January 2025 Exhibit
"Elephants and Owls, Arctic Sled Dogs and Ceramics, Textured and Whimsical" | Artwork from Barbara Breashears, Patrick Brod, Olga Larner, Richelle Soper, and Sandra Schlink
January 2nd - 31st, 2025
Barbara Breashears works in mixed media but has predominately used watercolor pencils for over 30 years. Her show highlights drawings of owls and elephants. Vibrant colors and intriguing lines sing in each drawing. “Mom and Baby Elephants” reminds us of faraway places where exotic animals live. b3-art.com
Patrick Brod’s theme, “Sled Dogs of the Arctic: Strength, Spirit, and Snow,” focuses on photographs showing the endurance and beauty of the sled dogs as they navigate the changing Arctic. As a member of NORSLED, a local rescue dedicated to northern breeds, his involvement with sled dogs began in 2015 when he took a sled dog trip in the Arctic Circle via Tromsø, Norway. Leading a team of six dogs across the frozen landscape ignited his lifelong passion for animal welfare. “Arctic Dreams,” his 52” x 38” photograph of husky sled dogs on snowpack gives us a glimpse of another world where blue skies and arctic temperatures rule the day. A photographer for over 15 years, Brod was inspired by “National Geographic” photographers as a kid. Through this exhibit, he hopes to inspire a deeper appreciation for sled dogs and the urgent need to protect the environments they thrive in. patrickbrod.com
Olga Larner is a multi-disciplinary graphic designer and artist, with a B.A. from both UCSB and the Art Institute of California. After honing her skills in 2D design, she transitioned into designing dimensional spaces, where she discovered the artistry and tactile nature of materials, including ceramics. She likes to explore the tension between form, texture, and color and the purity, yet complexity of clay. She is a resident of Orinda and teaches in Walnut Creek. olgalarner.com
Richelle Soper is a sculptor working in mixed media. She focuses on the essence of a material and the relationship of its uses in both industrial and domestic contexts. She earned her BFA from State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 2013 and her MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2016. She has been recognized for scholastic and artistic achievement and has appeared as a guest artist and lector at various institutions and universities around the country. She currently is living and working in Washington, D.C. richellesoper.com
Sandra Schlink is inspired by artists George Edgar Ohr, Rodin, and Michelangelo. “Wonky Ware is my brand and style. I love whimsical artwork,” she said. If whimsy is in your wheelhouse, you’ll appreciate her wonderfully curvy ceramic sculpture “Tea Pot Defy Gravity 3”.
ARTIST RECEPTION
Saturday, January 4th, 2:30 - 4:30 pm, Library Auditorium
Meet the Artists and enjoy light refreshments on the outdoor terrace adjacent to the Gallery. Free admission for all!
December 2024 Exhibit
Artwork from Creative Strokes Painting Group, painters Barney Howard, Chris Kutzscher, Anne Murray, and Alix Watson; Barbara Brady-Smith; Reddy Lieb; and Judy Miller.
December 2 - December 30, 2024
The Creative Strokes Painting Group includes paintings by Barney Howard, Chris Kutzscher, Anne Murray, and Alix Watson. The group meets on a monthly rotation at members’ homes to dine and discuss their work and other topics.
Barbara Brady-Smith’s exhibit of 20 floral photographs is entitled “The Art of Flowers.” She reminds us to search for the tiny details it is easy to overlook in photographs such as her 16” x 20” lustre print, “Dahlia Delight.” The petals mimic nature’s interwoven spiral patterns of how sunflower seeds grow. Go to sharethejoyphotography.com to see her work.
Reddy Lieb’s exhibit of 30 functional and expressive glass pieces, paintings and mixed media is themed “Life Lessons.” Works in the show are titled within the theme such as “There is Enough for Everyone” and “Balancing Act.” She is inspired by Susan Sontag’s wise words, “Art is a form of nourishment (of consciousness, the spirit).” “Pointing to the Mystery,” an 11” x 14” x 2.5” fused and painted glass piece has symbols suspended in space as if on a Calder-esque Mobile. Visit reddylieb.com to learn more.
Judy Miller is showing 10 ceramic sculptures including “Liberty and Justice,” a 13” x 7” x 6” work. “Creating art for 30 years has been a driving force in my life,” she said. She strives to create a narrative with her work combining textures, forms, and movement that tell a visual story. See judymillerarts.com to sample her artwork.
ARTIST RECEPTION
Saturday, December 8th, 2:30 - 4:30 pm, Library Auditorium
Meet the Artists and enjoy light refreshments on the outdoor terrace adjacent to the Gallery. Free admission for all!
November 2024 Exhibit
Tapestries by Aiko Kobayashi Gray and Artisan Jewelry by Lisa Marie Del Gavio
September 3 - November 1, 2024
ARTIST RECEPTION
Saturday, November 9th, 2:30 - 4:30 pm, Library Auditorium
Meet Aiko and Lisa and enjoy light refreshments on the outdoor terrace adjacent to the Gallery. Free admission for all!
September & October 2024 Exhibit
STORIES WE TELL
September 3 - November 1, 2024
This 2-month exhibit presents original artwork that demonstrates the power of stories using symbols and metaphors. This multimedia exhibit of images, words, and music tells stories both ancient and contemporary. The voices of artists inhabit these spaces to spark our imagination and inspire us.
The following artists are exhibiting: Gina Barretta, John Brown, Joy Chew, Suellen Cox, Nancy Daniels, Elaine Drew, Jennifer Granat, Karina Hou, Georgianna Krieger, Lori J. Larks, Mary Leigh Miller, Connie Vaccaro Millholland, Denise Nomura, Jenny Rosen, Michiko Sakai, Gini Graham Scott, Susanne Simas, Ruth Stanton, Betsy Streeter, Sharon Tama, and Nancy Vachani
ARTIST RECEPTION
Saturday, October 5th, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, Library Auditorium
Meet all the Artists and enjoy light refreshments on the outdoor terrace adjacent to the Gallery. Free admission for all!
February 2024 Exhibit
The Lamorinda Arts Council presents a Bay Area Studio Artists (BASA) group show in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library entitled “The BASA Invitational: As We See It. ” This show reflects the diverse work of longtime BASA artists Suzun Almquist, Jeanette Baird, Lassie Colebourn, Ellen Reintjes, Ruth Stanton, Sharon Tama, Joanne Taeuffer, and Marcy Wheeler.
Five local artists have also been invited: Flora Baumann, Nicole Reader, Cecelia Wambach, April Ward, and Lynn Whitson. Meet the artists at a reception in their honor on Saturday, February 10th, 2:30 - 4:30 pm while enjoying light refreshments.
Exhibit organizer Sharon Tama says, “BASA artists each see the world through their own eyes. They all seek painting ideas that move, challenge or connect. Their painting styles differ but similarly reflect their individuality and temperament.”
Marcy Wheeler selected five additional artists to contribute to the exhibit. “We chose them to add a different spice to our stew and because they are good artists who deserve to be seen. We are good at hanging wonderful shows with gorgeous art that has meaning,” she said. Visit https://bayareastudioartists.com/ for more information.
