Birthday bash for arts guide

ARTSCENE, the ever-present guide to Southern California galleries and museums, is celebrating its 25th birthday Wednesday night with food, drink, art talk, performances and recognition of L.A.-based talent. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art will provide a venue for ArtScene: 25, The Los Angeles Art Awards, but it is not sponsoring the event.

Playwright and actor Richard Montoya will moderate the program, including an installation and performance by Suzanne Lacy and Kim Abeles, a new choreographed work by Empire of Teeth collaborators Rochelle Fabb and Michael Sakamoto, and music played by Llyn Foulkes on his sculptural “Machine.”

Montoya also will announce winners of three awards, selected in an online popularity contest from finalists nominated by arts professionals. You too can participate at www.artscenecal.com. The Henry Hopkins award, named for the veteran art administrator, will be given to a prominent artist. The rising star award will go to an actively exhibiting artist under 45, and the special recognition award will honor a non-artist’s contribution to the visual arts.

Tickets, at $200, can be purchased at the above Web address and at www.artscenevisualradio.com. Why so expensive? We don’t know, but organizers say proceeds from ticket sales will simply cover the dinner, program production costs, table centerpieces made by artists and the Hopkins award statue designed by Lita Albuquerque.

-- Suzanne Muchnic