Art for everyone, avant-garde films by artists, new work from future-fixated dance residents, comedians in community, poignant theatrical escapism, paintings of surreal optical architecture, the sights of Caribbean sounds, new gallery shows get all Pop-philosophical on everything, a deep dive into the visual culture of the Maya civilization, Light and Space shines at the museum, photography documents a movement for freedom, photography expresses passions of diasporic histories.

Thursday, March 30

Artist Film Series: Sky Hopinka at MOCA. A screening of selected shorts by artist Sky Hopinka — Sunflower Siege Engine, Kicking the Clouds, Mnemonics of Shape and Reason, Lore, and When you’re lost in the rain — followed by a conversation with Hopinka and art critic Jonathan Griffin. Hopinka’s video, photo, and text work centers around personal positions of Indigenous homeland and landscape — designs of language as containers of culture expressed through personal and non-fictional forms of media. 250 S Grand Ave, downtown; Thursday, March 30, 6pm; free w/ rsvp; moca.org.

The Other Art Fair. A curated selection of hundreds of independent and emerging local artists with thousands of pieces across a dizzying array of styles and mediums. The “art fair for everyone” — first-time art buyer, seasoned collector, curator, investor, gallery owner, art lover, artist — offers not only the goods, but the experience, with DJs and day-drinking setting a vibe all weekend long. Plus performances, workshops, tours, and surprises. Also, all the Angelyne you could wish for. Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica; Opening night: Thursday, March 30, 6-10pm; Hours: Friday, March 31, 5-10pm; Saturday, April 1, 11am-8pm; Sunday, April 2, 11am-6pm; $20-$50; theotherartfair.com. 

Friday, March 31

LAUNCH:LA 2023 Resident Artist Performances at L.A. Dance Project. A three-week residency program offering artists time and space to dive into a generative process, designed for early-career Los Angeles dance-centered artists. Chosen for their bold interdisciplinary approach to movement, visual art, and collaboration, 2023 LAUNCH:LA artists Megan Doheny and Luca Renzi + Mike Tyus have been creating new work at LADP's downtown studio space for the month of March. Now it’s time to see what they’ve been up to. 2245 E. Washington Blvd., downtown; Friday-Saturday, March 31-April 1, 8pm; Sunday, April 2, 2pm & 6pm; $20; ladanceproject.org. 

Jokes for Jobs at the Comedy Store. A fun night out featuring a lineup of talented comedians in support of one of Southern California's most beloved nonprofits. Chrysalis serves people navigating barriers to the workforce by offering a job-readiness program, individualized supportive services, and paid transitional employment. They empower their clients on their pathway to stability, security, and fulfillment in their work and lives. Since 1984, Chrysalis has served more than 77,000 individuals at its six centers and locations throughout Southern California. Now it’s your chance to help support their vital work — all for the cost of a ticket and a two drink minimum. 8433 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; Friday, March 31, 7pm; $25-$100; showclix.com/event/jokes-for-jobs-march31st. 

Unidad: Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos at ONE Gallery. ONE Archives Foundation presents a documentary film that tells the story of the Los Angeles organization Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos (GLLU). Following the screening, a panel discussion featuring Director Gregorio Davila, Executive Producer and GLLU co-founder Roland Palencia, and Radio GLLU hosts Rita Gonzales, Eduardo Archuleta, and Lydia Otero. This public program is a closing event for Together On the Air, an exhibition that showcases a body of rare audio materials and stories about Radio GLLU, the first bilingual LGBTQIA+ radio program in the United States. The panel will be moderated by Together On the Air exhibition curator Ángel Labarthe del Solar. 626 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood; Friday, March 31, 6pm; free; onearchives.org. 

Saturday, April 1

Kiss of the Spider Woman at A Noise Within. Set in an Argentinian prison cell in a country under authoritarian rule, two polar opposites discover that love may spring in the most unlikely of places. Poignant and chilling, funny and sensual, Manuel Puig’s intimate two-person drama is the story of Valentin, a macho political prisoner whose commitment to the Marxist cause takes precedence over everything else, and queer, movie-loving Molina, who escapes the harsh reality of prison life by retelling beloved film noir classics and emulating their glamorous leading ladies. 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena; Performances through April 23; $25-$87; anoisewithin.org.

Patti Oleon: Other Side of Night at Edward Cella Art & Architecture. Evocative and mysterious, Oleon creates visual amalgams of interior spaces and exterior landscapes lit with the ethereal color and light found in nightfall and daybreak hours. Inspired by the landscape of Los Angeles — its architecture, its film sets, literary history, and her own experience with the city — her paintings are means to consider the outside world transmuted through the interior worlds she creates in her studio. Filled with associations and ambiguities, Oleon’s surreal paintings suggest memories or dreams and are emotionally charged. 1109 N. La Brea Ave., Inglewood; Opening reception: Saturday, April 1, noon-6pm, Artist Talk: 3pm; On view through April 15; free; edwardcella.com.

Bullerengue and Beyond: Learning the Palenques of the South West Caribbean Through Sound at William Grant Still Arts Center. A comprehensive discography, art, photography, archival photos, audio and video recording reels, and music ephemera from communities of the South West Caribbean. This year’s AACS will focus on the music of these palenques, called bullerengue, which draws from the Congo, Angola, and West Africa and centers the voices and handclapping of women. Bullerengue, cumbia, vallenato, and salsa also use sounds and polyrhythms that mirror those found in nature. The exhibition will also include a look at Caribbean picos — beautifully hand-painted speaker stacks used to blast music out to a community. 2520 S. West View St., West Adams; Opening reception: Saturday, April 1, 3-6pm; On view through July; free; wgsac.wordpress.com.

Ezra Brown, Caroline Weaver, Delisha, Willem Hoeffnagel at Thinkspace Projects. Brown blurs the line between whimsical and emotional, through complex characters and scenarios that delve into the deeply relatable, exploring the feelings of overwhelm that come up on a day-to-day basis. Weaver presents a collection of work that brings viewers into a new state, surpassing nostalgia in pursuit of what the artist deems “Time Dilation Meditation from a made-up religion for Fatalists.” Pulling influence from Bill Watterson’s comics and Dr. Seuss, Delisha explores children’s dreams and nightmares, their potential, and their sadness. Hoeffnagel draws inspiration from the movements of others, leaning into his personal reactions and feelings, using them to fuel the figures he is known for. 4207 W. Jefferson Blvd., West Adams; Opening receptions: Saturday, April 1, 6-10pm; On view through April 22; free; thinkspaceprojects.com.

Sunday, April 2

Maya: The Exhibition at the California Science Center. Featuring over 250 artifacts — many on tour outside of Guatemala for the first time — the exhibition highlights the ancient Maya civilization of Mexico and Central America. Through priceless artifacts and hands-on exhibits, discover how the ancient Maya built and sustained complex cities in the heart of the rain forest. With roots extending back 3,000 years, learn how the Maya live on today — in their inventions that continue to shape our daily lives and the millions of people who carry on the Maya tradition in language and lineage. Enhance the experience with the IMAX movie Mystery of the Maya. 700 Exposition Park Dr., Exposition Park; Opens April 2; $21.95; californiasciencecenter.org.

Light, Space, Surface: Selections from LACMA’s Collection at LACMA. The art of Light and Space as well as related works with highly polished surfaces often referred to as “finish fetish,” arose in the 1960s and 70s, as Southern California artists began to create works investigating perceptual phenomena, many using then-new industrial materials — sheet acrylic, fiberglass, and polyester resin — in their work. Light, Space, Surface draws on LACMA's deep holdings of this material, including works by Peter Alexander, Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Judy Chicago, Mary Corse, Laddie John Dill, Fred Eversley, Robert Irwin, Craig Kauffman, John McCracken, and Helen Pashgian. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile; On view April 2 - October 1; free-$25; lacma.org.

Encounters in Video Art in Latin America at the Getty Center. Celebrating the recent publication Encounters in Video Art in Latin America from the Getty Research Institute, this screening with the editors will explore the history and current state of artistic experimentation with video throughout Latin America as a tool for social change. This program is part of Video Art in Latin America, part of an ongoing research project at the Getty Research Institute that aims to chart the development of video as an artistic medium across multiple regions of Latin America, and to rethink canonical narratives of video art within the context of global practices. Stay after the program for a wine and cheese reception. 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood; Sunday, April 2, 4pm; free; getty.edu.

Tuesday, April 4

Woman, Life, Freedom, in collaboration with Middle East Images Foundation at Hamzianpour + Kia. The Woman, Life, Freedom exhibition tour is more than just a collection of photographs; it is a journey through the heart of the Iranian revolution, a tribute to the unbreakable spirit of the Iranian people, and a celebration of the power of art and photojournalism to inspire change. Featuring stunning and evocative photographs of the ongoing revolution in Iran and the role of women in the movement, the images capture the intensity of the massive demonstrations in Iran's streets, the bravery of women sharing stories of resistance, and the powerful moments of courage and resilience that define this movement. 5225 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile; Tuesday, April 4, 5-9pm; free; hamzianpourandkia.com.

Dawoud Bey and Carrie Mae Weems in Conversation at the Getty Center (Live & Virtual). Complementing the exhibition Dawoud Bey & Carrie Mae Weems: In Dialogue, which opens this week at the Getty Center, this intimate conversation between Bey and Weems reflects on their individual artistic pursuits, the profound impact of their artwork on each other, and the enduring bond that connects them. In 1976, artists Dawoud Bey and Carrie Mae Weems met in a photography class taught by Bey at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Their shared but unique perspectives led them to explore the medium of photography and visually record their own presence in the world, and to create authentic images of Black Americans. Moderated by LeRonn Brooks, curator at the Getty Research Institute. In-person sold out; watch free on zoom w/ registration; getty.edu.

Wednesday, April 5

The Worst Witch at NeueHouse Hollywood. A screening of the short film The Worst Witch, an 8-minute two-channel video by Devin Troy Strother, Mandy Harris Williams, and Alima Lee, followed by a panel and Q&A with filmmakers Strother and Lee. In the film, a young black woman performs for the camera as a green witch, parodying the classic trope of the Magical Negro. The fragmented video gives the metaphorical space of her psyche — a privileged and intimate site to which the viewer is magically drawn. Disrupting the wholeness of the subject, Strother leaves us with a dynamic representation of identity, forming and deforming as the witch slowly takes off her green makeup. 6121 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood; Wednesday, April 5, 6:30pm; free w/ rsvp; rsvp.neuehouse.com/infocustheworstwitch. 



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