South Bay arts calendar for Sept. 5 to 11
“On the Surface: Wallpaper from 1797 to the Present” opens Saturday with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Palos Verdes Art Center in Rancho Palos Verdes. It’s a survey of applied architectural surface design that features historic samples of wallpaper from Europe and America. Through Oct. 26. Pictured “Décor Chinoise,” by Zuber & Cie, designed in 1832 by Ehrmann and Zipelius. (310) 541-2479 or go to pvartcenter.org
Loftier ambitions
“Scavengers!” is a group show, with artists Tracey Weiss, Hilary Norcliffe, Jennifer Gunlock, J. Renee Tanner, and Katie Stubblefield, going on view at the Loft Gallery, 401 S. Mesa St., San Pedro. Open during the First Thursday Art Walk. The reception for the artists is on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 2 to 6 p.m. (310) 831-5757.
Another reason to go
Also at the Loft (see above), “Places Without Walls” features artist Terry Braunstein and poet Dianah Berland (the first making a photomontage, the second writing a poem), and their work is on view at Michael Stearns Studio @ The Loft. The reception is set for Sunday, Sept. 15, from 20 to 6 p.m. with an artist talk and poetry reading at 3 p.m. Call (562) 400-0544 or go to Michaelstearnsstudio.com.
La Bella Vita Trio, comprised of Italian pianist Jacopo Giacopuzzi, Danish violinist Aleksander Koelbel, and Finnish cellist Lauri Rantamoijanen, perform at 12:15 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church in Torrance. Featured: Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50.” Free, donations appreciated. Reception to follow concert. Pictured, Jacopo Giacopuzzi. (310) 316-5574
European union
La Bella Vita Trio, comprised of Italian pianist Jacopo Giacopuzzi, Danish violinist Aleksander Koelbel, and Finnish cellist Lauri Rantamoijanen, perform at 12:15 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. They’ll perform Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50.” Free, donations appreciated. Reception to follow concert. (310) 316-5574.
Returning to the South Bay
Patricia Chen, who studied with Marryl Cahill many years ago before moving to Bordeaux, is back with her company Chendance, and they perform at 6:30 p.m. in the space known as “the Pit,” located in the Peninsula Community Church, 5640 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes. Free. (310) 699-0924.
Saturday, September 7
Papered over
“On the Surface: Wallpaper from 1797 to the Present” opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes. It’s a survey of applied architectural surface design (meaning wallpaper) that features historic samples from Europe and America. The exhibition is accompanied by the installation of the second “PVAC Building Wrap,” in which portions of the exterior facade will be wrapped in the neo-baroque floral photography of Deb Stoner, which complements the look of “On the Surface.” Through Oct. 26. Call (310) 541-2479 or go to pvartcenter.org.
Can’t cough up the rent
LA Opera’s Community Educators bring you up to speed on Puccini’s “La Bohéme” (opening at the Music Center downtown) with a talk at 2 p.m. in the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library, 3301 Torrance Blvd, Torrance. (310) 618-5959.
Dr. Seuss wants you!
There’s an open audition for ages six to adult for “Seussical the Musical,” to be presented Nov. 15-16, with rehearsals starting Sept. 14. Auditions are being held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, 28 Moccasin Lane, Rolling Hills Estates. Callbacks on Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. Auditions are by appt. Only. Bring your music tracks on CD or MP3 and be prepared to sing! More at southbayconservatory.com.
Pianist Robert Thies performs at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hills Estates. The program features Mozart’s “Fantasy in D Minor” and Schubert’s “Sonata in B-flat Major. Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574
Three hours of bliss?
The “4th Annual Pub at the Club,” presented by Porsche South Bay, takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Manhattan Beach Badminton Club, 516 Eighteenth St., Manhattan Beach. Tastings from over 20 local and regional craft breweries, 10 wineries, and seven local restaurants. Proceeds to benefit the MBBC Junior Foundation Programs. 21 and over. Tickets, $89, which includes a souvenir glass with unlimited beverage and food tastings, plus a $15 transport credit view RideYellow app. For $109 you can gain entry at 1 p.m. Call Mary Ann Borders at (310) 941-0840 or go to pubattheclub.com.
Master pianist returns
Robert Thies performs at 2:30 p.m. in the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hills Estates. The program features Mozart’s “Fantasy in D Minor” and Schubert’s “Sonata in B-flat Major.” In 1995, Thies became the only American pianist to with a Russian piano competition since Van Cliburn had done it in Moscow in 1958. Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574.
Last Thursday, Bella Haykoff of Haykoff Gallery in Beverly Hills brought paintings by Armen Hunanyan and M. Martiros to South Bay Porsche for a display entitled “Masters of Modern Art.” The pictures and the cars seems made for one another. Photo
“Chendance from Bordeaux, France to PVE” features Patricia Chen, who conducts a workshop from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by a performance at 5 p.m., at the Peninsula School of Performing Arts, 2325 Palos Verdes Dr. W, Suite 106, Palos Verdes Estates. The workshop is $20; the performance is free. Call Marryl Cahill, (310) 699-0924.
Native culture on display
The Japanese Folk Song Society presents their “Japanese Folk Song and Dance Show” at 1 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $10. Call (310) 781-7171.
Human cruelty
In 1915, the Turks massacred 1.5 million Armenians, and that’s the basis of “Beast on the Moon,” a play by Richard Kalinoski that closes at 8 p.m. in the International City Theatre, located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach. Directed by caryn desai. Tickets, $49. Call (562) 436-4610 or go to InternationalCityTheatre.org.
Who are those people?
“Latin History for Morons,” written and performed by John Leguizamo, opens at 6:30 p.m. in the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles in the Music Center. It’s a funny, frenzied, and mad recap of Latino history. Hoping he avoids that moronic word “Latinx.” Tickets, $35 to $145. Through Oct. 20. Call (213) 972-4400 or go to CenterTheatreGroup.org.
Tuesday, September 10
An artist looks back
“Johns Canyon,” a survey of work by Harrison Storms, is on view through Sept. 18 in the El Camino College Art Gallery, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance. There’s a walk-through with the artist and art historian Karen Whitney at 1 p.m. In addition to the Johns Canyon series (which refers to a specific place in the artist’s youth), a number of darkly whimsical drawings are on display. Story in the Aug. 29 issue of this paper. (310) 660-3010.
Wednesday, September 11
Without the usual backup
Los Angeles Philharmonic members Paul Stein and David Garrett, perform works for the violin and cello at 7 p.m. in the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library, 3301 Torrance Blvd, Torrance. After the run through Ravel, Beethoven, and Bach they’ll dig into the virtuosic “Passacaglia” by Handel-Haverson. Stein and Garrett will also discuss the composers as well as their experience playing in a symphony orchestra. Free, designed for those 12 and up. (310) 618-5959. ER