The Moraga Art Gallery: Expressions
By Noah Frankel and Trevor Krick, Staff Writers
Many of its visitors enjoy art, food, and interacting with the local community at the Moraga Art Gallery. With a rotating roster of guest artists, there is always something new to experience.
The Moraga Art Gallery held an event celebrating their new exhibit called “Expressions” on Sept. 14, with feature artists Dalia Alekna and Mary Leigh Miller and guest artist Alys Briggs.
Dalia Alekna, a painter and etcher, and Mary Leigh Miller, a master raku ceramicist, are the featured artists in the “Expressions” exhibit. Alekna received her master's and bachelor's degrees from the Art Institute of Chicago. Her abstract acrylic paintings are front and center in the new exhibit, surrounded by the works of other member artists, who work hard to keep the gallery up and running.
“So, we’re the ones who do a little bit more organizing for this show, but all of us have a job, everybody…there are about 19 artists,” Alekna said.
A unique aspect of the Moraga Art Gallery is the fluctuating rotation of art.
“It's a wonderful space, we have some great artists here, and we try to keep it interesting too because there are 18 members, but we have guest artists and different mediums to mix it up,” Head of Technology and photographer Wenda Pyman said.
One of the guest artists for the new exhibit, Alys Briggs creates photo montages using Photoshop to add depth and layers to her work. This use of technology creates interesting visuals and colors in the montages.
“The camera for me is for some people the equivalent of a pen or pencil…[I create] photographic images that are layered in Photoshop,” Briggs said.
The gallery’s variation can make it a great place for both the casual art enjoyer or an avid buyer. Some residents choose to visit for the social interactions that the gallery provides.
“[My wife and I] have been coming for ten years because a good friend has been exhibiting here for longer than that... I recognize lots of faces and it's always fun to come,” resident Scott Honneger said.
This overarching sense of community at the gallery draws many people to their events such as the most current exhibit, “Expressions”.
“People come because they are interested in art, whether they are going to spend any money on it doesn’t matter… For people who belong here it is an opportunity to have a place to share their work,” Briggs said.
