The Lafayette Library and Learning Center Art Galleries

The Lafayette Library and Learning Center features two gallery spaces that are designed to support rich and diverse artistic expression, provide the opportunity for local artists to display their works, and to encourage the appreciation of the visual arts in Lafayette's cultural center. 

Exhibits are held in the Community Hall Gallery, located in the Don Tatzin Community Hall (adjacent to the library), and in the Homework Center within the library. Exhibits are selected by the City of Lafayette Public Art Committee. Exhibitors interested in displaying artwork must submit a complete Library Public Art Gallery Exhibit Packet, including executed Art Gallery Release to the City. Please see Call For Artists or contact Staff Liaison Jenny Rosen for more information. For more information on the space and guidelines for showing work, see Library Public Art Gallery Exhibit Guidelines.

Location

Don Tatzin Community Hall and the Lafayette Library & Learning Center, located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette, CA 94549

Hours

The Homework Room is open to the public during library hours. The Community Hall Gallery is open to the public only during public events occurring in the Community Hall.  For more information, please email jrosen@lovelafayette.org.

Current Exhibits at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center

Exhibition Statement

The Secondhand Stories series is a chance to connect, to remember and to contemplate the tools, utensils and toys that have stories and personal history. These paintings are beautiful portraits of everyday objects. They are meant to capture the viewer's attention and then invite the viewer to look at something he or she might have seen hundreds of times and connect with them in an entirely new. Each of these paintings is an exploration of light, shadow, shape, and color and detail and offer an invitation for the viewer to step into the world of the painting and explore it for themselves and connect with their own stories.

I have always been fascinated with the industrial revolution and the invention of mass production. What I find especially interesting is how we as humans can make something that was mass produced so very personal just by our use. In using a photo-realist painting technique I am able to honor those unique characteristics that each object has. I want all my paintings to breath and to feel alive. The scratches, the nicks and dents tell a story about the relationship with these objects, so capturing them accurately is essential to the success of the painting. 

Artist Biography

Frank Haseloff is a Concord, CA-based artist whose photorealistic paintings are deeply influenced by his childhood on a dairy farm in central Pennsylvania. Growing up surrounded by machinery, Frank became fascinated with the unique "personalities" of the equipment and often heard farmers speak affectionately about their tractors as if they were alive. His work aims to capture this emotional connection and sense of story through his highly detailed and intricate paintings.

After a break from art to focus on building his massage business and raising a family, Frank rediscovered his passion while drawing with his children. He began taking art classes and workshops to refine his skills, and soon his dedication and eye for detail led to opportunities to show and sell his work. Today, he finds inspiration from visits to local car shows and antique stores, where he takes reference photos that serve as the foundation for his paintings.

Frank’s photorealistic style, built on layers and glazes, showcases his love for problem-solving and precision. He is an associate member of the Oil Painters of America, the International Guild of Realism, and other professional art organizations. His work has been exhibited by galleries such as Valley Art Gallery and Saatchi Art, and he has received recognition in national exhibitions, including the NOAPS 2021 online show and the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.

For inquiries: www.soenkefineart.com

Observations

Arlynn Bloom

October 16 – December 1, 2024 

I love the freedom afforded me as an artist. I often find myself paused, seeing an interaction that touches my soul-whether it be the morning light on a tree as the sun rises, a mother speaking to her daughter, or a homeless man laying on a street corner. I work to interpret these stories - inspired by our common humanity and experiences. The materials then take me on another journey. I approach the mediums with openness and curiosity. I formally studied art at Albright College and Philadelphia College of Art. I am continually learning from many other artists.

With over 40 years of experience, Arlynn Bloom is a Lafayette-based artist who explores the connections between people through various mediums, including collage, watercolor, and acrylic paint. Her work is inspired by the physical, emotional, and relational qualities of human interactions, and she finds a common thread in these themes across her diverse body of work.

Bloom holds a BS from Albright College and has pursued graduate studies at the Philadelphia College of Art, the University of Pennsylvania, Long Beach City College, and Walnut Creek Civic Arts. She has studied with notable artists Karen Frey, Christine Messer, and Nicholas Wilton through the Art 2 Life program.

Her professional affiliations include Signature Membership in the National Watercolor Society, California Watercolor Association, and Watercolor West. She has received numerous awards, including:

• Jade Fon Award, California Watercolor Association National Show, Presidio Officer’s Club (2009)
• Award of Merit, Triton Museum of Art (2007, 2008)
• First Prize, California Watercolor Association, Alta Bates Hospital (2007)
• Airfloat Company Merchandise Award, Watercolor West (2006)

Her work has been featured in various solo and group exhibitions, including:

• Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA (2024), Group
• Ekphrasis Show, Orinda Library, CA (2024), Group
• Tiburon/Belvedere Library Gallery (2023), Group
• Valley Art Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA (2023), Group
• Sutter Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA (2012), Solo
• Town Hall Theater, Lafayette, CA (2011), Solo
• Walnut Creek City Hall, Walnut Creek, CA (2010), Solo

 For inquiries: www.arlynnbloom.net