Saturday, August 30, 2025 art parties and events are relatively slow due to the holiday weekend. However there is quite a variety with a jazz festival, a screening, live music, theatre, and of course art openings. I want to point out a two-day pop up organized by Aaron Tilford that will be held at the Good Mother Gallery.

Saturday, August 30, 2025 Art Parties and Events

The sixth annual Leimert Park Jazz Festival is today. The big event will be held on the rooftop deck of Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. This year’s headliner is jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater! The multiple GRAMMY and Tony Award winner is bringing her acclaimed WE EXIST! project to the stage with her first performance in South LA in decades. The lineup also includes vibraphonist Sasha Berliner, violinist Dayren Santamaría + Made in Cuba, The Melanin Horns, The World Stage Big Band and DJs Novena Carmel (KCRW) and Linafornia. Admission is FREE with RSVP, or there’s a new “Pay What You Wish” and VIP ticket options. Event: 12:30pm-8:30pm;  Doors open: 11:30am; Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 3650 W. MLK Jr. Blvd., LA 90008; https://www.leimertparkjazzfestival.org/

————————————————————————

Beverly Hills

Cinecon 61 Classic Film Festival continues today and runs through Labor day. It takes place at the Writers Guild of America Theater in Beverly Hills for a weekend filled with timeless movie magic! For more than half a century, Cinephiles have gathered over Labor Day Weekend to celebrate the movies at the annual event. Cinecon is where archivists, authors, collectors, and film fans come together for four days of classic film & TV screenings, celebrity guests, and special programs. Now celebrating its 61st year, this year’s festival will be filled with some of the rarest and unusual material we’ve ever presented. Event: 10am-10pm (or so); Admission: $92.55  or $374.w5 for the entire weekend; Writers Guild Theater at 135 South Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211; https://cinecon.org/

————————————————————————

Mid City

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is open all weekend (even on Labor Day). It features a variety of exhibitions Artist Selects: Frances Stark, Periodic Love and Perpetual War (BCAM, Level 3) You will find Barbara Kruger’s Untitled (Shafted) also located LACMA’s BCAM building. The three-story, 94-foot-tall installation is situated in the elevator shaft of the building (and the Broad Contemporary Art Museum). Don’t miss the gorgeous Richard Serra installation on the first floor of LACMA’s BCAM building Level 1. Band  (2006) may qualify as Richard Serra’s magnum opus, representing the fullest expression of the formal vocabulary proffered by his monumental steel arcs and torqued ellipses of the 1980s and 1990s.

Band, Richard Serra, 2006, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by Eli and Edythe L. Broad, © Richard Serra/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Also Head to the Resnick Pavilion, Youssef Nabil’s I Saved My Belly Dancer just opened. While you are there stop in to see Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art Across Asia and also Line, Form, Qi: Calligraphic Art from the Foundation INK Collection. Of course these are just a few of the exhibitions currently on view at LACMA. Visit the LAArtParty LACMA Feature for more info. Hours: 10am-7pm; LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, LA, 90036; https://www.lacma.org

————————————————————————

DTLA

The Broad hosts a screening of The Exiles today. The film by Kent MacKenzie chronicles a day in the life of a group of twenty-something Native Americans who left reservation life in the 1950s. They chose to live among the aging Victorian mansions in Bunker Hill, Los Angeles. Structured as a narrative feature with documentary elements, the film includes interviews as well as scripted scenes with the same subjects as actors.  A post-screening conversation will feature Edgar Garcia, interim General Manager for El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, and Adam Piron, (Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and Mohawk), filmmaker, writer, curator, Director of Sundance Institute’s Indigenous Program, and co-founder of COUSIN film collective. Screening: 2:30-4pm; Admission is $15; This also includes access to the exhibition; Oculus Hall at The Broad, 221 S Grand Ave, LA, 90012; https://www.thebroad.org/events/

————————————————————————

LA Theatre 

Also Downtown…Run, don’t walk to see & Juliet at the Ahmanson Theatre. This witty, high-energy musical turns the world’s most famous romance upside down. & Juliet dares to ask: what if Juliet’s story didn’t end with Romeo? Instead, she seizes control, rewriting her fate for a second shot at life and love—on her own terms.

Rachel-Simone (from the North American Tour) & Juliet; Photo by Matthew Murphy

Find out more about it on the & Juliet at the Ahmanson Feature. Or Read the ETG & Juliet Review on our art inspired travel site – EatTravelGo.com;  Performances: 2pm & 8pm; Ahmanson Theatre, 135 North Grand Avenue, LA, 90012; CenterTheatreGroup.org

————————————————————————

In West LA…The Motherf**cker with the Hat continues at Odyssey Theatre. The  revival of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ popular play brings five powerhouse performers in one show. The compelling story features love, commitment, as well as redemption. Tomorrow is the last day to catch the show. Performance: 2pm; General Admission: $45; Seniors: $35; Students $30 (with student ID); The Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd, LA, 90025. Reservations: https://www.tmfwth.com https://odysseytheatre.com/whats-on/

————————————————————————

Arcadia

If you like Asian food, the 626 Night Market runs all weekend at the Santa Anita Racetrack. The event features over 250 food, merchandise, and craft vendors. Hours: 4-11pm; Admission: $6.93; Parking is Free; Santa Anita Park, 285 W Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007; https://www.626nightmarket.com

————————————————————————

West Adams area

Compromising Positions curated by Aaron Tilford opens at Good Mother Gallery. Tilford is the founder, editor, designer, and publisher of the independent literary art journal Spunk Art & Perspectives. It coincides with the release of Spunk’s 16th issue (also titled Compromising Positions). Spunk Art & Perspectives is an independent literary art journal that has been edited, curated, designed, published, and distributed by founder Aaron Tilford since the early aughts. It has been a platform for independent voices and underrepresented artists for over 20 years. Work by all the artists in the exhibition appears in the issue. Copies of Spunk no. 16 (edition of 500) will be for sale for $20 at the gallery and online at www.spunkartandperspectives.com

Modernist Prison by David Daigle; courtesy of artist;

The two-day exhibition will be on view today, and tomorrow Sunday, August 31st, 2025, at Good Mother Gallery. Gallery hours are 11am–5pm. The theme Compromising Positions is playfully, and at times pointedly, explored and interpreted throughout the issue and related exhibition. Artists include: Sacha Halona Baumann (IG @sacha_halona_baumann); Jorin Bossen (IG @jorinbossenart); David Daigle (IG @daviddaigle_studio); Delphine Delas (IG @delphine.delas); Michael Epps (IG @michaelepps); Mike Fernandez (IG @ojosexo); James Gilbert (IG @jamesgilbertstudio); Mark Timothy Hayward (IG @marktimothyhayward); Gabriel S. Lopez (IG @gabrielslopez); Randi Matushevitz (IG @randimatushevitzart); Elwyn Palmerton (IG @elwynpalmerton); Alicia Piller (IG @thereal.aliciapiller); Beatrice Schleyer (IG @jujumechanics); HK Zamani (IG @hkzamani_studio); Art Party: 5–8pm; Good Mother Gallery, 5103 W Adams Blvd, LA, 90016; https://goodmothergallery.com/

————————————————————————

DTLA

Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles (PAC LA) celebrates the opening of its new office and gallery space at The REEF in downtown Los Angeles. The new location joins a growing community of artists, galleries, and nonprofit organizations building a creative environment at DTLA’s REEF. To celebrate the occasion, PAC LA will present a special group exhibition featuring works by four women photographers. Artists include: Alanna Airitam, Mary Beth Heffernan, Siri Kaur and Alia Malley. Art Party: 5-8pm; Visit the Events section of the website to find an RSVP Link to register for the FREE event; The Reef, 1933 South Broadway, Suite 430, Los Angeles, CA 90007; https://paclosangeles.com/

————————————————————————

Also at the Reef….Yiwei Gallery hosts a pop up exhibition as part of The Reef’s Open House in Los Angeles. Titled the shapes afire, the show features Charles Christopher Hill, as well as Julie Yeo. Art Party: 5-8pm; The Reef, 4th Floor Studios, 1933 S Broadway, LA, 90007; https://yiweigallery.com/

————————————————————————

Another Downtown…GDCA Gallery throws a closing art party for its August, 2025 exhibitions. Come celebrate Serenade as well as Leslie Shapiro Joyal: Saint-Malo! Art Party: 6-10pm; GDCA, 727 South Spring Street, LA, 90014; http://www.GDCAgallery.com

————————————————————————

In Pico Gardens area (DTLA)

Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) presents a solo exhibition by award-winning and internationally renowned Canadian artist Martin Wittfooth. Deus ex Terra will debut in the main gallery, and marks the artist’s fourth solo show at CHG.

Also opening in Gallery 2, is a group exhibition tilted The Three Graces. This exhibition features mini-solo shows by Allison Reimold (titled The Blue Hour), Dewi Plass (titled On the Bright Side), as well as Kelsey Beckett (titled Sharp Edges). Plus, CHG’s Hidden Gems from the Studio II group exhibition is also set to premiere in Gallery 3. Art Party: 7-11pm; CHG, 571 S. Anderson St. LA, 90033; https://coreyhelfordgallery.com/

————————————————————————

Hollywood

Cyndi Lauper is back for the second night of her Girls Just Want to Have Fun Farewell Tour at The Hollywood Bowl.

The legendary vocalist has been performing for the past five decades. Her hits include: “True Colors,” “Time After Time,” as well as “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” I have seen her many times in concert – she puts on a great show. Performance: 8pm; Gates open: 6pm; Admission ranges from $32-$256; The Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N Highland Ave, LA, 90068; https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

————————————————————————

Mid City/Mid Wilshire

Head to the El Rey Theatre…Goldenvoice presents Dave Blunts. The singer, rapper, is known for his emotionally charged lyrics and powerful voice. Doors open: 7pm; Show starts: 8pm; Admission starts at $29.56; El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., LA, 90036; https://www.theelrey.com/

———————————————————————–

Don’t forget to check for the last bit of Free Summer Music Events are happening, see our sister site for the full list of venues – EatTravelGo.com

For additional art exhibitions, and performances as well as culinary events, see LAArtParty’s Upcoming Events Page.

Read more about Arts and Entertainment throughout the world on our sister site EatTravelGo.com, an art inspired travel site.

Or enjoy artist / gallerist interviews on our Art Talk Page also on ETG.