February 2011 Culture Alert
Hello all - Short month, but lots to do around town. Almost 900 free cultural events are listed here: festivals, lectures, readings, walks, conferences, plays, screenings, jams, openings, & many, many concerts. Among the interesting people you can meet around town are Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Oliver Stone, Andrei Codrescu, Andy Summers, Billy Collins, Robert Pinsky, & W.S. Merwin; Michael Pollan, Jonathan Lethem, Julian Sands, Sen. Scott Brown, Keanu Reeves, "Weird Al" Yankovic, & Condoleezza Rice.
This month’s events celebrate Presidents Day, the Lunar New Year, & African American History Month. There’s the Camellia Festival, the Festival of Friendship in Cerritos, Fiesta De La Candelaria, & observances of Ronald Reagan’s centenary & the 40th anniversary of the Apollo mission.
As usual, everything listed is free & open to the public as far as I know. Please call ahead if you dislike surprises, & please note that RSVP means you must reserve a place. “Call to verify” means I couldn’t confirm the event. Some events that require museum admission are listed, because many of us have memberships in local museums.
Have a great month, & please get out there & support the arts.
Rina
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Tue 2/1 11 am
Artist Talk at Otis
Fine Arts presents a lecture by artist Joel Tauber.
Forum, Otis College, 9045 Lincoln, Westchester
310/665-6827 ● otis.edu
Tue 2/1 12 noon
Art History in Torrance
Artful Days: Mary Drobny presents a talk on "Galka Scheyer & the German Expressionist Artists."
Nakano Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr, Torrance
310/781-7171 ● tcac.torrnet.com
Tue 2/1 1 pm
Justice at Cal Lutheran
Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, the first recipient of the CLU Peace Prize, speaks on "Economic Justice, the New Sanctuary Movement & Christianity."
Lundring Center, Cal Lutheran U, 60 W Olsen Rd, Thousand Oaks
805/493-3951 ● clunet.edu
Tue 2/1 1:30 pm
Classic Movies at the Skirball
Scenes from a Crazy World: Screening of Jacques Tati's amazing 1967 film "Playtime."
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N Sepulveda, West LA
310/440-4500 ● skirball.org
Tue 2/1 2 pm
Movies at GPL: Evita (1996)
Central Library, 222 E Harvard St, Glendale
818/548-2042 ● library.ci.glendale.ca.us
Tue 2/1 3:30 pm
Magic at the Chinatown Library
For kids: Celebrate the New Year with the Magic of Tony Daniels, a magician who will first amaze you & then teach tricks.
Chinatown Branch of LAPL, 639 N Hill St, LA
213/620-0925 ● lapl.org
Tue 2/1 4 pm
Teen Movie at the Washington Library
Screening of "Never Been Kissed," just in time for Valentine's Day.
Washington Irving Branch of LAPL, 4117 W Washington Blvd, West Adams
323/734-6303 ● lapl.org
Tue 2/1 4 pm
Rwanda at USC
"World Outside My Shoes: One Witness Remembers the Genocide in Rwanda" Carl Wilkens gives his personal account of what he witnessed & his inspiring call to action against bigotry & violence. RSVP online.
University Religious Center, USC
213/740-6026 ● usc.edu
Tue 2/1 4 - 5 pm
Poland at Pepperdine
Opening reception, featuring a lecture by author Louise Steinman, for the exhibit "Traces of Memory: A Contemporary Look at the Jewish Past in Poland.”
Payson Library, Pepperdine University, 24255 PCH, Malibu
310/506-6589 ● pepperdine.edu
Tue 2/1 6 pm
Art | Science at UCLA
"Amorphic Robot works" Artist Chico MacMurtrie talks about his highly awarded & frequently exhibited work.
Fowler Museum, UCLA
310/206-0686 ● artsci.ucla.edu
Tue 2/1 6 - 8 pm
Salon at the Marina Library
Gerry Fialka's Marshall McLuhan/Finnegans Wake Reading Club reads 2 pages of the book every month, & lets a free-wheeling discussion kick off from there.
Lloyd Taber Library, 4533 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey
310/821-3415 ● laughtears.com
Tue 2/1 7 pm
Ethnicity at Occidental
An evening with Robin DG Kelley, whose books include studies of Thelonious Monk, Alabama communists, culture wars, labor history, & Black literature, speaks on ethnicity in the past & present of the US.
Mosher 1, Occidental College, 1600 Campus Rd, Eagle Rock
323/259-3649 ● oxy.edu
Tue 2/1 7 pm
Pluto at Vroman's
Astronomer Mike Brown discusses "How I Killed Pluto & Why It Had It Coming."
Vroman's, 695 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena
626/449-5320 ● vromansbookstore.com
Tue 2/1 7 pm
Chinese Film at CalArts
Bérénice Reynaud gives a multi-media presentation on "Ruins in Recent Independent Chinese Cinema," with excerpts from several recent films.
Bijou Theater, CalArts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia
661/253-7800 ● calarts.edu
Tue 2/1 7 pm
Humor at Book Soup
Cartoonist Nick Galifianakis discusses "If You Loved Me, You'd Think This Was Cute: Uncomfortably True Cartoons About You."
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd, West Hwd
310/659-3110 ● booksoup.com
Tue 2/1 7 pm
In-Store at Amoeba
Music from Baths, playing their electronic/pop/percussive synth mix.
Amoeba Music, 6400 Sunset, Hollywood
323/245-6400 ● amoebamusic.com
Tue 2/1 7 pm
Writers at the Hammer
New American Writing: Novelist & Aminatta Forna & short story writer Janice Shapiro read from & discuss their work.
UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire, Westwood
213/309-4322 ● hammer.ucla.edu
Tue 2/1 7:30 pm
Business at USC
Social Mashup! Learn from a panel of representatives from companies like Disney, KKi & Roozt.com about integrating business & social responsibility.
Hoffman Hall Room 302, USC
213/740-6786 ● usc.edu
Tue 2/1 7:30 pm
Travel Talk in Santa Monica
The SM Bay Audubon hosts Allan & Muriel Kotin presenting "Flora & Fauna of the Islands of the British Archipelago."
Ken Edwards Center, 1527 4th St, Santa Monica
310/392-6662 ● http://smbas.atspace.com
Tue 2/1 7:30 pm
Hot Rods at the Petersen
Curator Leslie Kendall & guest-researcher Tony Thacker lead a walkthrough of the exhibition "National Hot Rod Association: 60 Years of Thunder." Free w/admission.
Petersen Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Miracle Mile
323/964-6347 ● petersen.org
Tue 2/1 8 pm
Poetry in RB: John Schlegel + open reading
Coffee Cartel, 1820 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach
310/316-6554 ● redondopoets.com
Tue 2/1 9 pm (also 2/17)
Comedy at the Downtown Independent
Holy F*ck Comedy features LA's best stand-up comics slumming from their high-profile day jobs.
Downtown Independent, 251 S Main St, Downtown LA
213/617-1033 ● downtownindependent.com
Tue 2/1 9 pm
Poetry at the Cobalt: F. Douglas Brown + open reading
Cobalt Café, 22047 Sherman Way, Canoga Park
818/348-3789 ● poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt
Groundhog Day
Wed 2/2 10 am
Painting at Rancho Sierra Vista
Bring art supplies & join fellow artists in painting Plein Air landscapes. Observers welcome.
Rancho Sierra Vista, Lynn Rd at Via Goleta, 1000 Oaks
805/583-8044 ● nps.gov/samo
Wed 2/2 12 noon
What Matters at USC
A discussion series encouraging reflection about values, beliefs, & motivation, this month led by Cinematic Arts professor Alessandro Ago.
Ground Zero Coffee House, USC
213/740-6110 ● usc.edu/whatmatters
Wed 2/2 12 noon
Concert at 1st Baptist Glendale
Music @ Noon presents Catherine Del Russo, Victor deAlmeida, & Galina Barskaya in a chamber music recital, featuring music by Charles Martin Loeffler. Lunch avail for purchase.
1st Baptist Church, 209 N Louise St, Glendale
818-242-2113 ● fbcglendale.net
Wed 2/2 12 noon
Gallery Talk at the Fowler
Culture Fix: Vodou Flag - Fowler curator Patrick Polk discusses a Vodou flag & the capacity of artistic creativity to powerfully encapsulate the tragedies & triumphs of the nation of Haiti.
Fowler Museum of Cultural History, UCLA
310/825-4169 ● fmch.ucla.edu
Wed 2/2 12 noon
Concert at Pasadena Presbyterian
A lunchtime concert from Evan Marshall on mandolin.
Pasadena Presb. Church, 585 E. Colorado Bl, Pasadena
626/793-2191 ● ppc.net
Wed 2/2 12 noon
Lunar New Year at CSULA
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with hip-hop performer Rocky Rivera, popular dance crew Culture Shock LA, a traditional Lion Dance, games, red envelopes, & campus & community organizations.
U-SU Plaza, Cal State Univ, 5151 State University Dr, LA
323/343-5001 ● calstatela.edu
Wed 2/2 12 noon
Music Industry at USC
Market researcher & entrepreneur Eric Garland discusses the radical disruption of the music industry in the Internet age.
Social Sciences Building B40, USC
213/821-3015 ● usc.edu
Wed 2/2 12:30 pm
Mexico at USC
Mauricio Benitez discusses "Transitions from Discretion to Rules: Lessons from Mexico." RSVP online.
Social Sciences Building B40, USC
213/740-6026 ● usc.edu
Wed 2/2 12:30 pm
Concert at Occidental
Pianist Eugenie Russo plays music by Bach, Schoenberg, Berg, & Wellesz.
Bird Studio, Occidental College, 1600 Campus Rd, Eagle Rock
323/259-3649 ● oxy.edu
Wed 2/2 12:30 pm
Art Talk at the Hammer
A lunchtime chat focused on one artwork; today, Sol LeWitt's "Untitled" (1982).
UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire, Westwood
310/443-7000 ● hammer.ucla.edu
Wed 2/2 12:45 pm
Organ Recital at the Cathedral
A short organ demonstration from resident organist Samuel Soria or guests.
Our Lady of the Angels, 555 Temple, Downtown LA
213/680-5205 ● olacathedral.org
Wed 2/2 1 pm
Romantic Movies at PPL
"Sleepless in Seattle" (1993), with Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks.
Library, 285 E Walnut St, Pasadena
626/744-4052 ● ci.pasadena.ca.us/library
Wed 2/2 1 pm
Ethnomusicology at UCLA
The Nazir Ali Jairazbhoy Colloquium Series hosts Tanya Merchant, talking about her research.
Schoenberg Music Building, Room B544, UCLA
310/206-3033 ● ethnomusic.ucla.edu
Wed 2/2 3 pm
Concert at Loyola Marymount LA
"Mind & Spirit" Musicians from the Santa Cecilia Orchestra, conducted by Sonia Marie De Leon de Vega, bring classical music to the community.
Loyola Marymount, Doheny Campus, 10 Chester Place, West Adams
213/477-2500 ● msmc.la.edu
Wed 2/2 3:15 pm
Film at CSULA
The Pan African Student Resource Center screens the 2nd half of "The Color Purple."
U-SU, 2nd floor, Cal State Univ, 5151 State University Dr, LA
323/343-5001 ● calstatela.edu
Wed 2/2 4 pm
Chinese New Year at the Agoura Hills Library
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit by joining in the magificent lion dance parade & learning the relaxing art of tai chi.
Library, 29901 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills
818/889-2278 ● colapublib.org
Wed 2/2 4 pm
Family Film at the Burbank Library
Screening of "Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter."
Central Library, 110 N Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank
818/238-5600 ● BurbankLibrary.com
Wed 2/2 4 pm
Reagan at the Reagan Library
Tom Brokaw moderates a panel discussing the biography & legacy of Ronald Reagan. Panelists include Douglas Brinkley, Governor Pete Wilson, Peggy Noonan & Lou Cannon. RSVP.
Reagan Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley
800/410-8354 ● reaganfoundation.org
Wed 2/2 4:30 pm
Artist Talk in Claremont
Claremont Grad University hosts a conversation with visiting artist Kim Dingle.
Albrecht Auditorium, 925 N Dartmouth St, Claremont
909/621-8612 ● cgu.edu/art
Wed 2/2 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Opening at CSUDH
Reception for the 10th Int'l Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition, with small works from 80 artists.
Gallery, CSU Dominguez Hills, 1000 E Victoria St, Carson
310/243-3696 ● http://cah.csudh.edu
Wed 2/2 6 pm
Spoken Word at Tia Chucha's
Storyteller BK Bomar presents “The Country,” about a small community of mostly relatives in the backwoods of Tennessee, where witchcraft, voodoo & supernatural events are part of everyday life.
Tia Chucha's, 13197 Gladstone Ave, Sylmar
818/528-4511 ● tiachucha.com
Wed 2/2 6 pm
Architecture Talk at USC
Jenny Wu, partner at the LA-based design firm Oyler Wu Collaborative, speaks on "Cumulative Processes/Intimate Understandings."
Gin D. Wong Auditorium, USC
213/740-2787 ● usc.edu
Wed 2/2 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Procession on Olvera Street
Fiesta De La Candelaria marks the end of the Christmas festivities, with a procession bringing Christ figures & elaborately dressed dolls to be blessed in the plaza, + music & refreshments.
El Pueblo Historical Monument, Olvera St, Downtown LA
213/485-8372 ● calleolvera.com
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Photography at SMPL
Meet renowned, award-winning photographer Daisy Gilardini & learn of her expeditions to the polar regions.
Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
310/458-8600 ● smpl.org
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Port at Vroman's
Bill Sharpsteen presents "The Docks," an eye-opening journey into the giant madhouse of the Port of LA."
Vroman's, 695 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena
626/449-5320 ● vromansbookstore.com
Wed 2/2 7 pm (also 3/3, 3/5, 3/6)
Moon Landings at the Observatory
Special talks to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo flights. Tonight, "The Moon Landings: Hoax or No Hoax?" in 3D.
Griffith Observatory, Griffith Park
213/473-0800 ● griffithobservatory.org
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Film at Occidental
Roger Guenveur Smith screens & discusses his film "A Huey P. Newton Story," directed by Spike Lee.
Mosher 1, Occidental College, 1600 Campus Rd, Eagle Rock
323/259-3649 ● oxy.edu
Wed 2/2 7 pm
LA at CSUN
The Dept of Urban Studies & Planning presents scholar & author Joel Kotkin discussing "Does Los Angeles Have a Future?" RSVP.
Whitsett Room, SH 451, CSUN, 18111 Nordhoff, Northridge
818/677-2904 ● csun.edu
Wed 2/2 7 pm
In-Store at Amoeba
Music from Men, a Brooklyn-based band & art/performance collective that focuses on the energy of live performance & radical potential of dance music.
Amoeba Music, 6400 Sunset, Hollywood
323/245-6400 ● amoebamusic.com
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Gypsy Rose at Book Soup
Karen Abbott discusses "American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life & Times of Gypsy Rose Lee."
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd, West Hwd
310/659-3110 ● booksoup.com
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Literature at Occidental
Brazilian artist, composer, & theater director Octavio Camargo speaks on "Composition & Oral Poetry."
Clapp Library, Occidental College, 1600 Campus Rd, Eagle Rock
323/259-3649 ● oxy.edu
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Sustainability at SMPL
Green Living Workshop: Part 5 of 6 sessions on simple steps that preserve the environmentand save you money. RSVP online.
Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
310/458-8600 ● smpl.org
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Don Ed Hardy at Track 16
The tatoo artist talks about his life, work, & shack (now on exhibit), alongside a screening of Emiko Omori's documentary "Tattoo the World."
Track 16 Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan, Santa Monica
310/264-4678 ● track16.com
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Movies at USC
SCA Alumni Screening Series screens Jeffrey Blitz's new feature "Lucky," followed by a Q&A with the the director, editor, & others. RSVP.
George Lucas Building 112, USC
213/740-2330 ● cinema.usc.edu
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Architecture Talk at SCI-Arc
"The Forms of Plenty" Hernan Diaz Alonso, principal of LA-based Xefirotarch, talks about his oft-published & exhibited work.
SCI-Arc, 960 E 3rd St, Downtown LA
213/613-2200 ● sciarc.edu
Wed 2/2 7 pm
Artist Talk at the Hammer
Charles Gaines, described as “one of the first, if not the first, African American, to work in the field of conceptual art,” talks about his work.
UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire, Westwood
213/309-4322 ● hammer.ucla.edu
Wed 2/2 7:30 pm
Nature Talk at Eaton Canyon
Felicia Williams discusses "Creating Great Places to Bike II: New York City, Copenhagen, Amsterdam" for a meeting of the Sierra Club.
Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena
626/359-5278 ● angeles.sierraclub.org/pasadena
Wed 2/2 7:30 pm
Brazilian Film at UCLA
Screening of "Dzi Croquettes," the story of the Brazilian Theater group that through talent, irony & humor confronted the violent dictatorship in the 1970’s.
Melnitz/James Bridges Theater, UCLA
310/825-2101 ● tft.ucla.edu
Wed 2/2 7:30 pm
Gladiators at the Getty Villa
Classicist Garrett G Fagan speaks on "Watching the Fighters: The Roman Fascination with Gladiators." RSVP.
Getty Villa, 17985 PCH, Pacific Palisades
310/440-7300 ● getty.edu
Wed 2/2 8 pm
Recital at CalArts
Solo performances by Travis Kane & other student composers, with orchestra & chamber ensemble accompaniment.
Wild Beast, CalArts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia
661/253-7800 ● calarts.edu
Wed 2/2 11 pm - 1 am