There’s lots of events taking place tonight all over Los Angeles. Or you may want to get out of LA…and take a trip to Ojai.

See my Huffington Post article about “Water Works II.” There is also another article with more detailed info, which features additional artists on our Upcoming Events Page.

Following on the acclaim and success of their recent Water Works show, The Venice Institute of Contemporary Art (ViCA) and the Porch Gallery Ojai presents Water Works II, an international juried exhibition.

“Water Works II” is juried by Lisa Casoni, Heather Stobo (co-directors of Porch Gallery Ojai) along with Peter Frank (Huff Post/Fabrik) and Juri Koll (Founder/Director, VICA).

The exhibition will feature seventy works of art by fifty-four artists.

In addition, there will be 3 commissioned sculptures which will be installed in place at various locations throughout Ojai – such as farms and ranches – that have experienced the devastating drought that is taking place all over California right now. There will be tours offered to view the sculptures and learn about the issue from the community.

Artist J.J. L’Heureux will have a one of her paintings in the group show. Her contribution to the group show features a work from her Bergy Bit series which was nspired by her many trips to Antarctica. L’Heureux has witnessed firsthand the affects our climate change has had on the Southern Sea.

See image: Bergy Bit 9, 12” x 16”  oil on canvas

Here is some info direcly from the artist (from her website): “We are all familiar with the idea of glaciers, icebergs, snowfields, and hundreds of other words descriptive of snow and ice. In Tierra del Fuego and Pantagonia I was moving from one glacier to the next where they spill out into the Beagle Channel. At this time I became aware that the glaciers of the world were retreating as rapidly as if their fingers had touched a hot stove. Leaving these ice fields I knew this would become the focus of my next painting series. By definition “Bergy Bits” are large chunks of glacier ice or a very small iceberg floating in the sea. They are generally spawned from disintegrating icebergs and glaciers.” For more info about J.J. L’Heureux, visit her website at http://www.jjlheureux.com/

There will be a Catalog published for the show.

On view: May 2 – June 5, 2015

What: Opening reception
Where: Porch Gallery Ojai, 310 E Matilija St, Ojai, CA 93023
When: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Phone: (805) 620-7589
Website: http://porchgalleryojai.com/

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Of course there’s lots to do in LA, if you decide to stay in town.

In Santa Monica…Start early…ARTRIBE presents an all day long exhibition celebrating student art/music benefitting SPIRAL Foundation. The event runs from 9am – 9pm at Santa Monica Art Studios (3026 Airport Ave.,Santa Monica, CA 90405) http://www.santamonicaartstudios.com

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Another early event…in SM

The Santa Monica festival runs from during the day (11-6pm) and will featured live entertainment, culinary demonstrations, games, food, and more.

Enjoy some of your favorite food trucks and carts this Saturday, along with cooking demos at our Santa Monica Farmers Market Culinary Stage. Younger festival goers can join in the fun with Kids’ Kitchen with Kelly Dumke.

In the second demonstration, participants will learn potato salad three ways with Chef Nick Ship of Upper West and second generation Farmer Alex Weiser of Weiser Family Farms. Lastly, Chef Shawn Dobbin of Foodie Shares Community and Chef Tamara Byrne of Lime Cafe Santa Monica will battle it out to see who will reign as the winner of the Farmers Market Cal Fresh Challenge.

Remember….May is national bike month. Be sure to ride over and check out our Family Bike Hub, which includes free bike valet, skills classes, a bike expo, and pedal churned ice cream!

All free and open to all ages.

What: Festival
Where: Clover Park, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
When: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Website: http://www.communityartsla.com

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In Culver City, here’s another early event…Koplin Del Rio feautes an art talk from 2-4 pm – Eric Beltz in conversation with Peter FranK – RSVP to info@koplindelrio.com by Fri., May 8th. http://koplindelrio.com/

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In Downtown LA…

Another early event takes place…

Celebrate the newest issue of X-TRA, Spring, and Women! The event is co-presented with the Women’s Center for Creative Work.

Teasing out and expanding on ideas from her essay The Conversation:

The Young Female Artist as Historian, Catherine Wagley will moderate a conversational panel with Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer, Yael Lipschutz, and Corazon del Sol.

What: Art Talk
Where: The Box Gallery, 805 Traction Ave., LA 90013
When: 3:00 pm
Website: http://www.theboxla.com

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In Santa Monica…

Another interesting early one…starting at 4pm takes place at 5 Car Garage, there will be a special sound performance by Stephanie Taylor….presented by Emma Gray. Click HERE to find out more about this event, location etc.

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I just want to mention a screening presented by Eat See Hear. 

Today (at 5:30 pm) kicks off the 4th season of Eat|See|Hear. Tonight enjoy a screening of the amazing 2012 smash hit PITCH PERFECT, one week before the Barden Bellas are back in Pitch Perfect 2!

Memorial Greek Amphitheater is a concrete venue with built in seating (think oversize steps). You’ll want to bring pillows, cushions and blankets, which are preferred, though low chairs do fit and you shouldn’t block the view of the person behind you. There’s a small grassy area – early bird gets the worm!

This outdoor movie event is dog-friendly and welcomed with free biscuits at the door at every Eat|See|Hear outdoor movie event!  BTW – Everyone That Purchases Advance Tickets Will Have A Chance to WIN Pitch Perfect 2 Red Carpet Premiere Tickets For This Friday May 8th! * * Winner will be selected on Thursday May 7th.

There is parking across the street at the Civic Center parking lot. You must pay before going to your car. This lot is operated by the City of Santa Monica. Be aware the venue is not responsible for this lot. You are welcome to BIKE IN with plenty of free bike parking, too!

Tickets are $12.00 – CLICK HERE!

What: Screening
Where: Santa Monica HS Memorial Greek Amphitheater, 601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 90405; Enter on 4th Street in between the DoubleTree Hotel & the track.
When: Doors 5:30, Music 7, Movie 8:30
Website: http://eatseehear.com/

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….Or head to Bergamot Station, located at 2525 Michigan Ave. in Santa Monica…

TAG Gallery holds an art talk in conjunction with its curent exhibitions featuring artists Ellen Starr, Anne M Bray, and Michael Knight.

Anne M Bray’s core subject is the American landscape as seen from the highway. It’s a modern take on the Hudson River School’s devotion to the sublime beauty of nature. The most recent body of work, “Southwestern Sojourn,” is a compilation of more than 20 years of work.

See image:  by Michael Knight

“Pecarious,” features the art of artist Michael Knight. In this exhibition, it is also about the subject matter. He creates imagery to match our realities. The work forces us to evaluate how we deal with the intricacies of our lives. Michael Knight works in a wide range of media to create art that questions and challenges perception of society, culture and the individual.

In her latest exhibition, “Back to Nature,” Ellen Starr explores the endless possibilities of subject matter presented to us in the natural world. Using acrylic paint on canvas, she strives to clarify the visual intricacies of every-day subjects, primarily landscapes.

On view: April 21 – May 16, 2015

What: Art Talk
Where: TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Avenue D3, SM 90404
When: 3:00 pm
Phone: (310) 829-9556
Website: www.taggallery.net

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Richard Heller Gallery (B-5A) features an opening from 5-8pm.  http://www.richardhellergallery.com/

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Also at Bergamot…

bG Gallery hosts a reception for a group exhibit, titled “New Nude,” featuring contemporary and modern artists who have experimented with the nude subject or pushed it into new territory.

From sensual to impassive, passionate to cerebral, the naked human form continues to inspire.

See image: Daniel Catalano, Entwined No 3, Oil on Canvas

Artists include: Martin Eder, Helmut Newton, Henry Miller, Mark Ryden, Alex Schaefer, Shaun Berke, Simone Gad, Bob Branaman, Renée Jacobs, Steve Diet Goedde, Charley Gallay, Bob Moskowitz, Dan Busta, Darren Saravis, Teresa Flowers, Ed Freeman, Courtney Reid, Mara Zaslove, Daniel Catalano, Matthew Robertson, Arthur Giron, Allois, George Joaquim and more.

On view: May 9th – May 23rd

What: Opening reception
Where: bG Gallery (G8A), 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica
When: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Website: http://santamonica.bgartdealings.com/

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Finally another at Bergamot, which goes a bit later, from 6-10pm, Timothy Hogan Projects (G-7) throws an art party. http://timothyhoganprojects.com/

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C.A.V.E. Gallery (1108 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 90291), hosts a reception from 6:30 to 9:30pm. http://www.cavegallery.net

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In Beverly Hills…

M+B celebrates the opening of “Any Human Measure,” a group exhibition curated by Alexandra Wetzel and Jonlin Wung.

See image: Nick Kramer, Table Breath, 2013, cast aluminum, 31 x 48 x 25 inches

The more the world speeds up, the more technology flattens time and distance, the more info crystalizes into ever more complex packets, the harder we humans try to make sense of it. We are, after all, sense-making animals; pattern-makers; info-metabolizers; as likely to see shapes in the trash filling our gutters as in the stars.

On view: May 9 – June 20

What: Opening reception
Where: M+B, 612 North Almont Drive, 90069
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310 550 0050
Website: www.mbart.com

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Nearby…Steve Turner LA (6830 Santa Monica Blvd., LA 90038) debuts a new exhibition from 7-9pm. http://steveturner.la

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In Hollywood…DIANE ROSENSTEIN (831 North Highland Ave., Hollywood) offers an opening from 6-8pm. http://www.dianerosenstein.com

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Just down the street…

LAM Gallery is pleased to present our third exhibition with new work by artist Phyllis Green, entitled “Walking the Walk.”

See image: Phyllis Green Samidh, 2014, mixed media, 66 x 40 x 40 inches, detail view; photo credit: Ave Pildas

The selection of eight mixed-media objects, which appear as garments, performance props and modernist sculpture, is the culmination of a project proposed to the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation that appointed Green a Fellow in Fine Arts in 2014. This will be its debut showing.

On view: May 9 – June 20

What: Opening reception
Where: LAM Gallery, 913 N. Highland Ave. LA, 90012
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: (323) 498-5977
Website: http://www.lamgalleryla.com/

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Cherry Martin (2732 S. La Cienega Blvd., LA 90034) debuts a new exhibit from 6-8pm. http://www.cherryandmartin.com/

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The Salon (at automatic sweat) presents: “The Chris Kursel Project” closing event from 6-8pm. http://www.automaticsweat.com/

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Downtown…Enjoy a closing reception for “30 Days and Nights” photo show  at FATHOM Gallery from 4-9pm. California Market Center, C Building Lobby, 110 East 9th Street, CL002, LA 90079; http://www.fathom.gallery

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Also Downtown…

MAMA is pleased to present After Malevich, a solo exhibition by Los Angeles based artist Robert Levine.

See image: Untitled (After Malevich W/ Batman), 2012, oil on canvas, 40 x 32 inches

For this exhibition, Levine will present a recent series of paintings and collages that utilize pop culture icons and other incongruous images in juxtaposition to/and layered onto the Supremist paintings of Kazimir Malevich.

On view: May 9 – May 30

What: Opening reception
Where: MAMA Gallery, 1242 Palmetto St., LA 90013
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Website: http://www.mama.gallery/

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In Pasadena…

Celestial Opera Company hosts its final production of Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci! Fully staged, costumed, features a small orchestral ensemble.

Sung in Italian, supertitles in English. Performances will feature a pre-opera talk one hour before curtain time.

Street parking and campus parking

Adults: $25, Students/Seniors $15  – Wine and refreshments.

What: Performance
Where: The Woman’s Club of South Pasadena, 1424 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030
When: 7:30 pm
Phone: (626) 869-7373
Website: www.celestialoperacompany.org