The Dwell Guide to Events in Your City

Wednesday, March 12

Robert Hodgin, founder of the Barbarian Group, an interactive technology and marketing firm, gives a talk entitled Embrace Your One-Trick Pony tonight. 7 p.m.; SCI-Arc, 960 E. 3rd St.; (213) 613-2200; www.sciarc.edu

In her work, Kara Walker, an African-American artist, challenges the well-paved narrative of American history with humor and grace. Paul Von Blum, author of Resistance, Dignity, and Pride: African Artists in Los Angeles, tours you through The Hammer's recently opened retrospective Kara Walker: My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love.  7 p.m.; Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; (310) 443-7000; www.hammer.ucla.edu

Thursday, March 13

Kali Nikitas and Rich Shelton, the Husband and wife team behind Graphic Design for Love (+$) speak at Otis tonight. 7:30 p.m.; Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd.; (310) 665-6867; www.otis.edu

Musical king Stephen Sondheim talks shop with Frank Rich of The New York Times tonight. 8 p.m.; Royce Hall, UCLA, Westwood Plz at Charles E Young Dr S; (310) 825-2101; www.ucla.edu

Friday, March 14

Robert Ley, founder of Los Angeles-based firm Urbana, recently completed an outdoor installation at the Materials and Applications exhibition space. Tonight, he relates his experience at his talk titled Installations and Things That Move. 1 p.m.; SCI-Arc, 960 E. 3rd St.; (213) 613-2200; www.sciarc.edu

The big CA Boom design show brings international home brands together for three days, along with a prefab exhibitions, home tours, panel discussions, and a special showroom for kitchen and bath products. Through March 16. Santa Monica Air Center, Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave, 310.455.2886; www.caboomshow.com

Monday, March 17

Fiction writer Junot Díaz, whose  work has appeared in The Paris Review, The New Yorker, and The Best American Short Stories anthology, shares his creative process tonight. 7 p.m.; Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; (310) 443-7000; www.hammer.ucla.edu

Thursday, March 13

Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu has been shown at the San Francisco Museu of Modern Art, Miami Art Museum and Victoria Miro Gallery in London. Hear her speak at the Hammer Museum tonight. 7 p.m.; Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; (310) 443-7000; www.hammer.ucla.edu

Sunday, March 16

Artists Hadley Holliday, Adam Hubbard, Sean Gall, Sylvia Schorn and Quan Yen Trang take you on a tour of the new Broad Contemporary Art Museum designed by architect Renzo Piano. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Bing Theater, 5905 Wilshire Blvd.; (323) 857-6528; www.lacma.org

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