Remember the POW is at Bergamot Station at 8:00 pm and there are also other events happening tonight at Bergamot earlier….so print out your LA ART Party list and Go!!!  See ya there!

Here’s an early one for you….As part of NoirFest Santa Monica, enjoy a staged reading of the Play The Pencil. Based on Raymond Chandler’s last Philip Marlowe short story The Pencil, is adapted by Ed Horowitz and produced by the Ruskin Group Theatre. An audience talk back will follow the onstage performance.

This staged reading is part of Santa Monica Citywide Reads, the Library’s annual community reading program, which encourages everyone in and around Santa Monica to read and discuss the same novel in book discussions and special events held throughout the city. The featured novel for Citywide Reads 2012 is The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler.

What: Staged Reading of The Pencil
Where: Main Library, MLK Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
When:  3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Website: http://noirfestsm.com/
http://smpl.org/

Another relatively early opening, Topanga Canyon Gallery hosts an opening reception for their latest exhibition, March Madness. There is plentiful parking in Pine Tree Circle

What: March Madness Artist Reception
Where: Topanga Canyon Gallery, 120 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd/Pine Tree Circle #109 Topanga, CA 90290
When: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Phone: 310 455-7909
Website: http://www.topangacanyongallery.com/

Now as always, Bergamot Station, located at 2525 Michigan Ave., in Santa Monica always has quite the scene happening. Tonight, or I should say today, there will be several great art parties.

Mike Kelley, Francis Picabia, Medardo Rosso, Julian Schnabel are the featured artists in Patrick Painter’s latest offering. Every passion borders on the chaotic, but the collector’s passion borders on the chaos of memories will be open all day and runs through April 28th.

What: Group show
Where: Patrick Painter, (A-8) (B-2), Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica, 90404
When: 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm
Phone: 310-264-5988
Website: http://www.patrickpainter.com

Schomburg Gallery holds an opening reception for the Malibu Art Association’s group show. See image to right by artist Judith Carr. On view till April 25th.

What: Opening reception, Malibu Art Association Enchanted Spaces
Where: Schomburg Gallery, (E-3A) Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica, 90404
When: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Phone: 310-453-5757
Website: http://www.SchomburgGallery.com

FIG has an early opening reception for Making Space, featuring artist Ray Brown (see image).  The exhibition runs from March 14 – April 14, 2012

What: Ray Brown Making Space
Where: FIG (G6) Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica, 90404
When: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Phone: 310 829-0345
Website: http://figgallery.com/

The Frank Lloyd Gallery presents a group exhibition, The Ambit of Embraces: 17 Works in Contemporary Ceramics featuring every type of ceramic vessel, from hand-held Japanese tea bowls to large-scale vases. All 17 of the works in the show are intimate aesthetic objects, made by hand. Aritsts include Richard DeVore, Gustavo Pérez (see image), Wayne Higby, Goro Suzuki, Satoru HoshinGroup Show

What: Group show The Ambit of Embraces: 17 Works in Contemporary Ceramics
Where: The Frank Lloyd Gallery,
When:  5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Phone: 310 264 3866
Website: http://www.franklloyd.com

Gallery Luisotti (A-2) offers a breathtaking exhibition of works from renowned phtotographer Frank Gohlke.  On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted with the force equivalent to 1600 times the energy released by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Mount St. Helens features Gohlke’s first trip to Mount St. Helens to document the aftermath of the eruption in 1981. It would be a visit that would eventually lead to four more returns in the next nine years.

What: Frank Gohlke, Mount St. Helens
Where: Gallery Luisotti, (A-2), Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica, 90404
When:  6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: (310) 453-0043

In Marina del Rey, Marchese FIne Art Gallery holds an opening reception for a group show. The exhibit will showcase works of art highlighting California marine, land and seascapes.   Light refreshments will be served. On view until April 7th.

What:  California Marine, Land & Seascapes Exhibit

Where:  Marchese FIne Art Gallery, 13763 Fiji Way E-6C, Marina Del Rey, 90292
When: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Phone: (310) 306-0697 

Website: www.marchesefineart.com

Parking: Fisherman’s Village Parking

Very nearby, in Venice, The Gallery and Isabelle Alford-Lago (curator) present artist, Michael J. Jacyna with Selected Works, Mixed-Media on Canvas. The exhibtion will remain open through April 8th 2012.

What: Artist Reception, Michael J. Jacyna
Where: The Gallery, 74 Market Street, Venice, CA 90291
When:  6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Website: http://jacyna.com

Or in Culver City….Celebrate the launch of Progressive Pulse and view The Human Touch at The Whole 9 Gallery.

What: Opening of The Human Touch and launch of Progressive Pulse
Where: The Whole 9 Gallery, 3830 Main St., Culver City, 90232, between Venice & Culver
When: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Phone: 310-836-4600
Website: www.thewhole9.com/PULSE
Parking: Street parking and parking garages around downtown Culver City.

If you are in for an adventure, stop into New Puppy Gallery, located by the LA river near Glendale. Cannibal Flower offers a huge group show and art party at New Puppy Gallery. Artists include: Christina Angelina, Christopher Willingham, Phil Santos, Stephen Williams, Q, David Natale, Khalid Hussein, Meirav Haber, Brian Robertson, Kitty Brown, Jason Castner, Rick Rodriguez, Erin Stone, Jackson Arcade, Eban Lehrer, Jaime Becker, Lefty Joe, Lynn Marie Greaves, Nyoka, Kim Gordon, Fionn McCabe, and lots more.

DJs, Live music, a fetish performance with Snow Mercy, live painting with Ashley Bowers, Rick Rodriguez and more.  See map (right)  for location.

Be aware there is a charge….$10 or $8 with donation to L.A. Food Bank. OR $6 in costume

What: Cannibal Flower, group show
Where: New Puppy Gallery, 2808 Elm St. LA 90065
When: 8:00 pm – 1:00 am
Website: http://www.newpuppyla.com/

If you are near East LA, or just looking to party all night long, you got one more chance to hit The Pancakes and Booze Art Show.

Live Art battle and body painting, DJs, live music, photo booth. Check their site for more details. There is a $5.00 cover but it is all you can eat pancakes so go hungry.

What: The Pancakes and Booze Art Show 21+
Where: LOT 613 613 Imperial Street, LA 90021
When: 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Website: www.lot613.com; http://pancakesandbooze.com/