In Culver City…

Start your day off early…and head to Downtown Culver City for the Eleventh Annual Cruisin’ Back to Culver City Car Show. Hundreds of classic cars and hot rods from all across California will be on display, as well as great exhibitors and vendors.

George Barris, creator of the Batmobile, the Munsters’ Koach, the Beverly Hillbillies’ jalopy and so many more great vehicles from the Movies & TV, is coming back to his roots in Culver City!

Sponsored by the Exchange Club of Culver City, the event will feature some great classic cars & hot rods from all across California! http://www.culvercityexchangeclub.org/

What: Culver City Car Show
Where: On Culver & Washington between Duquesne & Ince
When: 9:00 am 3:00 pm
Phone: 310-499-4840
Website: http://culvercitycarshow.com/

Celebrate Mother’s Day early…or get that last minute gift for MOM at Word is Art Gallery. It’s the perfect place to pick up an original gift.

Word is Art will be opening at NOON….and will be serving refreshments and goodies.

Professional Calligrapher, Renee Troy will be on hand from Noon to 4:00 to Personalize your greeting cards in beautiful style hand lettering. (perfect gift or surprise for Mom)…If you purchase a gift and would like a gift card, Renee will also personalize one for you.

Stop by to say ‘hello’ and to make Mothers Day a special celebration by getting her a one-of-a-kind handmade gift from our fabulous local artists including a beautiful Calligraphed personalized greeting card.

What: Pre-Mother’s Day event
Where: The Word is ART Gallery, 9349 Venice Blvd. Culver City 90232
When: Noon – 3:00 pm
Phone: 310.558.0856

In Venice…

Explore the eclectic and ever-changing community of Venice on Venice Family Clinic’s Art & Architecture tour. See what life is like in this beachside annex while supporting the clinic’s 24,000 westside patients in need. This self-guided tour will take to you into amazing homes and provide an opportunity to speak with the architects and homeowners whose vision enhances the landscape of Venice.

See image: California Poppy House, credit Sean Airhart

The Architecture Tour is self-guided and runs from noon till 4:00 pm. For more information on the homes and architects, see our Upcoming Events Page.

Tickets run $125 per person. Visit the website to buy tickets. Visit the website for additional info about the tour. http://www.veniceartwalk.org/

All Architecture Tour participants receive complimentary access to the Artist Studio Tours at Venice Art Walk, May 18th from noon to 4:00pm. Art Walk Auction will be from noon – 6:00pm @Google Los Angeles, 340 Main Street, Venice.

What: Venice Architecture Tour
Where: All over Venice.
When: Noon – 4:00 pm

In Santa Monica…

Bleicher/Golightly Gallery presents “See And Be Seen,” a group art exhibition exploring mental health awareness, wellness and resilience curated by Joella March and Mannig Gurekian.

See image: by Gloria Mercier Mask

The exhibition is inspired by: “how we see ourselves,” “how we think other see us” or “how we would like to be seen.” Featured works of art were produced during hands-on arts workshops for people with mental health challenges. Come see this art exhibition and learn about the experience of hope, wellness and resilience for people in your community living with mental health challenges.

All the art works are created in the Arts Network Artist in Residency Program by art students from LAC DMH South Bay Mental Health Center.

The Arts Network promotes mental health wellness, recovery and stigma elimination through arts programming and community outreach. For more informations visit www.namicalifornia.org

On view: May 10th – May 20th

What: Reception
Where: Bleicher/Golightly Gallery, 1431 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, Ca 90401
When: 2:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Phone: 310.451.9983
Website: https://santamonica.bgartdealings.com

In Santa Monica, Bergamot Station’s got it going on this weekend…There are several taking place very early….starting at 4:00 pm.

The Frostig Collection celebrates the work of artist Brad Howe with an opening reception from 4-7pm. Curated by Kate Stern, the solo exhibition, entitled “Concoctions” will feature new kinetic works from the artist.

The Frostig Collection is a wonderful organization, raising money for social skills programs for children with learning disabilities, Asperger’s and high-functioning autism. 50 % of the sales will go directly to the Frostig Collection.

On view: May 10th to June 21st

What: Opening reception
Where: The Frostig Collection (B-5) Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., SM
When: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Phone: 310-828-3535

Shoshana Wayne Gallery (B1) hosts a reception from 5-7pm. http://www.shoshanawayne.com/

Sulkin/Secant Gallery hosts an opening for a group show.

The exhibition will feature the abstract works of Michael Hayden, Katina Desmond, Billy Blake, Svetlana Bagdasaryan, Alexi Fine, and Fei Alexander.

Please join us for an evening reception on behalf of Jeff Sulkin and Pacific Art Ventures.

Wine and refreshments will be served.

This is a Free event.

On view: May 10th – June 8th

What: Opening reception
Where: Sulkin/Secant Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, 2525 Michigan Ave., Space T-6, SM
When: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 310.453.1538

In Santa Monica…

Christopher Grimes Gallery offers an opening for its latest exhibition featuring new paintings by Los Angeles-based artist Salomón Huerta.

See image: Salomón Huerta, Brenda, 2013, oil on canvas on panel, 26-7/8 x 18-1/8 inches, 68.3 x 46 cm

Perhaps best known for his series of paintings depicting anonymous subjects who sit or stand with their backs to the viewers, this body of work signals a new direction for the painter. Rather than working serially on a single subject, Huerta takes cues from his environment and relationships as points of departure.

What: Opening
Where: Christopher Grimes Gallery, 916 Colorado Ave.,Santa Monica, CA 90401
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310.587.3373
Website: http://www.cgrimes.com/

Also in Santa Monica…

Arena 1 Gallery is pleased to present the Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) annual Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Thesis Exhibition.

The two-part exhibition of works by LCAD MFA candidates will open with a reception from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday May 10, 2014. The first of the two exhibitions will run through Wednesday, May 21. The second exhibition will open with a reception from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on May 31 and will run through June 3.

The first thesis exhibition will feature works by the following MFA candidates: Cindy Bernhard, Kari Dunham, Zara Feeney, Zoey Frank, Julio Labra and Dylan Weiler. The second exhibition will feature works by the following MFA candidates: Sandra Manich, Michael McGregor, Katie Schmid, Cynthia Sitton, Benjamin Sowards and Trevor Walker.

On view: May 10th – June 3rd

What: Annual Art Walk
Where: Santa Monica Art Studios, 3026 Airport Ave., Santa Monica. 90405.
When:  6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310.397.7449
Website: http://www.santamonicaartstudios.com

In Culver City…

Join Kopeikin Gallery and Marissa Roth tonight for the launch and signing of her newest book: Infinite Light: A Photographic Meditation on Tibet.

Only 500 of these custom limited edition books will be made available. There are 100 Clamshell books encased in a Tibetan wrapping cloth made at a Tibetan monastery in Central India, with a photo-folio enclosed with a limited edition ink-jet print; and 400 Slipcases, that contain a book only.

All books are signed and numbered by Ms. Roth.

What: Book Signing
Where: Kopeikin Gallery, 2766 South La Cienega Blvd.,
When: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Phone: 310-559-0800
Website: http://www.kopeikingallery.com

Also in Culver City…Western Project (2762 S. La Cienega Blvd.) hosts a reception from 6-8pm. One more…just down the block…

Bruce Lurie Gallery hosts an opening reception for its new exhibition entitled “Finally Famous!”

The exhibit will feature original cartoons and multimedia objects.

On view: May 8th – May 15th

What: Opening reception
Where: Bruce Lurie Gallery, 2736 South La Cienega Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

In Glendale…The Erin Hanson Gallery (6731 San Fernando Rd, Glendale, CA 91201) hosts a spring open house from 5-10pm. http://erinhanson.com/

Avenue 50 Studio (131 N. Avenue 50, LA 90042) throws an art party from 7-10pm. http://avenue50studio.org/