Denise Oyama Miller, a transplant to Fremont California from Baltimore Maryland, began watercolor painting in 1992 when she “immediately became hooked on the beautiful transparent colors that are possible in this medium”. Since then Millers works have won many awards and are now in numerous private collections. She presently paints representational images from nature with lush jewel like clarity. Besides Gallery Concord, Miller’s work can be seen at Alexander’s Fine Art in Pleasanton and with The Artist 7, which show as a group throughout Northern California. Check out more at www.deniseoyamamiller.com.

Chloe Trujillo, a world traveler, musician and artist, grew up in an artistic family in Paris France. She studied mathematics, music and art at University. Her art expresses her passions, her memories, and her connections with emotion and spiritual healing. She presents images through dream or personal experiences, some beautiful some dangerous. Her art flows with a style that is musical, sometimes heavy, sometimes classical, but always mysterious. Trujillo’s work can be viewed at: http://chloeinart.com

The Gallery is located at 1765 Galindo (at the corner of Clayton Road), Concord, CA 94520. Free parking is available behind the gallery off Clayton Road. Gallery Hours are Thursday to Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM (except Holidays). The gallery phone is 925 691-6140. More information about the gallery and it’s artists is on the website www.galleryconcord.org

From a corporate level, Athens committed cash and staff time to support these causes throughout this holiday season. As individuals, all employees of Athens Administrators are able to participate in several different ways: food, coats or toys. Athens employees also will help box up food at the office located on Stanwell, and in person at the Monument Crisis Center. Athens employees will be caroling at Bayberry as well as bring gifts for the residents.

About the Organizations:
The Monument Crisis Center: Has been helping folks in need for three years. They provide food boxes to around 6,000 individuals a month in the Concord area. This number has risen significantly over the past few months. MCC also provide childcare services, tutoring services, senior citizen activities and domestic violence services. They are always in need of donations and volunteer hours, and we will continue to work with them throughout 2009.

To help the Monument Crisis Center, Athens will be collect food and coats. Group activities will incude boxing food and to send small groups to the Monument Crisis Center to box food there.

Toys for Tots: Established in 1947, and ran by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Over the years the Marines have distributed more than 370 million toys to more than 173 million children. This is a very worthy cause that we are thrilled to support.

Bayberry Care Center is a local convalescent facility. The committee’s goal is to make this a more festive Holiday season for the resident Seniors. Athens will be caroling at the facility one afternoon in December. Volunteers will collect gifts for the residents including warm socks, lotions, sugar free cookies, etc. So far the response has been tremendous.

President James Jenkins is generously allowing the employees to take time during the work day to participate in these activities. Athens Community Group will continue in 2009 to find ways for our employees to continue the momentum created by this holiday donation drive. Finally, Athens salutes all volunteers supporting Concord’s critical non-profit community service providers this holiday season!

The facility has been completely redsigned to take advantage of the great wisdom traditions to provide a wide variety of comfort therapy for severely impaired and terminally ill to improve calm, well being, reduce abusive behaviour, as well as improve immune functioning, memory, and attention span. Under the guidance of Sister MaryGrace Puchac, the facility offers accu pressure, cranial scaral therapy, massage, reflexology, breathing and guided meditation, pilates, yoga, tai chi, bio feedback, sacred drumming, and its own Labyrinth used for guided, walking meditation

Allied services are welcome to contact the Center to discuss services for their own constituencies. Additionally, the facility might also be used by local faith communities for small locally-located, half-day spiritual retreats. Guest appointments are available; one session is 2-3 hours that includes 2-3 modalities of choice. Contact Sister MaryGrace at 925-825-9006. Below see a slide show of the interior and back courtyard.

Participating Diablo Valley locations.

Antioch, SaveMart, Contra Loma Blvd
Anticoh, SaveMart, East 18th St
Antioch, Lucky, Lonetree Way
Concord, Lucky, Clayton Rd
Danville, Lucky, Sam Ramon Vlly Rd
Livermore, Lucky, Portola Ave
Livermore, Lucky Holmes St
Martinez, Lucky, Arnold Dr
Oakley, Lucky, 2545 Main Street
Pleasant Hill, Lucky, Crescent Plaza
Pleasanton, Lucky, W. Loas Positas
San Ramon, Lucky, Crow Cyn Commons
San Ramon, Lucky, San Ramon Blvd

All proceeds benefit Arts Access, the outreach program of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Administered by the Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA), Arts Access makes the arts accessible to individuals challenged by physical, socio-economic, or geographic barriers. Arts Access has a special focus on youth and last year served more than 4,000 local students.

Download the flyer for this event.