Pencil This In: L.A. Art Show, The Bodacious Buggerrilla, Psychedelic Visions & Cheese

Brett Alphin's "Sunset" will display at the Culver Hotel during Third Wednesdays in Culver City.

Tonight is bursting with event flavor, and we are itching to get out and check out at least one of the many local happenings. Art and happy hour combine in Culver City, the Los Angeles Fine Art Show and L.A. Art Show launch with an opening night gala, Sonia Leigh jams at the Whisky and Red Hen Press' Kate Gale reads poetry. But wait, there's more. A Santa Monica cheese shop talks dairy, The Bodacious Buggerrilla strikes again and Cinefamily screens a collection of 1960s and 1970s experimental film. Enjoy.

THIRD WEDNESDAYS
Downtown Culver City's ongoing Third Wednesdays event returns tonight with a "Discover the Arts" happy hour as part of Art Appreciation Month. Locals are invited to visit neighborhood galleries and exhibits, including Fresh Paint Art, Gallery 9, Gregg Fleishman Studio/Gallery and Royal/T. In addition to chalking the boulevards in the Family Chalk Area, Culver City-goers can sip and nibble on happy hour specials, groove to live music and score freebies and samples. Visit the website for a complete listing of participating businesses and details on the night's specials. 5pm-9pm. Free.

MUSIC
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and southern rocker Sonia Leigh takes the Whisky A Go-Go stage tonight as the headliner, a year after her album debut and tour dates in the U.S. and UK. Known for her gritty, punchy songwriting and alto drawl, according to a release, Leigh was named CMT Artist of the Month in the fall of 2011 and is considered the protégé of Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band. 10pm. $10.

POETRY
Kate Gale - managing editor of Red Hen Press, editor of the Los Angeles Review and president of the American Composers Forum, LA - will read at the Ellis Martin Gallery with three other poets: Billy Burgos, Rebecca Gonzales and Luivette Resto. Tonight's event is hosted by Rafael FJ Alvarado and Ellis Martin. 7pm-9:30pm. Free.

ART
The 17th annual L.A. Art Show and Los Angeles Fine Art Show kick off their opening nights at the LA Convention Center. The shows, which last through January 22, celebrate historical and traditional fine art as well as modern and contemporary pieces. Tonight boasts an opening night premiere party hosted by David Arquette, a special one-night-only installation by performance artist Mark Mothersbaugh and a live painting of Anna Le by Alexey Steele in collaboration with Victor Wilde and The Bohemian Society. The opening night ceremony begins at 5:45pm, followed by a patron reception from 6pm-7pm and the opening night premiere party from 7pm-10pm. Ticket prices for the opening night start at $125. During normal show days (January 19 - January 22), a general admission ticket for one day is $15 online and $20 at the door. A four-day pass is $35 online and $40 at the door. Additional ticket options and online purchasing are available here. Ticket purchases benefit the Art of Elysium and the J. Paul Getty Museum education department's bus transportation program.

CHEESE
Andrew's Cheese Shop schools cheese lovers in Cheese 101 tonight, covering the history, origin and the basics of the dairy delight. Taught by Andrew himself, the course offers samples of the shop's most famous cheeses. 7:30pm-9:30pm. $30. Interested students should reserve their spots online.

PERFORMANCE & CONVERSATION*
The Getty Center welcomes The Bodacious Buggerrilla: A Reprise Performance and Conversation as part of Pacific Standard Time's "Talks about Acts" series. The group was founded in the 1960s by artist Ed Bereal and performed around L.A. Tonight, members of the original group will read and revive "their politically charged historical performance works," according to the event page, which also warns, "This performance will contain content that may be offensive to some viewers." Art historian Yael Lipschutz will join the group to discuss their work. 7pm. Free. Reservations are required and can be made here.

FILM
Cinefamily hosts a special midweek screening of "Psychedelic Visions & Expanded Consciousness" as part of the series "Alternative Projections: Experimental Film in Los Angeles, 1945-1980," showcasing several short hyperkinetic experimental film and animation works from the 1960s and 1970s. The series is part of Pacific Standard Time. 8pm. Free-$10.

*Pencil Pick

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