The Lamorinda Arts Council presents ceramics by Brad Krebs, paintings by Joseph Loria and Silvia Villanueva Mallon and turned wood by members of the Bay Area Woodturners Association during April in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library. Meet the artists at a reception in their honor on Saturday April 9 from 3 to 5:00 p.m. where light refreshments will be served.

Ceramicist Brad Krebs of Pleasant Hill has been collecting ceramics from artists such as Rowena Brown and Mary Fischer for many  years. While on an extended hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, Krebs spent a lot of time in reflection. He then decided he should take advantage of the nearby Walnut Creek Center for Community Arts ceramics programs. That was about six years ago and he hasn’t stopped yet.

“I chose to focus on a simple house form because of my interest in architecture. My intent is to explore the house form in as many ways as possible,” said Krebs. His focus is on materials, design, additions to clay and the meaning of the house. Look for over 200 ceramic pieces on display from this prolific ceramicist. Follow him @krebs.brad.

Joseph Loria’s theme for his exhibit is “Stories We Tell Ourselves” because, “My focus is on people and places – how I represent that is an intuitive leap.” Some of his favorite artists are Philip Morseberger, Grace Hartigan, Leland Bell, Richard Diebenkorn,  Camille Claudel, Max Beckman, Mia Lin, deKooning and Matisse.

Loria, of Lafayette, uses bold, colorful structural forms to do what he loves best, communicate via the visual language of art. The Bridge is a 60” x 48” painting on canvas made using oil stick, spray paint and tape. The forms in this work repeat as if you are in the white boats sailing in front of the bridge. Learn more about his artwork on Instagram @joeloriaart or visit www.joeloriaart.com.

Silvia Villanueva Mallon grew up in Rubielos de Mora, a small village in Spain which was home to renowned artists Salvador Victoria and Jose Gonzalvo. On her first trip to Madrid to the El Prado and Thyssen Museums she was drawn to a collection by Kandinski. Now living in Oakland, she is most inspired by her neighbor and friend, artist Elaine Toland.

Mallon plays with texture and color via a topcoat of epoxy that protects the paintings, livens up the colors and reflects light in unique ways throughout the day. “Each time I look at one of my paintings it looks different,” she says. Of the seven paintings she is showing, Neila is a large expanse of acrylic color, 40” x 60” of luminous cloud-like shapes. View more of her work at www.dirty-canvas.company.site/.

Kim Wolfe organized the Bay Area Woodturners Association (BAWA) exhibit. BAWA is a nonprofit organization that provides a place for woodturners to share and learn in addition to educating the public about the art of woodturning. Their 140 members live throughout the Bay Area; meetings are held in Pleasant Hill. Members include professional craftspeople, woodturners and hobby enthusiasts.

Their Beads of Courage Box exhibit displays 20 – 30 small wood boxes created by woodturners. “The boxes turned and decorated by our members are donated to local hospitals for distribution to children undergoing medical treatments. These wonderful pieces of art become a sacred vessel for the children to house the numerous beads they receive,” said Wolfe.

The treatment list for children includes cancer, blood disorders, cardiac conditions, neonatal intensive care, chronic illness, rehabilitation care, trauma recovery, pediatric intensive care, burn injury recovery, palliative and supportive care. Colorful beads representing courage during their treatment period are given to the child by a professional medical practitioner. View their work @bawa_woodturning;  more information about BAWA and the Beads of Courage Program can be found at www.bayareawoodturners.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.

In addition to curating two galleries in Orinda with new artwork every month (Art Gallery at the Orinda Gallery & Art Gallery at Wilder), here is a sample of the programs we offer: Lamorinda Idol, High School Visual Arts Competition, Art Embraces Words, Artify Orinda, and Lamorinda Super Shorts. If you are interested in exhibiting artwork in one of our galleries please apply online HERE.

To learn more about the Council go to www.lamorindaarts.org. This exhibit runs Apr. 1 through 30 during normal Library hours in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library at 26 Orinda Way. Hours are Mon. – Thur., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Fri. – Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., closed Sun. Call 925.254.2184 for more information about the Library or visit www.ccclib.org/. Email the Curators with questions at gallery@lamorindaarts.org or call the Lamorinda Arts Council at 925.359.9940.