Best Bets: Friday 1/8

All Day: Art

Art, nature and science fiction mingle in two new artist’s projects opening Friday at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. “Traveling Light, Topsy Turvey, Compton Nocturne, Tree Souls and Stone Souls” features Alison Saar’s monumental sculptures made of wood and bronze. It is paired with “Luciano Perna: Science/Fiction--A Movie Studio Set: Ahead of Schedule and Camera Shy,” Perna’s fictionalized sci-fi movie set installation. Also, in the baby-sitting deal of the week, the museum will host an opening-night “Kids Art Station Workshop” from 7 to 9 p.m., where kids can participate in an art-making workshop for $5.

* “Alison Saar: Traveling Light, Topsy Turvey, Compton Nocturne, Tree Souls and Stone Souls” and “Luciano Perna: Science/Fiction--A Movie Studio Set: Ahead of Schedule and Camera Shy,” Santa Monica Museum of Art, 2525 Michigan Ave., G-1, Santa Monica. Ends March 14. The museum will host an opening from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. (310) 586-6488.

2 pm: Photography

So you want to start a photography collection? Stop by Butterfield & Butterfield this weekend as thousands of photographs by such celebrated artists as Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Diane Arbus, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Mapplethorpe will be available for sale at “Photo L.A. 8.” More than 40 galleries and dealers from across the country will display images ranging from early 19th century photographic experiments to the most recent contemporary and photo-based artworks. Need help with that burgeoning collection? Seminars on collecting will be held before viewing hours Friday through Sunday.

* “Photo L.A. 8,” Butterfield & Butterfield, 7601 Sunset Blvd. Friday, 2 to 6 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Admission: $12 for one day; $20 for three days. Collecting seminars will be held Friday, noon to 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon. Seminar fees are $50 and include a three-day exposition pass. Information: (323) 937-5525. A benefit reception for DIFFA/Photographers+Friends United Against AIDS will be held Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $35 and are available at the door or through DIFFA: (310) 652-6601.

7:30 pm: Movies

“The Ogre,” the first English-language film by Academy Award-winning German director Volker Schlondorff, gets its Los Angeles-area premiere at the New Beverly Cinema, which normally shows only revival movies. “The Ogre,” which is adapted from Michel Tournier’s celebrated novel “The Erl King,” stars John Malkovich and Armin Mueller-Stahl and is a superb companion piece to Schlondorff’s 1979 film “The Tin Drum.” “The Ogre” will play at the New Beverly through next Thursday and is double billed with such excellent films as Fritz Lang’s “M,” G.W. Pabst’s “The 3 Penny Opera” and the aforementioned “The Tin Drum.”

* “The Ogre,” New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd. Friday and Saturday with “The Tin Drum”; Sunday through Tuesday with “M”; Wednesday and next Thursday with “The 3 Penny Opera.” $3-$6. (323) 938-4038.

7:30 pm: Pop Music

For many Los Angeles rock ‘n’ roll die-hards, the new year doesn’t really begin until a host of musicians take a shot at an Elvis song or two in honor of the King’s birthday. The 12th annual Elvis Birthday Bash will feature such roots regulars as James Intveld, Ray Campi and the Sprague Brothers, along with a growing power-pop presence and a few surprises.

* The 12th annual Elvis Birthday Bash, House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 7:30 p.m. $15. (323) 848-5100.

8 pm: Music

Japanese conductor Junichi Hirokami, who made an impressive debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 1996, returns to the Los Angeles Philharmonic in his first Dorothy Chandler Pavilion performances. His program offers works by Takemitsu, Rachmaninoff and, with soloist Alexander Treger, the Second Violin Concerto by Prokofiev.

* Junichi Hirokami conducts the L.A. Philharmonic in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., 8 p.m. $11-$65. (323) 850-2000. Also Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

8 pm: Music

After a 10-year absence, the New York Philharmonic returns to Southern California this week, to play in Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center Friday and in UCLA’s Royce Hall on Saturday. As conducted by Music Director Kurt Masur, both programs end with Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony; in Costa Mesa, the orchestra will play Richard Strauss’ “Don Juan” and “Death and Transfiguration”; in Westwood, the first half of the program is Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

* New York Philharmonic, conducted by Kurt Masur, plays at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 8 p.m. $30-$85. (949) 553-2422. Also Saturday night at 8 in Royce Hall, UCLA, $19-$75. (310) 825-2101.

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Freebies: Canadian pianist-trumpeter Kurt Ellenberger leads a trio at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1757 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, 7:30 p.m. (626) 798-9426.

Pianist John Wood’s trio plays jazz at the L.A. County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., 5:30 p.m. (323) 857-6000.