Art Embraces Poetry

Poets paint images with words; Artists tell stories with color; together they enrich our community!


ART EMBRACES POETRY | 3 Saturdays in 2025...

Saturday, April 5th | Celebrate National Poetry Month

Local poets Alfred Garrotto, Phil ScimonelliClaire Kwon and Elise Dirlam Ching are excited to read their work celebrating National Poetry Month at the Lamorinda Art Council's April 5 Art Embraces Poetry program. Local artist Aerin Haro exhibits and speaks about her mixed media art. which runs from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. From 2:30 to 3:30 pm we host an All Topics 3 Min Open Mic. Got something to say? Now's the time to show up because we will listen.

 

 

Saturday, August 23rd | Anything Goes! 

Lamorinda Arts Council seeks poets to apply to read their work at its upcoming Art Embraces Poetry "Anything Goes" program on August 23rd. Readings begin at 1:30 pm. Each poet has 10 minutes to read followed by a short audience Q&A. Questions? Email poetry@LamorindaArts.org or call 925.359.9940. Apply online at https://lamorindaarts.org/apply-as-a-writer-for-art-embraces-words/.
Completed 2025 Art Embraces Poetry Programs:
Saturday, March 8th | Girls + Women Influencers: Women's History Month

Lamorinda Arts Council presented poets Harleen Serai who is an MFA, Poetry candidate at Saint mary's College; Linda Riebel of Lafayette who read poems ranging in topics from a throbbing heartbeat to a grammar narc; Jennifer Granat who in addition to being a poet is an artist and writer,  read from a tryptic about her Nana; and author Joanna Choi Kalbus read from "The Boat Not Taken," about fleeing from war torn North Korea. Featured artist Ellen Reintjes spoke about her series of portraits of her mother spanning 70 years. All these presenters helped us celebrate Girls + Women Influencers for Women's History Month. An All Topics 3 Min Open Mic ran from 2:30 to 3:30 PM followed the presentations. During the No Host After Party in the Lobby artists, poets and guests mingled and enjoyed conversations about the program.

2024 Artists and Poets included: Senait Mesfin-Piccigallo (poet), PeaceDancer Khalilah Ramirez, Dorothy "Dot" Edwards (poet), Bushra Gil (artist), Ophelia Turner (poet), Avery Burns (poet), Lori Lynne Armstrong (poet), Al Garrontto (poet), Salman Ansari (poet), Michael Robinson (painter), Gail Entrekin (poet), Jim Gunshinan (poet), Linda Riebel (poet), Emily Jingzhu Bennett (artist).

Click here to view videos of some of our past "Art Embraces..." events.
Please email literary@lamorindaarts.org to be included in the event information and Calls for Artists & Poets.

Questions? Contact us here.


Our literary programming, including Art Embraces Poetry, is made possible by a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Lafayette.