Each week, ForYourArt highlights select events to help you PLAN ForYourArt. SEE, KNOW, COLLECT, and ENJOY the best of Los Angeles art and culture.


Friedrich Kunath, Der Kuenstler in seiner Zeit [The Artist in His Time], 2009
Attend restore.renew: A Benefit Performance to Aid Japan at Blum and Poe April 21

THURSDAY, APRIL 21
Why do We Love Trees?
Getty Center (Brentwood)
7pm
In conjunction with the exhibition, In Focus: The Tree, Bob Sipchen, editor of Sierra magazine, leads a panel discussion with artist Jennifer Steinkamp, environmental studies professor Nalini Nadkarni, and farmer David Mas Masumoto exploring the beauty and meaning of trees, and why we love them.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22
Where Art Meets Science: Ancient Sculpture from the Hindu-Buddhist World
Norton Simon Museum (Pasadena)
Noon–6pm
The opening day of a focused exhibition of primarily Cambodian sculpture from the Norton Simon foundation’s permanent collection. The exhibition examines the connoisseurship and conservation involved in identifying and preserving these ancient objects. These sculptures from South and Southeast Asia dating from the 3rd through 13th centuries demonstrate how the place of origin and date of an object can be determined by the rendering of drapery pleats, hairstyles, and ornaments of iconic statuary form.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23
restore.renew: A Benefit Performance to Aid Japan
Blum and Poe (Culver City)
1–5pm
Blum and Poe hosts a benefit performance event for the victims of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and atomic disaster, featuring a live performance by The Head and the Heart, all-you-can-eat snacks from local food vendors, free valet parking, and a limited edition t-shirt, produced in collaboration with Oliver Peoples and designed by artist Friedrich Kunath, available for sale through the gallery to raise further funds. All ticket proceeds will be matched by Blum and Poe and donated to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to serve the real needs of victims in Japan for clean water, food, and shelter.

MONDAY, APRIL 25
Teach 4 Amerika: The Bruce High Quality Foundation
LACMA (Mid-Wilshire)
7:30pm
Members of the New York artist collective, The Bruce High Quality Foundation, are traveling the United States in order to learn from different models of art education and to rally art students, engaging them in dialogues around how art education is defined, how to teach it, and how to build meaningful artistic and educational experiences.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26
Paris: Life & Luxury
Getty Center (Brentwood)
10am–5:30pm
The opening day of an exhibition featuring the artists and craftsmen of Rococo Paris. The exhibition brings to life activities that took place inside a Parisian town house over the course of a typical day–from dressing and letter writing to dining, music, and other evening entertainments. The exhibition includes furniture, fashion, silver, paintings, sculpture, musical instruments, clocks, and books, allowing the parts these objects played in the fine art of eighteenth-century Parisian living to be understood by contemporary visitors.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
USC MFA Lecture Series: Jan Tumlir
USC Graduate Fine Arts Building (Downtown)
Noon–2pm
As part of USC’s ongoing MFA lecture series, L.A.-based writer, critic, and curator Jan Tumlir presents a discussion on his work.

SAVE THE DATE
INCOGNITO 2011
SMMoA (Santa Monica)
Saturday, April 30th, 7–10pm
SMMoA’s annual art exhibition and benefit, INCOGNITO returns for its seventh year, featuring original works by 500 contemporary artists. Sophisticated patrons and first-time collectors alike are encouraged to trust their instincts to guide their selections. Each 8″ x 10″ work is signed on the back and artist identities are revealed only after purchase. The evening will include food by Lene, a DJ Set by Enorbito and Ganas of Mas Exitos, and a wide range of libations. For a chance to win a pair of tickets to INCOGNITO, email celebrate@foryourart.com by April 28.