Thomas presents her solo exhibition, “Natural Beauty.” Her work is a lyrical representation of natural phenomena swirling about the land and sea, reflecting her background growing up on a horse ranch surrounded by fields of wheat, orchards, and rolling hills. The natural world is where Chaney is most comfortable. Her style brings forth a sense of carefree serenity whether amidst the pine trees in Tahoe, or on a sailboat in the San Francisco Bay. Chaney’s work is both Impressionistic and abstract, filled with emotion and color, allowing the “Natural Beauty” to rise to the surface.
September 2019 Exhibit
The Art Gallery at Wilder will feature photographer Alfredo Coyotl Cuatlacuatl during the month of September and the artist's reception takes place on September 7, 2:30-4:30 pm, with light refreshments served.
Alfredo Coyotl Cuatlacuatl is a San Francisco Bay Area-based photographer specializing in portrait, fashion, landscape, and community and corporate event photography. Shaped and inspired by his Mexican heritage and indigenous roots, Alfredo utilizes the art of photography to tell stories and share unique perspectives and opinions with others. The majority of Alfredo’s independent work revolves around themes of isolation, minimalism, and solitude. The solo show, ENDLESS, will have 10 photographs and Alfredo's photo book, New York City 24mm, on display to share the experiences and perspectives on places he has visited and found inspiration and contrast. To learn more about the artist and his work go to www.coyotlcuatlacuatl.com.
August 2019 Exhibit
Joseph Lombardi - For The Love Of Art
Please join us as we celebrate the works of artist, Joseph F. Lombardi during the month of August at the Art Gallery at Wilder. Join us for the Artist Reception, Saturday, August 3rd from 2:30-4:30pm.
Lombardi of Manteca has a penchant for painting portals – doorways, gates, windows and pathways that meander somewhere we want to go. His portals are portrayed within intriguing vistas of nature, seascapes and architecture found both in domestic and foreign lands.
Many of his paintings reveal a subtle dreamy quality as if they are telling a story. Lombardi has worked in oils for several decades and won’t be stopping anytime soon. He has 15 oil paintings on display. To learn more about his work go to www.josephlombardiart.ucraft.net.
July 2019 Exhibit
Grand Opening this month featuring paintings by Judy Chamberlin
The Art Gallery at Wilder officially opens to the public on Saturday, July 6th. The public is invited to attend the grand opening artist reception from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. where light refreshments will be served. Ribbon cutting is at 3:00 pm. City of Orinda officials will be in attendance to participate in the ribbon cutting.
Chamberlin is well-known for her large scale oil and acrylic paintings including figurative work such as portraits, animals and murals plus expressive biomorphic abstracts. The artist says that “synaesthesia inspires me, the idea that we can cross tactile senses, causing our sight of paint color to arouse a taste, a smell, sound. Textures and composition to sing and move. I strive to create paintings that are alive, changing what you experience from viewing to the next viewing. I strive for a mystical experience.”
The solo show will set the tone for future monthly exhibits which are scheduled to rotate on the first of every month.
