Pencil This In: The Great Outdoors, Theatre Classics and Baroque Art

Some of the flora native to the Ballona Wetlands. Photo by stonebird via Flickr.

PHOTOGRAPHY
There is an area of L.A. just north of LAX that when viewed through the lens of a camera, could easily be mistaken for some remote wilderness area miles away from the urban chaos known as the Greater L.A. region. Known as the Ballona Wetlands, it represents a nice slice of nature and wilderness, all within the shadows of the Playa Vista development that has threatened its very existence for years. David Jordan Williams, renowned photographer from Culver City, has captured the essence of the wetlands in his collection of photographs currently on display at the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica through November 30th. If you are an outdoors/nature person, give it a look.

THEATRE
Shakespeare fans have something to check out for a couple more weeks: Richard III. Acclaimed theatre group A Noise Within's production of the Shakespeare classic spearheads their 2009 - 2010 season. Directed by the group's co-founder and co-artistic director Geoff Elliott, the production features long time company members and runs through December 12th at the group's theatre in Glendale. Schedule and times vary, so check their web site for further details.

FILM
Actor and activist Martin Sheen narrates the documentary The End of Poverty, a film by Philippe Diaz. Touching on topics that have affected us all in the last couple of years, the film examines the current financial crisis and its roots in decades upon decades of unrestrained fiscal policies. Various screening times starting at 1:30 PM, at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex in Santa Monica.

ART
The works of famed Colombian artist Fernando Botero are on display at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art. The exhibition, titled The Baroque World of Fernando Botero, features a variety of works from his private collection and dating as far back as the '50s. It includes sculptures, drawings and paintings, some of which depict the famous Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Through December 6th.