Join us at one of the Lamorinda Arts Council’s (LAC) six FREE Art Embraces Words  Zoom Webinar series in 2021. Sunday dates are: Jan. 31, Mar. 28, May 30, July 25, Sep. 26 and Oct. 31.

Presenters for the Jan. 31 program include: Judy Bebelaar of Berkeley will read
from the published book about the students she and Ron Cabral of Concord
came to know in Peoples Temple; Jim Gunshinan of Walnut Creek is a poet and freelance writer who will read from his piece of creative nonfiction, The Broken Door; Tim Hancock of Lafayette, is a local illustrator, fine artist and arts advocate who has been teaching art in the Bay Area for over 20 years. Tim is showing illustrations from his work-in-progress graphic novel entitled Secret Ocean; Joni Keim of Lafayette will read a harrowing true story about her grandfather on a desolate stretch of road on the out outskirts of Los Angeles in 1937; and Peeta Tinay of Orinda has been making large scale intricate baskets since 2008. She teaches basketry at all levels, both nationally and internationally.

LAC President Denise Nomura, an artist herself, is our Emcee. She 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 November 15, 2020 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.