Due to Covid-19, the JanTerm 2021 “Children’s Tales From Around the Globe” will be virtual and will be available on demand starting Feb. 19, 2021. The running time is expected to be about 45 minutes, but you may pause, or watch each 5 minute segment at a later time.

The theme of the show is Inclusion and Identity. Saint Mary’s College students will perform a dance theatre film based on the cultural stories from their childhood.

All ages will enjoy this show, but it is primarily made for preschool to third graders.

General Admission Tickets: $10 per person
To purchase on-demand tickets, click here: https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/childrenstales and a link will be sent to you after February 18th.

Schools or organizations interested in booking this as a virtual field trip or wanting enrichment activities, please contact Tara Sundy at tms8@stmarys-ca.edu or (925) 890-1343 by February 11, 2021 for special deals and packages.

The Lamorinda Arts Council is pleased to announce the reopening of a partial area of the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library. Stop by to view oil paintings by Sydney Chaney-Thomas and Lisa Gunn during May. As COVID-19 restrictions have recently changed, you are invited to view a limited exhibit of their original artwork on the two wood walls near the entrance of the Library.

View the artwork of the May exhibitors via photos and videos HERE. The Council thanks contributing artists for their cooperation in providing the photographs that make up their virtual exhibit.

This exhibit runs May 1 through 31.

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. See Jacquemet’s virtual exhibit entitled “Around the World in 12 Portraits” through images at www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries.  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.

The concept of everyday life and adapting to the new normal has taken on an especially poignant meaning during the COVID-19 crisis. The exhibit “Slice of Life” is about reflecting a moment, an era, a part of everyday life or an exceptional memory.

The aRt Cottage is the coolest little art gallery just off the square in downtown Concord, CA, located at 2238 Mt. Diablo Street, Concord. The gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 11am-5pm; Saturday 1pm-5pm.

Lamorinda Arts Alliance is an organization of local artists and friends who reside or work in the area. For more than two decades, the Lamorinda Arts Alliance has promoted the visual arts through exhibits in libraries and businesses, at open studio events, street fairs, and lectures, and in the community’s art galleries.

A reception is planned pending Contra Costa County Covid-19 regulations.

Lamorinda Arts Alliance website: https://laa4art.org

Artwork: “Taking a Bite”, Sharon Tama, acrylic on canvas

The Performing Arts Department of Saint Mary’s College presents the Saint Mary’s College Dance Company in Spring Forward. This concert gives our audience the chance to see live-streamed and/or dances made for the screen ending with a tribute to our seniors. It will feature modern, tap, West African, and contemporary dances.
Live-streamed May 6-8 8pm with an additional 2pm performance on May 8pm
Also available on-demand May 10-31.
Contributions welcome to support future dance concerts, hiring professional guest artists, and travel for competitions.
Online ticket prices per household $8-15 stmarys-ca.edu/springforward

When a group of young strangers join a new online meeting space during a once-in-a-lifetime mystical event and a-once-in-a-century pandemic, will they find the connection they seek, and will they unravel the mysteries of love, life and adulting before the stars appear to collide? With a soaring score and intimate stories, gather ‘round is a musical film for this most singular of times.

Saint Mary’s College Performing Arts Department proudly presents an original musical theatre short film, gather ‘round, written and composed by guest artist Karen Ann Daniels  (American Theatre Magazine’s “People To Watch,” April 2020), in collaboration with the student company. Visiting Professor in Performing Arts Victor Malana Maog directs a team of faculty, guest artists, and students in this creation that will have its digital world premiere on Tuesday, May 11th with an on-demand run through Sunday, May 23rd.

For more info and for closed captioning or audio described ticketing options, see stmarys-ca.edu/gatherround

May 15th at 8pm Live-streamed Release Watch Party
On Demand through May 31
Open to the public.

The Chamber, Glee, and Jazz singers of Saint Mary’s College present music videos including Earth, Wind & Fire’s Fantasy, Björk’s New World, Clean Bandit’s Rather Be, Rollo Dilworth’s I Sing Because I’m Happy, and some newly created ones.

Contributions welcome to support hiring professional guest artists, provide A/V equipment needed for Covid-safety measures, and to help fund the Choir tours:
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/choirspring21

May 17-31 On Demand

FREE, Contributions Welcome stmarys-ca.edu/musicgives

The virtual instrumental music recital will feature music written for flute, cello, violin, and piano by well-known composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Johannes Brahms (1832-1897), Lili Boulanger (1893-1918), and Ian Clarke (b. 1964) among others.

Theme: Courage & Heroism

Join us at one of the Lamorinda Arts Council’s (LAC) FREE Art Embraces Words  Zoom Webinar series in 2021. Remaining Sunday dates are:  July 25, Sep. 26 and Oct. 31.

Our Emcee will introduces each writer and artist, plus fields questions from the audience. The program features emerging authors reading excerpts of their work, alternating with local artists displaying their visual art in a slideshow.  Authors and artists answer questions live-screen, which makes for a lively discussion. Co-chair Natalie Samuels Wheeler manages the tech side of our Zoom Webinar. The event is recorded and uploaded to social media. In this way the art still “embraces” the spoken word: “Ars Vita Longa, Vita Brevis” – art lives forever, life is short.

For more details, to apply as a Writer, Artist or sign up as an Audience Member, go to https://lamorindaarts.org/art-embraces-words. Click HERE to view a YouTube video from our March 28, 2021 program. Questions? Contact us at literary@lamorindaarts.org.

Many thanks to those who help make this program possible: our generous sponsor, the Lafayette Community Foundation; Lafayette City Council Member Cameron Burks; Andrea Firth and Janine deBoisblanc of Diablo Writers’ Workshop; Lamorinda Arts Alliance; California Writer’s Club, Mt. Diablo Branch; LAC PR Intern Mykaela King; and LAC Program Director Shelly Rose.