OC LIVE : Art

“Plastics” might not have been meaningful career advice to the confused young hero of “The Graduate,” but in Southern California, the resin and fiberglass developed by the aerospace industry changed the look of both surfing and art in the 1960s. “SHAPE: Forming the L.A. Look,” at Cal State Fullerton’s Main Art Gallery, takes a look at the connections between the technological evolution of the surfboard and glossy-surfaced sculptures made by the Finish Fetish artists of the era. The exhibition includes a sampling of surfboards shaped by innovators as well as sculptures by Craig Kauffman, John McCracken, Peter Alexander, Tony DeLap and others.

* What: “SHAPE: Forming the L.A. Look.”

* When: Sundays, 2 to 5 p.m.; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 4 p.m.; Wednesdays, 3 to 7 p.m. Through Dec. 3.

* Where: Main Art Gallery, Cal State Fullerton Visual Arts Complex, State College Boulevard at Nutwood Avenue, Fullerton.

* Whereabouts: Take the Orange (57) Freeway to Chapman Avenue. Head west to State College and go right. At Nutwood, take another right. The visitors’ kiosk is the second left.

* Wherewithal: $3 suggested donation.

* Where to call: (714) 773-3262.

Comedy

The beauty of a Flip Orley show is that no two nights are ever the same. The comedian-hypnotist relies on the spontaneity of volunteers from the audience to make or break his act. Fortunately for him (and his career), the people he puts under on stage invariably put on fine performances, especially when they think they’ve been transformed into trailer-park residents fervently discussing a recent abduction by space aliens.

* Who: Flip Orley.

* When: 8:30 tonight; 8:30 and 10:30 Friday night; 8 and 10:30 Saturday night and 8:30 Sunday night.

* Where: The Improv, 945 E. Birch St., Brea.

* Whereabouts: Take the Lambert Road exit from the Orange (57) Freeway and go west. Turn left onto State College Boulevard and right onto Birch. The club is in the Brea Marketplace, across from the Brea Mall.

* Wherewithal: $10-$12.

* Where to call: (714) 529-7878.

Music

Bela Bartok wrote only one opera, “Bluebeard’s Castle,” a one-acter about a legendary duke who killed a succession of his wives. On Saturday in Costa Mesa, Kent Nagano will conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a concert version of the work, with mezzo-soprano Ildiko Komlosi singing Judith and bass Kolos Kovats singing Bluebeard. Also on the program are works by Mendelssohn and Ravel. The concert is sponsored by the Philharmonic Society.

* What: Bartok’s “Bluebeard’s Castle.”

* When: Saturday at 8 p.m.

* Where: The Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (405) Freeway to Bristol Avenue and exit north. Turn right at Town Center Drive.

* Wherewithal: $10 to $100.

* Where to call: (714) 553-2422.

Family Affair

Tellabration ’95 is a national effort to get people, especially families, to turn off their TVs and turn on to storytelling. The local observance will take place Saturday night at the Huntington Beach Central Library, where South Coast Storytellers Guild members will spin folk tales, fairy tales and humorous anecdotes. They’ll be joined by Vicki Juditz, a nationally acclaimed storyteller and, ironically enough, a TV star: You may recognize her from “Coach” (she plays the secretary).

* What: Tellabration ’95.

* When: Saturday at 8 p.m.

* Where: The Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave.

* Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, get off at Golden West Street and go south. The library is at Golden West and Talbert.

* Wherewithal: $15; $5 for children 12 and under and seniors; $10 for Huntington Beach Library Gold Card holders. Family passes: $35, good for two adults and an unlimited number of children.

* Where to call: (714) 496-1960.