Datebook: Steve McQueen, Allora & Calzadilla and L.A.’s new gallery

Artist-selected Internet videos, the debut performance of Allora & Calzadilla in L.A., video from artist and director Steve McQueen and artist books and cookies! It’s a delicious week in L.A., with lots to do:

Steve McQueen, “Drumroll,” at MOCA Pacific Design Center. Several works by the video artist who is now better known as the Oscar-winning director of “12 Years a Slave” will go on view at MOCA’s West Hollywood site. This includes the 1998 video “Drumroll” — a three-screen installation featuring the view of a city from inside a rolling oil drum — that earned him Britain’s prestigous Turner Prize. Opens Saturday, June 28, 8687 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, moca.org.

“Allora & Calzadilla: Atpome,” at REDCAT Gallery. The duo of Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzdilla have long combined elements of sculpture with somewhat absurdist acts of performance: cutting a hole in a piano from which a musician plays Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” or having athletes run atop an upside down tank. This weekend, they stage their first performance in Los Angeles, in which they will have the experimental classical ensemble wild UP reprise a 1789 concert in honor of two elephants. Opens with an artist talk (6 p.m.) and performance (8 p.m.) Friday, June 27, 631 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles, redcat.org. An additional performance will be held Sunday, June 29 at 4:30 p.m.

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FOR THE RECORD

A previous version of this post said that singer Tim Storms would be reprising a 1789 concert in honor of two elephants. Tim Storms will be in a video of the concert that is playing separately and won’t be at the live performance. The L.A. experimental classical ensemble wildUP will perform the concert reprisal.

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Gavlak Gallery’s debut show. Palm Beach gallerist Sarah Gavlak is unveiling a brand new Hollywood space with a group show that includes work by more than two dozen artists, including painters Betty Tompkins and Judie Bamber, photographer Bunny Yaeger, conceptual artist Lisa Anne Auerbach and geometric abstractionist Lecia Dole-Recio — among many others. Opens today at 6 p.m., 1034 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, gavlakgallery.com.

“Square(s),” at Francois Ghebaly. A group show at Ghebaly’s relatively new downtown space explores the power of squares — as in public plazas where people gather and protest foments. In addition to objects that explore public space and the nature of protest, the gallery is hosting a series of events involving artists, architects and writers throughout the day on Saturday, June 28. Through July 12, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Downtown Los Angeles, ghebaly.com.

“NSFW,” at Richard Heller Gallery. The name of the show says it all: expect a gathering of not safe for work images (stuff with nudity and other naughty bits) by the likes of as Zak Smith, Sandy Kim and Max Snow, among others. Opens Saturday at 5 p.m., 2525 Michigan Ave., B-5A, Santa Monica, richardhellergallery.com.

“L.A. Likers,” at South of Sunset. For this one-night show at South of Sunset, curator Justin Weitzel has gathered a number of contemporary artists and asked them to select the online videos that they are most intrigued by. Should make for good viewing. Today at 8 p.m., 1218 W. Temple St., Echo Park, southofsunset.la.

Modern Art Notes Podcast Live: Tyler Green & A.L. Steiner at the Hammer Museum. Green, a longtime blogger, columnist and podcaster interviews Steiner, an artist whose riotous installations incorporate photography, video and political posters. She is also one of the artists featured in this year’s “Made in L.A.” Biennial.” (Speaking of the biennial: If you happen to be around the museum this weekend, KCHUNG will be taping a live show at their TV studio/installation on Saturday.) Green and Steiner chat tonight, June 26, at 7:30 p.m., 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Westwood, hammer.ucla.edu.

Friday Flights: Hosted by Ooga Booga, at the Getty Center. The Getty’s summer Friday series gets rolling with a hang-out hosted by the artsy bookshop and events space Ooga Booga. Expect sound art, music and dance, including work from Avey Tare from Animal Collective and Bjorn Copeland of Black Dice. Friday, June 27, at 6 p.m., 1200 Getty Center Drive, West L.A., getty.edu.

“Japanese Design Today,” at UCLA’s Department of Architecture and Urban Design. The Japan Foundation of Los Angeles has teamed with UCLA’s architecture school for a display of 100 influential objects of Japanese design (89 of which were created after 2010). This includes everything from functional objects for the kitchen to some very outré apparel. Opens Friday at 7:30 p.m., Perloff Hall, UCLA, 365 Portola Plaza, Westwood, aud.ucla.edu.

Artist Books and Cookies, at 356 Mission. Books made by artists, as well as fresh cookies. What more could a hungry art nerd want? This Saturday and Sundy from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 356 S. Mission Road, Downtown Los Angeles, 356mission.com.

John Altoon, “Drawings and Prints,” at the Laguna Art Museum. LACMA has a retrospective on the underrated L.A. painter, but the Laguna Art Museum adds to it by showcasing a selection of his drawings and prints, including his early commercial work. While you’re there, check out the California watercolors of Rex Brandt, in the exhibition “In Praise of Sunshine.” Opens Sunday, June 29, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, lagunaartmuseum.org.

“Domesticating Disturbances: New Work by Nathan Huff,” at Sweeney Art Gallery at UC Riverside. Huff produces installation and painting that deal with the animal world and the somewhat testy coexistence humans often have with it. Through Nov. 1, 3834 Main St., Riverside, sweeney.ucr.edu.