ART

 

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. Peeta 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. Aaron Webb’s paintings explore love, loss, and finding the grace in between through his use of acrylic paint, dyes, salt, and rum! Christian 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 Wed. - Sat. from noon - 4 p.m. christianehrhornfineart.com or call 510-703-7020.

 

Art show at Orinda Books. July features “Trailblazers”- An Exhibit by the Bay Area Studio Artists. Featured in the show will be a collaborative work honoring the brilliant Robin Williams. BASA artists painted 24 individual 10’ x 10” canvases which combine to create the painting. The result: an image of Robin Williams that captures his luminous, brilliant personality but hints at the struggles within the man himself. The 41 x 61” piece is titled, A Spark In the Dark. Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda. 925-254-7606

 

MUSIC

 

Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble announces auditions for the Fall. Auditions will be held July 25-31. You can set up an audition appointment @ calendly.com/vociaudition/audition OR visit vocisings.org/about/audition/ (which also has more information about auditions and covid guidelines). VOCI is known for their beautiful choral sound, Voci Women’s Ensemble is a select chorus of 26-30 experienced choral musicians. Voci sings beautiful and interesting music from all style periods. Voci rehearses in Orinda on Wednesday nights & performs in Berkeley, Oakland, and Lafayette.

 

Berkeley Symphony presents Reopening Concert on Wednesday, Aug 4, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm, at Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. Berkeley Symphony returns to the stage for its first live performance in over a year with a program of beloved opera classics and contemporary works. Cost: $50.  For more info see http://www.berkeleysymphony.org or call 510-841-2800 or email info@berkeleysymphony.org.

 

Solo Opera presents Scalia/Ginsburg an Opera by Derrick Wang. Friday, Sept. 10 - 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 12, 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.

 

THEATER

 

Woodminster Welcomes the Bay Area Back to Theatre with Always.Patsy Cline.  July 9-11, 16-18, 23-25. All performances at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Patsy Cline had been performing for nearly a decade when she recorded her first album, which included the song, “Walkin’ After Midnight.” With this song, she auditioned for Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and was accepted to sing on the popular TV show. Woodminster Summer Musicals are performed under the stars at Woodminster Amphitheater, an open-air performance facility in Joaquin Miller Park high in the Oakland Hills. For more information about the 2021 season, COVID protocols, seat assignments, or the history of the organization, visit www.woodminster.com.

 

Studio Retreat a FREE 10-day Masterclass in acting and playwriting in Danville, CA. Dates for our 10-day Acting and Playwriting Workshop are July 21 - Aug. 1 (with a break on Mon., July 26 and Tues., July 27.)  We invite high-school students from throughout the Bay Area to Tao House, the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site, one-time home of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play-wright. Students will be coached in their respective dis-ciplines by highly experienced Bay Area professionals. We look forward to welcoming students back in person to Tao House this summer - we still have spots left! Application and more info at www.eugeneoneill.org/studio-retreat/

 

LITERATURE

 

Eugene O’Neill Foundation Festival 2021 Tiny Horizon. We’re inviting you to share your story of what you long for just beyond the horizon in 100 words or less, similar to Tiny Love Stories made popular by the NY Times Modern Love column. Imagine what possibilities and dreams await you just beyond the horizon. Tiny Horizon Stories can be about any theme that inspires you. Write a tiny story about that future you envision in 100 words or less and send in your Tiny Horizon Story using the form on the eugeneoneill.org website. Visit eugeneoneill.org for more information on Tiny Horizon Stories and watch for a full production of O’Neill’s Beyond the Horizon filmed at Tao House in the fall.

 

KPFA Radio 94.1 FM presents Lisa Wells + Joanna Manqueros: Believers: Making a Life at End World on Tuesday, Aug 17, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, at Online webinar, 1929 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley. Lisa Wells discusses hew new book, Believers: Making a Life at the End of the World, and answers questions. Hosted by Joanna Manqueros. Cost: Suggested Donation $5-$20.  For more info see www.eventbrite.com/e/lisa-wells-joanna-manqueros-believers-making-a-life-at-the-end-of-world-tickets-159198058679

 

OTHER

 

The monthly Green Sofa Cinema Series continues Thursday, July 22 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. In advance, watch the film “The Water Crisis-National Geographic: The Last Drop” at your leisure from the comfort of your own sofa. On July 22, join a one-hour Zoom chat to talk about the film and hear from an EBMUD expert. Free. To register and watch the film in advance, go to: https://sustainablecoco.org/calendar/

 

Sustainability LIVE: Let’s Get Rolling: Bicycling in Contra Costa. July 28, 7-8:30 p.m. We know we should be biking more; it’s a fun, zero-carbon emissions way to get around. But why don’t we? Bike needs fixing? Not sure how to navigate on city streets? Wondering if it will take too long or you’re not in good enough shape? Our guests will give you the resources, tips and most of all, confidence, to get out there and ride! And if you’re curious about electric bikes, we’ll share the latest information about them too. With lots of time for your questions, of course. Register for this free event at sustlive15.eventbrite.com.

 

KPFA Radio 94.1 FM presents Jeremy Lent & Joanna Manqueros: The Web of Meaning on Tuesday, Aug 10, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, at Online webinar, 1929 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley. Jeremy Lent discusses The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom to Find Our Place in the Universe. Hosted by Joanna Manqueros. Cost: Suggested Donation $5-$20.  For more info see www.eventbrite.com/e/jeremy-lent-joanna-manqueros-the-web-of-meaning-tickets-159477650947.

 

American Association of University Women- Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette Branch (AAUW-OML) will hold a general meeting zoom webinar on fire safety and readiness on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 10:00am.  Entitled “Are You Ready?”, the webinar will feature Noelle Crosse, the public education coordinator of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and Taylor King, an inspector with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and a Lieutenant with the River Deltas Fire Department.  The webinar will deal with issues of personal safety and preparedness as well as the issues making your home landscaping fire ready.  The public is welcome to attend the webinar by registering in advance at the OML website: oml-ca.aauw.net.