Note: Click on the boxes below to learn more about each event.

05aprallday02junalldayVIRTUAL GALLERY AT WILDER: MARY CLAIRE STOTLER - Abstracts and Figurative Paints & Mixed MediaStotler: Paintings of Memories, Imagination and a Bit of Soul(All Day) Art Gallery at Wilder, 20 Orinda Fields Land, Orinda, CA

Event Details

The Lamorinda Arts Council presents award-winning Walnut Creek artist Mary Claire Stotler’s figurative and abstract paintings in the Virtual Art Gallery at Wilder April 5 through June 2. View and purchase her work in our virtual gallery at https://lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries/.

“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/). “I start with a design concept in mind, but it is just the beginning of this emotional journey that evolves on the canvas.”

Stotler is a multi-media artist  whose interests span pottery, photography and watercolor media. She’s been exhibiting for over a decade in the Bay Area and is recognized for her abstract work in galleries and exhibits.

Time

April 5 (Wednesday) - June 2 (Friday)

Location

Art Gallery at Wilder

20 Orinda Fields Land, Orinda, CA

01may10:00 am03jun(jun 3)10:00 amArt Gallery at the Orinda Library: Ekphrasis Collaborative Exhibit - Lamorinda Arts Alliance, California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch Lamorinda Arts CouncilMeet the Artists and Authors and enjoy light refreshments at their May 6, 2023 Reception 10:00 am - (june 3) 10:00 am Art Gallery at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way

Event Details

Three local arts organizations, Lamorinda Arts Alliance (LAA), California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch (CWC) and Lamorinda Arts Council (LAC) have collaborated to present an unusual exhibit in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library during May entitled “Ekphrasis Collaborative Exhibit. The Ekphrasis Committee organizers, LAA President Donna Arganbright and Vice President of Exhibitions Ruth Stanton; CWD Vice President Linda Hartmann and LAC Curator Bill Carmel invite you to meet the Authors and Artists who make the show so special on May 6 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. You will also have the opportunity to hear recitations of creative writings paired with videos of artwork screened in the Library Auditorium.

Ekphrasis is a Greek word meaning writing that describes art; the curators say art can also describe writing. Authors write about visual artwork and visual artists create artwork about writings by authors, and vice versa. Over 100 related artworks and writings are paired for display in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library. Questions? Learn what it’s all about at https://lamorindaarts.org/ekphrasis/ or email curator Bill Carmel at ekphrasis@lamorindaarts.org.

This free exhibit runs May 1 through June 3. Visit the gallery at 26 Orinda Way during normal library hours – Mon. – Thu. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri. – Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; closed Sunday. Close date is Monday May 29. Call 925-254-2184 for more information or visit http://ccclib.org/.

Time

May 1 (Monday) 10:00 am - June 3 (Saturday) 10:00 am

Location

Art Gallery at the Orinda Library

26 Orinda Way

04may8:00 pm10:00 pm"Silver Lining" SMC Dance Company Concert8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Saint Mary's College LeFevre Theatre, 1928 St Mary\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Rd, Moraga, CA 94575

Event Details

Thursday, May 4, 2023, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday, May 5, 2023, 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 6, 2023, 2:00 pm
Saturday, May 6, 2023, 8:00 pm
The title “Silver Lining” was chosen to represent the brilliance, radiance, and long-lasting value of the relationships that have been built over the past 25 years. Additionally, it speaks to the hope and possibilities for the future as we move forward from the challenges of the pandemic. We are excited to celebrate all that our company has achieved and look forward to the future with optimism and positivity.

This year, Saint Mary’s College Dance Company is excited to celebrate 25 years of dance excellence. In addition to performances by our current students, alumni are invited to participate in the opening piece of our 25th Anniversary concert. There will also be a reception with current students and alumni at 4pm on Saturday, May 6 on the LeFevre Terrace. The concert is an evening of works choreographed by the faculty: Crystaldawn Bell, CatherineMarie Davalos, Pope Flyne, Dana Lawton, Rogelio Lopez, Micah Sallid, Shaunna Vella, and Jia Wu, with lighting designed by Matthew Cohen, Andrio Jordan Fong & Alex Tiscareno. The concert features Modern/Contemporary Dance, Tap, West African, Dance Theatre, and Baile Folklorico. The evening culminates with a tribute to our Graduating Seniors.

Time

(Thursday) 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Location

Saint Mary's College LeFevre Theatre

1928 St Mary\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Rd, Moraga, CA 94575

Organizer

Saint Mary's College Performing Arts Departmenttms8@stmarys-ca.edu 1928 Saint Marys Rd

11may8:00 pm10:00 pm"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" SMC Choir Concert8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Saint Mary's College of California Chapel, 1928 St Mary\'s Rd, Moraga, CA 94575

Event Details

May 11 & 13, 2023 | 8-10 PM
SMC Chapel

Treat yourself to a soul-stirring showcase of musical styles featuring our Chamber Singers, Jazz Singers, and Glee. “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” by Dolly Parton provides a hopeful framework for the range of artistic expression. Featured pieces include “How Lovely is thy Dwelling Place” from Brahms’ German Requiem, Maurice Duruflé’s meditative “Ubi Caritas, Lajos Bárdos celebrative “Cantemus,” and Carlos Chavez’s inventive soundscape with nonsensical text, “Nokwic.” Other  highlights will be the Grammy-nominated arrangement of  “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Alvin Chea & Jarret Johnson, two uplifting Greg Murai arrangements (a Gospel rendition of the Spiritual, “Witness,” and a sure-to-get-you dancing version of Carlos Rosas’ “Cantemos Al Señor”), plus true gems by iconic artists Billie Holiday, Lennon & McCartney, Buddy Johnson, Stevie Wonder, and Beyoncé. Join us on May 11 and 13 at 8 pm in the Chapel.

FREE, Contributions Welcome: stmarys-ca.edu/choirgives

Masks are required. Please bring your own.

Time

(Thursday) 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Location

Saint Mary's College of California Chapel

1928 St Mary\'s Rd, Moraga, CA 94575

Organizer

Saint Mary's College Performing Arts Departmenttms8@stmarys-ca.edu 1928 Saint Marys Rd

12may7:00 pm8:30 pm"Forever Selena" SMC Jazz Concert7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Saint Mary's College LeFevre Theatre, 1928 St Mary\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Rd, Moraga, CA 94575

Event Details

May 12, 2023 | 7:00-8:30 PM
LeFevre Theatre

Please join us for our  Spring Jazz Band Concert with special guest Saint Francis High School (Mountain View) Jazz Band. The concert will feature a variety of musical styles including jazz, samba, and a special tribute to the late Queen of Tejano Music, Selena Quintanilla featuring instrumental arrangements of her hit songs: Como la FlorLa CarcachaAmor Prohibido, and Biddi Biddi Bom Bom 

Please bring your own mask. They are required.

Tickets: $8 SMC Students; $12 SMC Faculty/Staff & non-SMC Students (including high school students); $15 general admission

Click HERE to purchase tickets.

Time

(Friday) 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Location

Saint Mary's College LeFevre Theatre

1928 St Mary\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Rd, Moraga, CA 94575

Organizer

Saint Mary's College Performing Arts Departmenttms8@stmarys-ca.edu 1928 Saint Marys Rd

28may3:00 pm5:00 pmMocktails & Cocktails w/Friends of the Lamorinda Arts CouncilNO HOST BAR3:00 pm - 5:00 pm The Cooperage, 32 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette 94549

Event Details

Join friends of the Lamorinda Arts Council for conversations about the creative life. Please bring whatever art, digital art, music, writing, etc. you are working on as a “prompt” to start the conversation. We want to know what is stirring up (or blocking) your creative juices at The Coop, 32 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette, from 3-5 p.m. Look for our our knockoff Picassoesque poster of Dora Maar (Picasso’s muse & model) – that’s us! No host bar. Just show up. Questions? Email literary@lamorindaarts.org.

The mission of the Council is to ignite and sustain artistic expression and appreciation for all ages throughout Lamorinda. If you are interested in visual, performing or literary arts, please join us in keeping the arts alive. We are an engaged group of volunteers and donors who develop and produce events, partner with professional organizations and artists, give financial support and awards, and advocate for a vibrant, local culture of visual, performing, and literary arts.

If you are interested in exhibiting artwork in one of our galleries please apply online HERE. The LAC curates two galleries in Orinda with virtual and in-person artwork every month (Art Gallery at the Orinda Library & Art Gallery at Wilder). Below is a sample of other programs we offer or participate in:

LAC Programs

  • Art Embraces Words, Art Embraces Music (new in 2022) and Art Embraces Poetry (new in 2023)
  • Art of Mixology Competition/Fundraiser (yearly in October @ Theatre Square, Orinda)
  • Artify Orinda (utility boxes & Big Belly’s in Orinda displaying artwork by local artists)
  • Arts Ambassadors (unjuried exhibit for Lamorinda K-8 youth; all receive AA ribbon)
  • High School Visual Arts Competition (Homeschools, Public and Private High Schools in Lamorinda including all high schools in the Acalanes Union High School District, yearly in March – juried)
  • Lafayette Art & Wine Festival (double booth for youth art tables, yearly in Sept.)
  • Lafayette Community Day (new in 2022)
  • Lamorinda Idol (Annual youth singing competition open to K-12 students in Contra Costa County)
  • Lamorinda Presents (monthly roundtable hosted by Lafayette Chamber of Commerce)
  • Mocktails & Cocktails (last Sunday each month)
  • Moraga Spring Fest (hosted by Moraga youth)
  • Orinda Action Day

Community Partners and Arts Partners

  • Art in Public Places Committee (LAC liaison representative to APPC in City of Orinda)
  • Art Moves Project (LAC NP incubator program)
  • CA Arts Council
  • CA Writers Club, Mt. Diablo Branch (co-host of Ekphrasis Collaborative Art Exhibit, May 2023)
  • Compass Realty, Diane Dwyer & Wendy Bond
  • Community Foundation of Lafayette
  • Lamorinda Arts Alliance (Sponsor of Digital Art Category and cash award in H.S. Visual Arts Competition; co-host of Ekphrasis Collaborative Art Exhibit, May 2023)
  • Mindful Littles (LAC in-kind contribution)
  • Orinda Community Foundation
  • Saint Mary’s College Arts (Student Intern program)

 

Time

(Sunday) 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location

The Cooperage

32 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette 94549

30may2:00 pm3:00 pmThe Magic, Mystery and Mastery of Vermeer: Library AuditoriumVirtual Exhibit of 28 out of 37 extant Vermeer Paintings - More Than Ever Seen Together2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Orinda Library Auditorium, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda CA 94563

Event Details

Join art lecturer Avril Angevine as she helps us celebrate the once-in-a-lifetime Vermeer virtual exhibit at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum in the Orinda Library Auditorium. View 28 of Vermeer’s 37 known works — more than ever before seen together.

Free; no reservation necessary, just show up. Call the Library at 925-254-2184 for more information or email Michael Beller at michael.beller@library.cccounty.us.

Time

(Tuesday) 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location

Orinda Library Auditorium

26 Orinda Way, Orinda CA 94563

Organizer

Orinda LibraryMichael Bewller 26 Orinda Way, Orinda CA 94563

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