The Dwell Guide to Events in Your City

Wednesday, April 16

For forty-five years, Larry Fink has photographed musicians, boxers, and fashionistas, earning two Guggenheim Fellowships and National Endowment of the Arts Grants. Tonight, he discusses his work at The Hammer Museum. 7 p.m.; Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; (310) 443-7000; www.hammer.ucla.edu

Author Marjene Satrapi won international acclaim for Persepolis, an autobiographical graphic novel about her childhood in Iran. She is joined by fellow Iranian feminist Azar Nafisi at UCLA tonight. 8-10 p.m.; Royce Hall, UCLA, Westwood Plaza at Charles E Young Dr S; (310) 825-2101; www.ucla.edu

Thursday, April 17

Artist Jim Shaw, whose paintings, photos, collages, and installations exude both pop art and surrealist sensibilities, discusses his work in Collecting Collections, MOCA’s new group exhibition. 6:30 p.m.; Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave.; (213) 626-6222; www.moca.org

The Getty hosts this discussion on the arts in Los Angeles, with L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne, Cal Arts president Steven Lavine, and Olga Garay of the Department of Cultural Affairs. 7 p.m.; The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr.; (310) 440-7300; www.getty.edu/visit/events/arts_la_panel.html

Friday, April 18

MODAA opens an exhibition on Michael Kalish, an artist who transforms hard materials into "soft" objects – a metal license plates into a rose, for example. Museum of Design Art and Architecture, 8609 Washington Blvd.; (310) 558-0902; http://modaagallery.com/modaa.html

To compliment its exhibit on African water spirit, Mami Wata, the Fowler Museum hosts this mer-themed party for families, replete with live performances, art classes, and a petting zoo. Fowler Museum, UCLA, Westwood Plz & Sunset Blvd.; (310) 825-4361; www.fowler.ucla.edu

Monday, April 21

In Phantom Sightings, LACMA showcases more than 100 photos, paintings, and installations by contemporary Chicano artists. Tonight, Chicana writers Helena Maria Viramonte and Cherrie Moraga read their work in the galleries. 8 p.m.; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Bing Theater, 5905 Wilshire Blvd.; (323) 857-6528; www.lacma.org

Tuesday, April 22

Pritzker prize-winning architect and UCLA professor Thom Mayne has earned both respect and notoriety for his fractured, seemingly unfinished buildings. Hear him lecture at UCLA this afternoon. 3 p.m.; UCLA, Westwood Plaza at Charles E Young Dr S; (310) 825-2101; www.ucla.edu

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