Julia O'Reilly

Staff Journalist at TechCentral.ie

Contributor at ShelfLife Magazine

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Articles

Futures Explored creating new center for artists in Concord

1 week ago | pioneerpublishers.com | Julia O'Reilly

CONCORD, CA (Apr. 24, 2025) — Futures Explored Creative Arts & Media, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the arts, is making a bold new mark in Concord. Since its founding in 2013 with just six students in Livermore, the organization has grown into a vibrant, multi-city program offering creative arts, film and media education to more than 65 artists in its newly established Concord location.
A life of art, sports and reinvention

2 months ago | pioneerpublishers.com | Julia O'Reilly

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 3, 2025) — Terry Hughes’ life is a testament to adaptability, creativity and a deep-rooted connection to the communities he has called home. Born in Yale, Mich., he spent his formative years in Pleasant Hill, Calif., after his family moved west in the mid-’50s. His father’s work for Kaiser Industries during the shipbuilding boom brought them to the Bay Area, where Hughes grew up in a town that lived up to its name.
Dishong's ballet journey takes her from Fresno to the stage -

Nov 21, 2024 | pioneerpublishers.com | Julia O'Reilly

CONCORD, CA (Nov. 21, 2024) — Zola Dishong’s introduction to ballet wasn’t love at first sight. Growing up in Fresno, she was more interested in the fun and lively forms of the dance rather than the refined precision of ballet. Yet, destiny had other plans. At just 14, Dishong won one of the earliest Ford Foundation scholarships for dancers, an achievement that would forever change the course of her life.
Czech artist a hidden gem in Clayton

Oct 25, 2024 | pioneerpublishers.com | Julia O'Reilly

CLAYTON, CA (Oct. 25, 2024) — Lenka Glassner, a Czechoslovakian-born artist, is a treasured presence in the Clayton art scene. Her journey as an artist has been profoundly influenced by her mother, who was also an artist in Czechoslovakia. Glassner speaks with deep admiration of her mother’s dedication, recalling how, despite the daily struggle of survival in Communist Czechoslovakia, her mother always found time to create extraordinary paintings.
Artist uses trauma as powerful expression

Sep 24, 2024 | pioneerpublishers.com | Julia O'Reilly

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Sept. 24, 2024) — Dave Matthews’s work is deeply influenced by the female form, the dynamics of relationships, religious faith, his everyday observations of nature and, most profoundly, his experience living with a permanent disability. In his abstract pieces, Matthews strives for balance and symmetry – often highlighting the inherent beauty of his material, namely wood and stone.
East Bay artist travels a passionate path in art and philanthropy

Aug 21, 2024 | pioneerpublishers.com | Julia O'Reilly

EAST BAY, Calif. (August 21, 2024) — Nancy Boynton Hartley, an artist with deep roots in the East Bay hills, has spent over two decades capturing the essence of beauty and emotion through her vibrant paintings. As a fourth-generation native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Hartley’s journey into the art world was nurtured from a young age, with her grandparents and extended family fostering her passion for creativity.
East Bay Sculptor breaking boundaries at age 97

Jul 30, 2024 | pioneerpublishers.com | Julia O'Reilly

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (July 30, 2024) — At 97, sculptor Michael Rizza continues to inspire the art world with his unwavering dedication to creativity and his call to “get out of the envelope and do your own creations.”Born and raised in Manhattan, Rizza’s early life was a testament to the formative power of art and family. From a young age, Rizza was captivated by art. Tagging along on the New York subways with his older brother, Angelo, he found safety and inspiration in the bustling city.
Experiences as military nurse still influence Concord artist

Jun 24, 2024 | pioneerpublishers.com | Julia O'Reilly

CONCORD, CA (June 24, 2024) — Rhu Bigay’s story is one of resilience, passion and dedication to art. Born in the Philippines to a lineage that traces back to the French Castilian, he began his pursuit of art in high school, much to the dismay of his parents who believed that “art would not feed you.”Despite their concerns, Bigay’s passion for art persisted – ultimately shaping his remarkable career.
Living at home after graduation eases transition

Oct 22, 2023 | bupipedream.com | Julia O'Reilly

I remember graduating from high school. I really was that 18-year-old who thought she had it all figured out. Future job — planned. Friends — piece of cake.
Having multiple concentrations in college is beneficial

Sep 20, 2023 | bupipedream.com | Julia O'Reilly

I came into college pursuing biology but never wanted to be a doctor, unlike what felt like 90 percent of my acquaintances. Instead, research — as big and booming a field as it is — appealed to me. My parents raised me to view college as a necessary achievement for stability — a path on which I could be independent and support myself. I didn’t want to hate what I did, and biology, well, it seemed … tolerable. Until it wasn’t.