By Bonny Zanardi

Summer is in full bloom. Galleries and museums in our area have a wonderful selection of shows and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

In ink

Ink Worlds: Contemporary Chinese Painting from the Collection of Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang is on view at the Cantor Arts Center’s Pigott Family Gallery through September 3. The show examines works created from the 1960s to the present, offering a look at the impact of techniques, materials and themes.

Irene Chou, (China, 1924-2011), “Untitled,” 1995

A related program will be presented at 6 p.m. July 19 at which artist Li Huayi will be featured in conversation with Michael Knight, consulting curator of the Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Collection.

In addition, films by Britta Erickson, from the series The Enduring Passion for Ink, will be shown at 1 p.m. July 3 and at 1 p.m. August 31.

The Cantor Arts Center is at 328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way on the campus of Stanford University. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays, with extended hours until 8 p.m. Thursdays. (The center is closed Tuesdays.) Note that the museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 4. Call 650-723-4177.

Dreams

Gallery House presents Coast of Dreams, a show of photography by Azita Gandjei and watercolors by Ellis Minsborg, through July 21.

The works depict the wilderness, both beautiful and odd, of California as a land of dreams.

The gallery is at 320 S. California Avenue, Palo Alto. (Enter through Printer’s Café.) Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. Visit www.GalleryHouse2.com or call 650-326-1668.

Petal power

Paintings in pastel and oil by Linda Salter are featured in the exhibit A Summer Bouquet on view throughout July at the Portola Art Gallery. A reception for the show will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. July 21.

The works are painted in a new style for Salter. While she has used pastels for portraits or plein air landscapes over the years, in this new show she explores pastels for floral and still life paintings.

She notes, “Using pastel for still life paintings demanded an approach very different from my previous work – a much looser, impressionistic style.”

Salter has won many awards over the years and has been featured in solo shows at in such locations as Avenue 25 Gallery in San Mateo and the Esalen Institute in Big Sur. The now-retired former college instructor and administrator served as president of Skyline College in San Bruno and chancellor of the West Valley-Mission Community College District in Santa Clara County.

The Portola Art Gallery is at the Allied Arts Guild at 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Visit www.portolaartgallery.com or call 650-321-0220.

About the material

The group show Material Evidence/Contemporary Sculpture opens with a reception at 6 p.m. and artists talk at 6:15 p.m. July 13 at the Studio Shop Gallery. The exhibit explores a variety of mediums, including glass, wood, steel, bronze and ceramics.

One of the featured artists is Kalani Engles, who often creates large paintings, such as her 48-by-60-inch work “Savage Garden XII,” as well as large steel sculptures.

Also features are Denny Holland, Lori Katz, Jim Keller, Bruce MacDonald, Lawrence Morrell, Daniel Phill, Joel Urruty, Ted Van Cleave and Fred Yokel.

The exhibit will be on view through July 29. The Studio Shop Gallery is at 244 Primrose Road, Burlingame. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Call 650-344-1378 or visit www.thestudioshop.com.

Plus 1

The Main Gallery presents the + 1 Art Show through July 29. For the collaborative group exhibition, each of the gallery’s artists extended an invitation to one other talented artist to exhibit a work in the show.

The gallery is at 1018 Main Street, Redwood City. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Call 650-701-1018 or visit www.themaingallery.org.

At Philz

Art Liaisons is showing work by Catherine Boutell, Pooja Bhatt, Tobbe Dee, Ola Kononova, Greg Orduyan and Iniobong Uto-Uko at Philz Coffee, 113 South B Street, San Mateo, through mid-July.

At Philz Coffee at 2116 Broadway in Redwood City, an exhibit of works by Brian Archbold, Charlene Sawe, Anil Sawe and Jeff Straw is featured through mid-July.

For more information, call Gail Sjoman at 650-596-0868 or visit www.artliaisons.com.

On collage

Substantial collage artworks and installations are presented in the exhibition Paper Cuts: Large-Scale Collage at the Palo Alto Art Center.

Events in association with the exhibition include “Landscapes on the Edge” with Catie O’Leary from 2 to 4 p.m. July 22, where she will offer a demonstration of collage techniques and encourage participants to make their own odd humans in mysterious surroundings; and “Artist Talks: EfrenAve, Laura Deem, Benecia Gantner, and Mary Anne Kluth” from noon to 1:30 p.m. July 22.

The exhibit is on view through August 26 at 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-329-2366.

Poetry aloud

Coastside Poetry will host readings by Brian Tierney and Sandra Anfang at its July 10 meeting at Café Society, 522 Main Street, Half Moon Bay. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with readings beginning at 7 p.m.

After a short break there will be a poetry open mic; 10 poets will have 5 minutes each to read or recite. (They ask that no music be presented.) Visit www.coastsidepoetry.org.

May your July adventures be happy ones. There’s much to enjoy on the Peninsula.