The Canary

“The Livermore Cultural Arts Council is an association of educational and cultural organizations. The purpose of these organizations and of the LCAC is to promote educational and cultural activities within the Livermore community .. and to strive to heighten community awareness and appreciation of the arts.” (Bylaws II:1)

The Livermore Art Association invites visitors to view changing displays and to find unique gifts. Carnegie Building, 2155 3rd St., Livermore. Open Wed. through Sun, 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. Phone 449-9927. Information available on local art offerings and history of the valley.

1890’s costumed docents of the Ravenswood Progress League lead free tours of the Ravenswood Historic Site, 100+ year-old buildings, and some of the 30 acres of grounds. Ravenswood Historic Site, 2647 Arroyo Rd, Livermore. Hours 12:00 to 4:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of most months. Call 443-0238 for information. Free and open to the public.

Every First Sunday, rain or shine -- Friends of the Livermore Library stage a Book Sale from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm in front of the Old Library, 1000 South Livermore Avenue. Books, magazines, audio visual at very low prices. Shopping bag sale for $ 2.00 a bag from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. Always a table of free books! For information call 443-8291.

2 MAR- The Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center presents an afternoon of compelling contemporary ballet with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. One of America’s leading contemporary dance companies, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is renowned for its daring, eclectic repertoire, from 20th-century classics to new works by today’s foremost choreographers. This sophisticated company of energetic dancers has charmed audiences with its fresh and innovative style of classical and contemporary ballet. Bankhead Theater. Performance at 2pm.• $28, $31, $36 ($11 students)

7 MAR- The Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center invites you to come hear the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Whether you’re In a Sentimental Mood or Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, you’ll cozy up to the signature sounds of the incomparable Duke Ellington Orchestra. Conductor and leader Paul Mercer Ellington continues the orchestra founded by his father, the quintessential American bandleader and one of the 20th century’s greatest composers. Bankhead Theater. Performance at 8pm • $28, $31, $36, $41 ($11 students.)

13 MAR - Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society invites the public to its general meeting featuring a talk on Tradition and Tradition Breakers: One Korean Family Lineage, 720 A.D.-1955 by Hildi Kang at 7:30 pm at Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. http://www.l-ags.org

Las Positas College Performing Arts and Shakespeare’s Associates invite you to a month of activities.
5 & 7 MAR – One Act Plays, Wednesday, March 5, at 12:30 pm and Friday, March 7, at 8 pm at the Las Positas College Theater. Free admission.

25 MAR – Shakespeare’s Associates and Las Positas College Community Education will offer a special class, “Previewing Proof,” 7:00-9:00 pm, Room 2470 (in the new multi-purpose building) at the college. The class will include an overview of the issues surrounding the play and an inside look at how the show is put together. Participants can register through the Community Ed schedule, on-line at www.laspositascollege.edu/communityed, or in person on the night of the class. $10.00.

8 MAR - Valley Concert Chorale invites you to a reprise of Carl Orff's ever popular and appealing Carmina Burana. The concert will start at 8:00 pm at Livermore’s Bankhead Theater. Tickets will be $25; available at the Bankhead Box Office (373-6800). For further information call 866-4003, or go to www.valleyconcertchorale.org

14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 MAR – The Livermore Valley Opera presents Opera’s fiery, feisty femme fatale - Carmen! Listen to her famous aria, Habanera, where she declares that love is a wild bird that nothing can tame. The 4 act opera is conducted by Alex Katsman and directed by James Marvel. Performances at Livermore’s Bankhead Theater. $30 to $45 Preview Night 3/14 & Frugal Friday 3/21 (both Fridays); 8pm $35 to $55, Opening Night Gala 8pm 3/15; & 2pm Matinees 3/16, 3/22 & 3/23; $1.00 handling fee per ticket is charged by the box office. Bankhead Theater Box Office 373-6800 or online at www.LivermorePerformingArts.com.

27 MAR – 27 APR - Shakespeare’s Associates will present Proof by David Auburn at the Bothwell Arts Center, West End Theater, 8th and H Sts, Livermore. Proof has won many awards, including the Tony Award for best play, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Drama Critics Circle Award, and others. Performances are at 8:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays; 2:00 pm on Sundays. The Sunday performances will be followed by panel discussions, inviting audience members to share life experiences in mathematics, music, women in math and other issues raised in the play as well as sharing their experiences of the show; audience members from other performances will be invited to attend. Tickets ($25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students; $20 preview night on March 27) go on sale February 1 and are available online at www.ShakespearesAssociates.org or by telephone at 1-800-838-3006

29 MAR- Livermore-Amador Symphony presents Romance, Rhyme, and Remembrance - 8:00 pm at the Bankhead Theater. Enjoy Ambroise Thomas’ sentimental Overture to the 1866 Opera, Mignon, telling the tale of an abducted gypsy waif, to be followed by Ravel’s ballet suite from the fairy tales Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, and Beauty and the Beast. They will be followed by Elgar’s Cello Concerto starring Lawrence Granger, a cellist in the San Francisco Symphony since 1979. The evening will close with a performance of the wonderful Beethoven Symphony No. 4 under the baton of Guest Conductor Dawn Harms from Stanford University. Tickets may be purchased by visiting or calling the Bankhead Theater LVPAC Box Office, 2400 First Street, or 373-6800. Prices are $31, $26, and $21. For more information call 373-6824 or 4477-6454.

The Livermore-Yotsukaido

Sister City Organization

4 APR – The Livermore-Yotsukaido Sister City Organization invites you to its Community Japanese Dinner & Concert featuring the Taiko Dojo (seen in the movie “Rising Sun”). 6:30 pm at the Robert Livermore Community Center, 4444 East Avenue, Livermore. 6:30 pm. Donation $35, children 12 and under, $15. Call 925-477-0856 for information. Tickets available at Valley Music Source in Livermore and Towne Center Books in Pleasanton.

5 & 6 APR – Come to the annual Livermore Art Association Spring Art Show from 10 am – 4 pm at The Barn on Pacific Avenue, Livermore. An evening reception will be held Saturday, April 5.

8 APR - Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society invites the public to their general meeting featuring a talk on Detecting the Date of Historical Photographs, by Ron Willis at 7:30 pm at Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. http://www.l-ags.org

24 APR – The Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center invites you to enjoy an evening with the Luna Negra Dance Theater, a Latin and Afro-Caribbean dance group. Fiery and passionate contemporary dance flavored by tango, mambo and salsa, Luna Negra’s distinctive style artfully blends ballet and modern dance movements with Latino dance forms. Founded by Cuban-born artistic director Eduardo Vilaro, this richly textured and highly original contemporary dance theater features a fresh, exciting performance style. Performance 8pm • $28, $31, $36 ($11 students.)

26 APR – Pacific Chamber Symphony. The program will feature Saint-Saens's Symphony No. 2 in A minor, a travel through dark beauty into joyful rapture, and Chopin's Piano Concerto in G, with French pianist Denis Pascal. Performance at 8:00 pm. Tickets $38, 32, 26. Box office 12-6 pm Mon-Sat; 925-373-6800; or online at www.livermoreperformingarts.org. Full time students through college $7 at the box office.

26 APR - Del Valle Fine Arts welcomes the Binelli-Ferman-Isaac Trio. For their something different concert, DVFA presents Argentines Daniel Binelli and Eduardo Isaac on the bandoneon and guitar, and Uruguayan Polly Ferman on the piano, in an exploration of the excitement and brilliance of the Argentine tango. Performance at 8:00 pm at Livermore’s Bankhead Theater, 2400 First Street. Tickets $29, 24, 19. Box office 12-6 pm Mon-Sat; 925-373-6800; or online at www.livermoreperformingarts.org. Day of performance: High school or under FREE and college $10.

The Livermore Adult Education School offers several classes in the arts. Unless otherwise noted, all classes are held in Room 1 at:

Ed Rundstrom Learning Center:
1401 Almond Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
925-606-4722 Phone
925-606-3389 Fax
www.livermoreadulted.org

Fees: Seniors-55 & older $20 Lab Fee for all classes•

Non-Seniors $35
Do not purchase materials until after first class.

For Winter 2008 the following are available:

Pastels: McKay
Course No: 465001
Tue 1/22-3/18 1:30-4:30pm
Course No: 465002
Tue 4/1-6/3 1:30-4:30pm

Chalk pastels, in use since the 16th century, provide maximum brilliance of any drawing medium; they are easy to use and provide dramatic effects. Oil pastels, a very different medium, were developed at the request of Picasso to adhere to any surface. Both can be used as straight drawing tools, or combined with other media to produce novel effects. We will work from still-life and landscape, and possibly do abstractions. Basic drawing instruction will be provided.

Drawing and Mixed Media: Crew
Course No: 464301
Tue 1/15-3/18 9:30-12:30pm
Course No: 464302
Tue 4/1-6/3 9:30-12:30pm

A fun class that is offered for all levels. Use graphite, charcoal, colored, pastel and watercolor pencils and pastels. Students will be exposed to a variety of fundamentals. Which is the basis for the class. Painting students will be doing water color or acrylics. Work in your area of choice. You don’t need a supply list to start.

Digital Photography- for Artists: Vied
Course No: 465102 Rm 4
Wed 4/2-5/7 10:00-1:00pm

Briefly review the development of digital photography, how it differs from film photography, and methods to cope successfully with the change. Subject material will include how digital imaging works; how digital photography differs from film photography; how to make use of factors which used to be handled automatically by film; how to improve your image exposure; what formats to use; types of digital storage media; and, what equipment is needed besides a digital camera. We will take digital pictures and process them through a typical digital processing workflow using Photoshop Elements. You may bring your camera, or acquire one during the course using information learned.

Drawing: Saltsman
Course No: 464200
Thu 1/24-3/13 9:30-12:30pm

Will work with graphite, pen and ink and colored pencils. Will focus on traditional and experimental techniques. Bring a smooth 11X14 sketchbook.

Watercolors: Saltsman
Course No: 465400
Thu 4/3-6/5 9:30-12:30pm

Inside and outside according to weather. Will focus on elements of landscapes indoors and full landscapes outdoors.

Watercolor: Beyond the Basics Nelson
Course No: 464701
Thu 1/17-3/20 1:00-4:00pm
Course No: 464702
Thu 4/10-5/29 1:00-4:00pm

Explore even deeper into the “art” of color mixing, choosing pigments, and making your paint work for you. Familiarize yourself with the elements and principles of design, putting them to work to create excitement in your paintings. Sometimes leave your “comfort zone” and experiment with new techniques, new media, and new surfaces on which to paint. The goal, expanding your painting horizon! Some watercolor experience required.

Masa Paper and Sumi Ink and Watercolor: Saltsman
Course No: 466901
Fri/Sat 4/4-4/12 10:00-3:00pm
Are you fascinated by textures and looking for a way to spark your creativity? Lift your spirits and join us for two weekends of fun, excitement and unexpected results. Combine ancient techniques with contemporary materials you will be delighted and amazed with the depth of textures and color. All levels welcome. Small lab fee to be paid to instructor.

Faux Painting: McKinsey
Course No: 465702
Sat 3/15 9:00-1:00pm
Rm 1 Fee: $90
Materials Fee: $20 (paid to instructor)

Learn several special painting techniques that will enable you to paint walls, floors and furniture with professional results. These include marble in several colors, ragging with two or more colors at once, glazing on textured and smooth walls, crackle and the basics of wood graining. All supplies are provided and you will take home all of your sample boards and written instruction for the various techniques. It is completely hands on learning and you will practice on a real wall as well as a sample board. Complete written instructions are included. Dress to paint.