ART

 

Valley Art Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of “On a Summer’s Day” on Aug. 7.  A new selection of over 300 artworks, representing the best of the best of East Bay artists.  There will be an Open House to commemorate the opening on Saturday, Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gallery. The over 300 artworks on display are available for both sale or rent. Also available are a wide selection of juried, high quality, hand-made crafts and jewelry. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11-a.m. to 5 p.m.  Remember that our digital doors are always open. Valley Art Gallery: 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek, www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311

 

Christian Ehrhorn Fine Arts gallery kicks off an exciting exhibit with an Open House Artist Reception on Saturday, Aug. 7 from 5-9 p.m. This will be the first in-person exhibit at the fully opened gallery since March 2020! Come join us for wine, cheese, and community as we celebrate the artwork of Peeta Tinay, Aaron Webb, and Christian Ehrhorn. Tinay is a basket weaver who pushes the boundaries of her material, showing us that form and function are happily wed in her dynamic pieces. Webb’s paintings explore love, loss, and finding the grace in between through his use of acrylic paint, dyes, salt, and rum. Ehrhorn is showing abstract expressionist landscape oil paintings with light and muted color palettes. He is also showing bold mixed media pieces that revolve around nostalgia, order, and natural form. The gallery is located at 39 Moraga Way in downtown Orinda’s theatre district. Regular gallery hours are held Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. christianehrhornfineart.com or call 510-703-7020.

 

Art Gallery at the Orinda Library Lino Prints and Landscapes in Oil and Pastel. The Lamorinda Arts Council presents artwork from Marie Cotter, Hallie Strock, Carol Tarzier and Mike Yashar at the in-person and virtual Art Gallery at the Orinda Library through the month of August. Meet the artists at an outdoor reception in their honor on Aug. 7 from 3 to 5 p.m. Visit www.lamorindaarts.org/

current-exhibits/ for details.

 

Art Gallery at Wilder: Artist Rusk Draws Inspiration from Social Issues. The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view a virtual exhibit of the photography of Grant Rusk through Aug. 31 by visiting www.lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries.  His series of chromogenic prints is entitled “The Ambient Fence.”  Never at a loss for new ideas, he is inspired by social, natural and environmental issues which arise on a regular basis. Rusk serves on the Moraga Art in Public Spaces Committee.

 

The Moraga Art Gallery invites art fans of all ages to a free and festive reception on Saturday, Aug. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. Its current show, “Midsummer Synergies,” which ends on Sept. 19, features Donna Arganbright’s ceramics and Danguole Rita Kuolas’ etchings as well as paintings, photos, ceramics, glassware, jewelry, woodworking, sculpture and other media by more than 25 members and guest-artists. Also, esteemed floutist Nike Rejto, touted by NPR to “enthrall, caress and go straight to the soul,” will be play for all to enjoy throughout the reception. The gallery is located at 432 Center Street in Moraga’s Rheem Shopping Center. Come to meet the artists and enjoy light snacks and wine. Another event will take place at the gallery on the next afternoon - Sunday, Aug. 8 - when artist Danguole Rita Kuolas will de-mystify printmaking during a free public demonstration, using solar etching. All are welcome at any time between 1 and 4 p.m. and all will be invited to take home a small original etching as a keepsake. Open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. (925) 376-5407, or http://moragaartgallery.com

 

MUSIC

 

St. Paul’s Concert Series is excited to present Classical Pianist Misha Galant in a live performance.  It is our first in-person performance, and we will also broadcast online from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Sat., Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. Wildly talented concert pianist Misha Galant recently graduated from the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange in New York.  He is the recipient of the Gilmore Young Artist Award, and a prize-winner at the Van Cliburn Junior international piano competition.  He is a rising star, and we are excited to host a performance with him on the West Coast. At long last, the St. Paul’s Concert Series is able to invite guests to attend our performances in-person.  This performance will also be broadcast online.  Please visit www.stpaulswc.org/concert-series to access the ticket registration, donation links. and links to the Concert Program.  Or, just come to the performance at 1924 Trinity Avenue, in Walnut Creek.

 

Lamorinda Idol Singers Go Live with In-Person Performances. The Lamorinda Arts Council is thrilled to announce the Lamorinda Idol Finals at the Orinda Theatre on Aug. 15. Finalists compete from 11 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.; awards ceremony is 7 to 7:30 p.m. Soloists compete in four categories by grade level; groups compete in three categories by grade level. Visit www.lamorindaarts.org/

idol-2/ for details.

 

Solo Opera presents “Scalia/Ginsburg an Opera” by Derrick Wang. Friday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts. The opera will include an incredible cast: Nikki Einfeld as “Ginsburg,” Christopher Bengochea as “Scalia,” and Kirk Eichelberger as the “Commentator.” The chamber opera will be accompanied by a seven-piece orchestra under the baton of Maestro Alexander Katsman. An incredible production team will be led by Solo Opera Artistic Director, Sylvia Amorino, as stage director/producer. Seating is reserved and ticket prices are Adults: $50, Seniors: $40, Youth 17 and under: $25.  Tickets at (925) 943-7469 or visit the Lesher Center for the Arts Ticket Office:  1601 Civic Drive Walnut Creek.

 

THEATRE

 

California Shakespeare Theater presents “The Winter’s Tale” Sept. 1-26; Evening Performances: 7:30 p.m., Sunday Matinees: 4 p.m., Select Saturday Matinees: 2 p.m., at Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. Cal Shakes welcomes audiences back to the Bruns with a new adaptation of “The Winter’s Tale-Shakespeare’s exquisite reflection of our current moment.” Cost: $30-$65.  For more info see https://calshakes.org/winters-tale/ or call (510) 548-9666 or email boxoffice@calshakes.org.

 

August marks the return of the Orinda Starlight Village Players (OrSVP) to their home at the Orinda Community Center Park Amphitheater and the end of their 14-month pandemic-caused hiatus. OrSVP brings four shows to the stage this month, with a different production every weekend in Aug., each performing as reader’s theater. (See story on Page B2 or visit www.orsvp.org.)

 

OTHER

 

The Monarch Habitat and Demonstration Garden installed by the Moraga Garden Club at Moraga’s Rancho Laguna Park is in full bloom and has monarchs - 11 sightings from July 6-26, including a mating pair!  Birds and butterflies sip at a solar-powered fountain; art and benches to be installed soon. Check it out at 2101 Camino Pablo, during park open hours, one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Free. More info:  MoragaforMonarchs@gmail.com and MoragaGardenClub.com

 

GARDEN

 

Moraga Garden Club. New to the area? Have a barren garden and need to know what grows in our Mediterranean climate? Want to help beautify Moraga and make new friends? Want to hear interesting speakers ranging from renowned authors, photographers and master gardeners to other experts in their fields covering floral design, growing vegetables, proper pruning and many other topics? Now is the time to join! Starting again in September - barring possible COVID restrictions - we meet every third Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center 1700 School Street. Otherwise, Zoom meetings have proven to be very successful. We are free and open to the public. To learn more, visit: www.moragagardenclub.com