THURSDAY, APRIL 30
Show&Tell
Zimmer Children’s Museum, 6–9pm
Presenting “the art of language,” artwork that has been made from the idea and inspiration of the language of humor, body language and sign language. All sales will benefit the Zimmer Museum and youTHink (arts education programs in public schools). Please RSVP to zoe@zimmermuseum.org

FRIDAY, MAY 1
Evaluating Exchange
Crisp London Los Angeles, 7–10pm
View the current installation by Melanie McLain and Jennifer Gradecki. This exhibition is the first in the One Night Only series at Crisp London Los Angeles

Ballet Preljocaj
UCLA Live, Royce Hall, 8pm
Presenting the modern dance troop of the internationally known French-Albanian Angelin Preljocaj where he takes the classic Vivaldi “The Four Season” and turns it into an eccentrically beautiful and surreal performance. May 1 and 2, tickets $54, $42, $28

SATURDAY, MAY 2
When Myths Collide: The Golden Age
Norton Simon Museum, 10:30am–12pm
In conjunction with the current exhibition on Matisse, Laurie Monahan, Associate Professor of History of Art and Architecture at the University of California, Santa Barbara, speaks on her contrarian view of Henri Matisse. Tickets $15, includes entrance fee to the galleries

FRESH! Silent Auction Preview
Geffen Contemporary, 11am–4pm
The first day of the public preview of the benefit auction for MOCA that continue through the auction on May 9. Click here for the online catalogue

Made to Measure
Barney’s New York, Beverly Hills location, 4th Floor, 12–2pm
Band of Outsider’s Scott Sternberg consults on summer suiting

Kim McCarty
Kim Light/Lightbox, 3–6pm
Join artist Kim McCarty and Hunter Drohojowska-Philp at 4:30 for an afternoon walkthrough and cocktails

Mike Kelley / Mustafa Hulusi
Patrick Painter, East Gallery, 6–8pm
The opening reception for Mike Kelley’s photo editions in Painter’s East Gallery and Mustafa Hulusi’s “Obliteration and Memory” in Painter’s West Gallery, both opening at 6pm

My Barbarian / Maria Nepomuceno
Steve Turner Contemporary, 6–9pm
Opening reception for My Barbarian “Suspension of Beliefs” and Maria Nepomuceno’s “Drifting”. My Barbarian (Malik Gaines, Jade Gordon and Alexandro Segade) and LA Fog will perform at 8pm

Kiss Me
Fifth Floor, 6–9pm
The opening reception for the installation of L.A.-based artist Jurati’s painted silks and fabrics. On view until May 30

LA 2019: Cults, Collectives, and Cocooning
18th Street Arts Center, 6–10pm
Curated by Ciara Ennis and featuring Cathy Akers, Heather Cantrell, Fallen Fruit, Olga Koumoundouros, Jason Middlebrook, Bede Murphy, Machine Projects (with Jim Fetterly), William Ransom, Stephanie Smith and Joel Tauber create images of the future of L.A.

INCOGNITO
SMMoA, 7pm
Annual exhibition and benefit art sale returns for a fifth year and encourages first-time and long-time collectors alike to purchase works from established and undiscovered artists – all works are $300. This year features over 480 local and international artists. Tickets start at $100 and available until May 1 at 12pm, and at the door on May 2

Gary Baseman: La Noche de la Fusion
Corey Helford Gallery, 7–9pm
The opening reception for Gary Baseman exhibition La Noche de la Fusion – A Celebration! which transforms gallery into a Carnivalesque festival and features paintings by the artist. On view until May 23

SUNDAY, MAY 3
WHP Big Sunday
Watts, 9am–6pm
Volunteers needed this weekend for the Watts House Project. From 11am to 1pm there will be a children’s workshop and, after sunset, an outdoor film festival. To sign up please email sue@wattshouseproject.org. Simultaneously, the Watts Village Theater is presenting the “Ochre & Onyx: The Langston Hughes Project,” at the LA Design Center, May 1 through 3 offering free tickets to WHP volunteers

Art + Design Open Market
One Colorado, 10am–5pm
Over 100 artists set up in the central courtyard and pedestrian alleys of One Colorado, to provide this special opportunity for the people to meet and ask questions of emerging and established artists from Pasadena

Santa Monica + Venice Home Tour
AIA LA, 11am–4pm
Contemporary homes on the west side of Los Angeles, featuring John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects (King Residence), Michael Lee Architects (Herron Residence), Jennifer Wen Architecture (Painted Light Studio), Office of Mobile Design (Venice Prefab). Tickets $75 / $65

Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples
LACMA, 11am–8pm
Opening day of the special exhibition. Tickets required

Big Family Day
MOCA Grand, 1–4pm
MOCA welcomes its biggest family art celebration of the year, inviting families to explore Dan Graham: Beyond and A Changing Ratio: Painting and Sculpture from the Collection. Participate in behind-the-scenes tours, gallery discussions and join in to create your own art work

Richard Neutra, Architect: Sketches and Drawings
Central Library’s Getty Gallery, 1–5pm
Opening day of architect Richard Neutra’s drawings, an exhibition of works by “one of the modernism’s most important architects”

e-waste to e-fun!
Machine Project, 3pm
Jason Torchinsky gives a presentation on how to build your own stand-up arcade game out of semi-recycled parts

Dion Johnson: Shadows and Vistas
Project_210, 4–7pm
Presenting two bodies of new paintings by Dion Johnson, The Shadow Series and The Vista Series. On view until May 30

MONDAY, MAY 4
Verlyn Klinkenborg
Hammer Museum, 7pm
Author of Making Hay (1986), The Last Fine Time (1991), The Rural Life (2003) and Timothy; or the Notes of an Abject Reptile (2006) is featured in the New American Writing reading series at the Hammer

TUESDAY, MAY 5
Museum of Jurassic Technology’s David Wilson
Hammer Museum, 7pm
Wilson is the founding director of Culver City’s Museum of Jurassic Technology which opened in 1988 and is speaking about his unusually wonderful museum and experience in independent film

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6
Make it, Install it, Perform it: Listen
SASSAS, 7–10pm
New artist led workshops at The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock. Learn about the visual arts and experimental sound with Rick Potts’ Found Sounds: Transforming Everyday Objects into Instruments – bring household objects to play. Tuition $35 non-members, $30 members. Please register in advance here