DECEMBER ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL

Hey art aficionados! Our December Arts and Crafts show is up and it looks stunning. This will be great fun for the holiday season and we have some special surprises.

Our opening reception is this Saturday, December 6, from 2 to 5 pm and it is going to be a hum-dinger! First of all we will have music provided by Alice Martinez and her ukulele. Nothing like Christmas music to the ukulele. We will also have Franklin T. Burroughs who will be giving a reading of his fiction from the book "tremors", a book of short fiction by California writers. And finally we have Tony Saraceno pouring samples of his Nimium Wines.

This will be a great opening reception and a great show. Please come and visit us.

FRO

Opening Reception
Saturday, December 6th, 2-5 pm
aRt Cottage
2238 Diablo St.
Concord, CA

CELEBRATE

Come celebrate the holiday season with aRt Cottage. We have an exceptional show for you in November titled appropriately enough "CELEBRATE".

The show opens on Nov. 4th and runs through the 29th. The Opening Artists Reception will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8th from 2-5 pm.

Artists in the November show have a common thread between them.  Each artist is a member of the East Bay Artists Guild.  This unique group of talented individuals is comprised of artists of all levels and include a variety of two and three dimensional art.   Media these artists use to express themselves range from painting, drawing, jewelry, sculpture, photography, fine furniture, glass art, textiles and so much more. The East Bay Artists Guild (or EBAGers as I fondly call them) bring art into the community through art exhibitions and community art events.  They come together for networking, sharing, building art and business skills and art education.  Meetings are held monthly where guest speakers provide demos and critiques.  EBAG is co-sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Parks Department.  Membership is open to any artist or art lover who subscribes to the purpose of the organization which is to be dedicated to the success of artists, and drive towards integrating the benefits of art and art appreciation into the communities.

We are also planning our annual Arts and Crafts Festival for December. If you are interested in submitting your work for this event go to the NEXT SHOW page for more information.

FRO

"Art is What You Can Get Away With"

Cathy Riggs, Gwenn Spratt, Nancy Robinson, and Pamela McCauley 

 

Cathy, Gwenn, Nancy  and Pam are all members of the Martinez Gallery.

"Art is what you can get away with. We all tried to push the boundaries out on our work and reach for new ways to express ourselves.  Not one of us is limited to a certain media, we are willing to try new things to achieve the images we want.  Oil, pastels, watercolor, collage, and acrylics - none are safe from us.  We are simply sisters united in the constant search for better forms of expression."

The show runs from October 1st to 31st during normal gallery hours.  The Artist's Reception will be this coming Saturday, October 4th from 2 to 5 pm. Please join us for refreshments, entertainment and some challenging artwork.

FRO

Lamorinda Arts Alliance Group Show

aRt Cottage proudly presents the Lamorinda Arts Alliance exhibit for the month of September.  The aRt Cottage would like to see many newcomers from the public welcome the artists at the Reception for the Artists, September 11, from 6 to 9.  This is a free event and open to all. The more the merrier.

Live Music will be featured by the Delta Breeze, our favorite husband and wife team -  Pauline (vocalist) and Tony Benedetti,12 string guitarist.   Wine and non alcoholic beverages will be served with finger food. 

The Lamorinda Arts Alliance or LAA as it is commonly called, was founded in 1994.  It is an organization of local artists and friends who reside or work in the area.  “We strive to provide opportunities for artists to excel in the practice of their art.  We promote the knowledge and appreciation of the arts in Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda and the surrounding communities.  We have 160 members.  Our artists work in many media including oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, clay, metal, stone, pastel, wood, printmaking, textiles and photography.”

LAA sponsors two cooperative art galleries where members display and sell their work:  the Lafayette Art Gallery at 3420-A  Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette, and the Moraga Art Gallery at 522 Center St. in the Rheem Shopping Center in Moraga.  LAA sponsors an annual Artists' Open Studios in October where people may visit the artists' studios and may view and purchase their work.  We also strive to provide other exhibit opportunities for artists throughout the year.

Contra Costa Landscapes

Our next show, Contra Costa Landscapes, will be from August 1 to August 31.  This show will feature the paintings of two plein aire painters, Pam Miller and Pat Draper.

An Opening Reception is scheduled for Thursday, August 7 from 6 to 9 pm.

Pam Miller, once a long term member of the California Watercolor Association is now also painting with acrylic medium.  Pam has switched from watercolor to acrylic and enjoys plein aire painting. The elements do not frighten her. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night shall stay Pam from her appointed rounds.  She paints by mixing directly on the canvas. Her favorite tool is the palette knife;  her marks are bold and bright.  Several of Pam's paintings have depicted the aRt Cottage.  Pam's paintings reflect her cheerful, positive attitude and makes one smile.

Pat has been painting since high school and drawing all of her life.  She painted in oils to begin with and switched to acrylics in 2008.  She made the switch because the solvents were to bothersome with the oils.  Pat and Pam met through Mark Jezierney's Adult Education painting class and became colleagues.  Their adventures began through plein aire painting at various local locations.  Pat feels she is a colorist, and this shows in her bold strokes.  Pat is currently working on a collection featuring barns.

African Arts and Crafts

We are pleased to announce that, once again, the aRt Cottage is hosting the Asante Network, this time for the entire month of August. We will be showing and selling art and craft items from East Africa.

Asante Network assists women’s groups in East Africa. Mothers, grandmothers, widows, and students, the women range in age from 20 to 60. All have a similar goal: Education. They know that education is the roadmap out of poverty to a better life for themselves, their children and grandchildren!

The women enjoy working together. Collectively they learn new skills, critique each others work, solve common challenges and support the group goals.

Please stop by and view these beautiful works of art and do a good deed in the process. OPEN HOUSE IS AUGUST 7 FROM 6 TO 9 REFRESHMENTS AND LIVE MUSIC

Artist Getaway

Our new show is up and it is stunning. The Artist Getaway presents multiple fresh takes on plein air painting as well as much more. you will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of styles presented here.

Artist Getaway is where artists go on vacation to paint! These are trips for artists who love to paint and socialize with other artists while enjoying a scenic vacation. The emphasis is on pleinair painting but studio artists are also prominently represented.

Artist Getaway was founded in 2012 by Samantha McNally, a member of the California Watercolor Association, the East Bay Pleinair Painters, the East Bay Artist Guild, the North Bay Pleinair Painters and the Benicia Pleinair Painters. Samantha sat on the CWA board of directors for 5 years from 2007 through 2011 and is currently the chair of the CWA pleinair group and on the 2014, 44th National Exhibition Committee. 

We will be hosting an Artists Reception this Thursday, July 3rd from 6 to 9 pm. There will be food, beverages and music. Don't miss this opportunity. The show runs through July 31st.

FRO

Excellent Reception

Last Saturday's Artists Reception for the DVCC Photography Show was outstanding. There was a good sized turnout of art and photography Aficionados but more importantly everyone was in a really mellow mood. We had great food, beverages and conversations. And by the time our guest artist/guitarist, Rick Najarian, began his first music set everyone was ready to kick back and relax. The following video gives you just and idea of some of the goings on.

There is still a lot of time to come and see this magnificent exhibit. The show continues through June 27. Come by and visit!

The Art of Photography

aRt Cottage is delighted to welcome back the Diablo Valley Camera Club for its second Photography Exhibition. DVCC's previous exhibition showcased the wonders of the natural world. This time the gloves came off and the result is an eclectic collection of photographic subjects.

As you enter the gallery you are greeted by two of the most amazing portraits. These portraits of Vietnamese natives were shot by Irena Miles and manage to capture not just the time and the place but the emotional soul of Vietnam. (Click on any image to enlarge it)

Chris Nelson demonstrates his mastery of line and color with a series of vintage cars, in both decrepit and restored condition. The colors are brilliant, as if you were touring downtown Miami Beach.

Mark and Cathy Pemberton have shared an intimate look at the almost spriitual side of the wildlife of Japan. They visited there only a few months ago and are sharing for the first time their photos of the Snow Monkeys of Nagano as well as the Red-Crowned Cranes of Hokkaido. The expression on the faces of the Snow Monkeys are extremely human and intriguing. Cranes occupy an almost mystical place in the lore of Japan and China and Mark and Cathy have captured the grace and beauty of the cranes mating rituals.

The main gallery has a collection of both landscapes and city scapes with a few surprises thrown in. One of the images ""Yosemite After the Storm"  is a shot of half dome by Karen Najarian. This photo so far exceeds the usual shots of this iconic rock that it is truly breathtaking. It is not surprising to learn that Karen spends her summers leading groups of backpackers through the Sierras.

The show has much more to see than I can describe here. Please come by the aRt Cottage and check out this wonderful collection.

We will be hosting an Artists Reception this coming Saturday, June 7th from 2 to 5 pm. We will have food, beverages and as an additional treat, Rick Najarian has agreed to a repeat performance of guitar music from about 3:30 to 5 pm. Don't miss this opportunity.

Gary Anderson and Friends

Attention Art Lovers of the East Bay! Our latest show is up and running and it is a beaut! We have a delightful array of paintings and other objets d'art. And with the springtime weather what could be better than viewing some art and then sitting on one of our benches under our spreading trees out front.

The Artists Reception will be this Saturday, May 10 from 2 to 5 pm. This also corresponds with the Concord AAUW Art & Wine Walk, which takes place from 1 to 4 pm. The aRt Cottage is proud to be a part of the art and wine walk to promote awareness and opportunity in the arts for young women. (For more information about the Art & Wine Walk click here.) It should be a great afternoon.


Come visit us soon and enjoy the best that Concord has to offer.

FRO

Creating Art with Your iPAD or Tablet

Click to enlarge

Hey everyone. Pat Calabro will be teaching a cool class here at the aRt Cottage next Tuesday, April 15, from 7 to 10 pm. She will be demonstrating the techniques used to paint or draw on the iPAD and answer any questions you may have.

Call 925-956-3342 to reserve your space in the class. There is a limit of 10 students so call as soon as possible to reserve your space. This should be a very fun and interesting event.

FRO

APRIL - CC14 SPRING SHOW

The April Exhibit at aRt Cottage features a group of artists known as the CC14.  This group gathers to exhibit at local galleries and support each other through critique, education and camaraderie.   It was formed 12 years ago by art students at Diablo Valley College, after taking many classes together over a long period of time. These adult students became friends with a common interest, and formed this group with the goal of helping each other advance their art to a professional level.  While the group still calls itself CC14, there are now more than 30 members.  Members  volunteer to coordinate exhibits and host monthly critique meetings.  

Click on Image to Enlarge

CC14 artists have created an excellent body of work that they wish to share. This show at the aRt Cottage is a prime opportunity for people to see the professional work that these artists have created. Please visit the Cottage and let us know what you think.

We will be hosting an Artist's Reception on Saturday, April 5th from 2 to 5 pm. This would be an excellent opportunity to visit, enjoy the artwork and talk to the artists themselves. We hope to see you there!

FRO  

Scattered - Joan McCarthy

Mark Jezierny and Students Show and Reception

Once again the aRt Cottage has invited noted local artist, Mark Jezierny and his talented group of students, to exhibit their work. Last year's show was wonderful and this year's show continues the tradition. Mark is exhibiting some of his large vibrant works that are not to be missed. The other artists offer an amazing variety of stylistic variations. The central theme, however, appears to be a celebration of color.

This Saturday, March 8th, from 2 to 5 pm we will be hosting an Opening Reception. Please come by and help us celebrate the fine art and artists. We will have food, beverage and lots of enjoyable company. Don't miss it!

aRt Cottage

2238 Mt. Diablo Street

Concord, CA 

925-956-3342

Glover Group Opening is Stunning

Our current show at the aRt Cottage is a collection of plein air paintings by the Glover Group. The collection presents some of the freshest and most vibrant work yet presented at the Cottage. Even though all of the works were all painted en plein air, the wide variety of styles and approaches is astonishing.

Please come by and see this latest show and catch a breath of plein air! The show runs through February 28th.

Click any image to enlarge

Lamorinda Arts Alliance Group Show Preview

Lamorinda Arts Alliance Group Show

The aRt Cottage is delighted to ring in 2014 with a group show by the Lamorinda Arts Alliance. This extremely talented group of artists has been a mainstay of the local art scene since its founding in 1994. They will be bringing their collected art works to the aRt Cottage beginning January 6th continuing through January 31st.

On January 11 we will be hosting an opening Reception from 2 to 5 pm. Please join us for some food and fun and to enjoy the magnificent art.

FRO