South Bay Arts Calendar June 2 to June 8
W.C. Fields stars in “The Bank Dick,” a classic comedy screening Friday and Saturday at the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo. Call (310) 322-2592 or OldTownMusicHall.org.
Thursday, June 2
A first look
Prior to the artist reception on June 11, South Bay Contemporary is open from 6 to 9 p.m. this evening and showing works by John Sollom (“300 paintings for Sue”) and Hung Viet Nguyen (“Ancient Pines”) during San Pedro’s First Thursday Art Walk. They’re on view at the Loft, 401 S. Mesa St., third floor, San Pedro. Call (310) 429-0973 or go to southbaycontemporary.org.
Secrets and lies
Tracy Barone, the author of the novel “Happy Family,” reads from and discusses her book at 7 p.m. at {pages}, 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach. RSVPs appreciated. Call (310) 318-0900 or go to pagesabookstore.com.
Friday, June 3
Out of the vault
“The Bank Dick,” with W.C. Fields, screens Friday and Saturday at 8:15 p.m., as well as Saturday afternoon at 2:30, in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. Call (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
Double your pleasure
Pianists (and sisters) Sonya Schumann and Elizabeth Schumann perform an all-Poulenc program at 12:15 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. The program includes the “Sonata for Four-Hands” and “Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant” for narrator (Sonya) and piano (Elizabeth), with projected images. Free; donations appreciated. Call (310) 316-5574.
“Neil Nagy: An Introspective” is a two-venue exhibition, open Thursday (tonight) from 6 to 9 p.m. and with an artist reception Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gallery 478 (on W. Seventh St.) and also TransVagrant@Warschaw Gallery (on the corner of Pacific and Sixth St.). Pictured, “Reflection” (2004). Call (310) 732-2150 or (310) 600-4873.
Saturday, June 4
Your best shot
The El Segundo Arts Association presents “Express Yourself,” an exhibition of paintings, drawings, and 3D pieces, in the El Segundo Public Library, 111 W. Mariposa Ave., at Main St., in El Segundo. Awards presentation and reception at 2:30 p.m. The work is on view through July 8. Call (310) 524-2728.
From rags to riches
South Bay Ballet presents “Cinderella,” a storybook ballet, at 2 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $24. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to southbayballet.org.
An artist takes stock
“Neil Nagy: An Introspective” is a two-venue exhibition that opens on Thursday, June 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. during San Pedro’s First Thursday Art Walk, but it has its artist reception Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gallery 478 (on W. Seventh St.) and also TransVagrant@Warschaw Gallery (on the corner of Pacific and Sixth St.). Whether working directly from life, or reconstructing memories where the figure appears only partially realized, Nagy’s concern is with presence in the face of absence. Call (310) 732-2150 or (310) 600-4873.
Underwater world, beach culture
Painter Joshua Serafin is showing his recent work, oil paintings on the back of tempered glass, with a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. at Gallery JS, 1733 S. Catalina St., Redondo Beach. Call (949) 394-7871.
The Schumann sisters, pianists Sonya and Elizabeth, perform work on Friday by Francis Poulenc at 12:15 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church in Torrance. Free. Call (310) 316-5574.
No broken bones yet
“Skaters vs Minimalism,” Shaun Gladwell’s newest film (starring Rodney Mullen, Hilary Thompson, and Jesus Esteban), screens at 8 p.m. in the Torrance Art Museum, 3320 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Add to this skate demos from 4 to 5, and at 7 p.m. music by Variflex C3s. Free. (310) 618-6388 or go to TorranceArtMuseum.com.
Sunday, June 5
An earful
The City of Angels Saxophone Quartet takes us from vaudeville origins to dance bands and swing, and through the jazz era, at 2:30 p.m. in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $20. Call (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
The Aquarium of the Pacific has just opened a pair of riveting exhibitions, “Horses and Dragons” and “Vanishing Animals.” That’s seahorses and seadragons, in case you’re wondering. A semi-endangered species is the American alligator (pictured). The aquarium is located at 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Photo . Call (562) 590-3100 or go to aquariumofpacific.org.
Tuesday, June 7
Decipher those blobs
Artful Days, which each month features art historian Mary Drobny talking about art, presents “Learning the Language of Art” from 12:10 to 1 p.m. in the George Nakano Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. It’s free. Call (310) 818-2326.
Wednesday, June 8
Seasoned at the keyboard
Pianist Valerie Stern performs a duo piano recital with guest pianists Karen Spurney and Susan Kim-Pedroza, at 8 p.m. in the Campus Theater of El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. The program includes classics by Gershwin, Copland, Sterns’s interpretation of “Shenandoah,” and an arrangement of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Tickets, $15. Call (310) 329-5345 or go to centerforthearts.org.
The inaugural South Bay Film & Music Festival is now underway, and among the films screening is “The Shickles,” at 7 p.m. on Friday in the Clark Building, 861 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach. Admission, $14. More at southbayfest.com.
The future is now
Kevin Kelly, author of “The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces that Will Shape Our Future,” discusses his book at 7 p.m. in {pages}, 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach. RSVPs appreciated. (310) 318-0900 or go to pagesabookstore.com.