Wow, now this is going to be a wild weekend. So many big events. Wear your sneakers kids and get out there early. We’ve got the Pick of the Week, Venice Art Walk & Auctions…Then there is also another great two day festival happening… The Beverly Hills artSHOW takes place today and tomorrow as well.

Featuring over 250-juried artists, this event has been taking place for almost forty years. Produced by the City of Beverly Hills, the show was originally started as a biennial art event under the name, the Affaire In The Gardens.

Brooke Harker, a Los Angeles artist features her work at Booth #358. Harker recently completed work on her latest series, “Cityscapes” which shares impressions of urban scenery.

When asked about this current series, Brooke replies, “My paintings are inspired by different time periods in my life. Being witnesses to the experiences that shape me, strokes and images are like journal entries…some are made in an hour, while other paintings compile pieces over years. Recently I have come to understand that the process of painting feels like a meditation, and is my opportunity to connect to a power greater than myself.

She adds, “It is said that the world becomes a better place when each person connects to their joy…so I paint because I feel free and full of love.”

Admission is free. Parking is available and inexpensive in many City parking structures (see http://bit.ly/bhartshowpkg for details) located just south of Santa Monica Boulevard. Be sure to check their website.

What: The Beverly Hills artSHOW
Where: Beverly Gardens is located along Santa Monica Blvd, from Rodeo Drive to Rexford Drive.
When:  10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Phone: (310) 285-6836
Website: www.beverlyhills.org/artshow

City of Santa Monica presents the Santa Monica Festival today at Cloverfield Park. Enjoy live music, dance performances, crafts, and eco-friendly merchandise, food trucks and more. The Festival is free to the public. Parking and bike valet are free.

What: Santa Monica Festival
Where: Clover Park, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd., between Cloverfield Boulevard and 28th Street.
When:  11:00 am – 6:00pm

Also in Santa Monica, the Montana Sidewalk Sale takes place today between 6th and 17th streets from 10-6:00.

Venice Arts’ Art Mentoring workshops help students explore their creativity and learn about visual storytelling. This exhibition will showcasing the best of their students’ films, photographs, animations, comics, and mixed- and multi-media pieces from the 2011–12 workshops.

On view: May 19 – June 22.

What: Opening reception, 2012 Student Culminating Exhibition
Where: Venice Arts Gallery, 1702 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA, 90291
When:  12:00pm-2:00pm.
Phone: 1-310-392-0846
Website: http://venicearts.org/     

In Santa Monica, there’s always a fun happening at the Bergamot Arts Station located at 2525 Michigan Ave.

The Frostig Collection (B-5) offers an opening reception for A Bed of Roses along with an artist talk with Michael Kalish

What: Opening reception and artist talk, A Bed of Roses Michael Kalish
Where: The Frostig Collection (B-5) Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., SM
When: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Artist talk begins at 4:30 pm
Phone: 310-828-3535

Rose Gallery (G-5) will be open as well. So be sure to stop in.

Copro Gallery presents Matt Dangler’s solo exhibition, “Center Flame” (see image), a collection of new oil paintings inspired by a mixture of zen, old masters and surrealism. Also celebrated tonight is Naoto Hattori’s 5th solo show with Copro Gallery called “Mind Portrait.”

What: Opening Reception,  “Center Flame” 
Where: Copro Gallery (T-5), Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica
When:  8:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Phone: 310.829.2156 
Website: http://www.copronason.com

Kayne Griffin Corcoran presents artists Deanna Thompson and H.C. Westermann. This will be Thompson’s second exhibition at the gallery and the first of Westermann’s work.

On view: May 19th – July 7th

What: Opening reception, group show
Where: Kayne Griffin Corcoran, 2902 Nebraska Ave., Santa Monica, 90404
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310.586.6886
Website: http://www.kaynegriffincorcoran.com/

In Venice, stop into Marine Contemporary for Debra Scacco’s upcoming debut solo show, Birds of Passage. Based on the artist’s personal diaries, the obsessive text-based drawings attempt to project a magical chimera.

On view: May 19, 2012 – June 23, 2012

What: Opening reception, Birds of Passage
Where: Marine Contemporary, 1733-A Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 90291
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 310 399 0294

One more in Venice…The G2 Gallery will present Wild on Earth: Piper Mackay, a solo exhibition focusing on the wildlife of the African continent. A stunning set of emotional images captures a range of African wildlife including elephants, zebras, and cheetahs by Piper Mackay, the only known solo female safari leader in Africa.

There is a  $5.00 admission charge which will directly support enivironmental organizations.

What: Opening reception, Wild on Earth: Piper Mackay
Where: The G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice,90291
When: 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 310 452-2842 
Website: http://www.theg2gallery.com

Or if Beverly Hills is more your speed or if you decide to attend the Beverly Hills ArtSHOW, Pop by  Regen Projects. Tonight, enjoy an opening reception for a new exhibition by Lawrence Weiner. The show will feature new works in language and works on paper.

What: Opening reception, Lawrence Weiner
Where: Regen Projects 633 N. Almont Dr., LA 90069.
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: (310) 276-5424
Website: http://www.regenprojects.com/

Ok….lots going on in Culver City too.

David Kordansky Gallery holds an opening reception for artist Will Flower. He show will feature a new series of large paintings, as well as a selection of smaller canvases and works on paper.

On View: May 19th – June 30th

What: Opening Reception, Will Flower
Where: David Kordansky Gallery, 3143 S. La Cienega Blvd., LA, 90016
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 310-558-3030
Website: http://davidkordanskygallery.com/

LAXART presents Make Anarchy and Disorder Your Trademarks by Lovett/Codagnone an artist team from New York who have been working together since 1995 using photography, performance, video, sound, and installation.

What: Make Anarchy and Disorder Your Trademarks
Where: LAXART, 2640 S. La Cienega Ave., LA 90034
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310.559.0166
Website: http://www.laxart.org

Carter & Citizen on La Cienega AVE…Not Blvd (I got several calls @ this last month) has an event. Enjoy an artist reception for Michelle Blade in her latest exhibit, Hanging Fire.

On view: May 19th – June 23rd

What: Opening recpeption, Hanging Fire, Michelle Blade
When: Carter & Citizen, 2648 La Cienega Ave., (be aware that it is on La Cienega Ave. not Blvd) LA 90034
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 213-359-2504

Also tonight, some more openings are taking place at Koplin Del Rio Gallery, 6031 Washington Blvd. (5-7), and Western Project, 2762 S. La Cienega Blvd (6-8).