WEEKEND FORECAST

TODAY

DANCE

Blooms of beauty in full motion

Experiment and adventure blossom in “The Flower of the Season,” a weekend series beginning tonight at the Electric Lodge in Venice. Founded eight years ago by Southland contemporary dancer / choreographer Oguri, the series this year will reshuffle new solos by Lillian Bitkoff, Benjamin Jarrett, Claudia Lopez and Eric Losoya (three at each performance). Expect everything from classic modern dance to butoh.

“The Flower of the Season,” Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice. 8 tonight. $12 (seniors) and $15. (310) 822-3006; www.lightningshadow.com

* Also, 8 p.m. Friday; and 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday

MUSEUMS

Mystery of idiosyncrasy

German-born Florian Maier-Aichen defies his countrymen’s photographic aesthetic -- a preference for the use of diffused light and a straightforward point of view -- by creating images, commonly those of industrial, cultural and natural landscapes such as the Alps, that are both stylized and idiosyncratic. Maier-Aichen’s artistic approach bears more similarity to that of early photography, with its multilayered fusion of painting, printing and doctoring by hand, than it does to the more linear, technical process of today’s. MOCA’s Pacific Design Center presents “MOCA Focus: Florian Maier-Aichen,” an exhibition of Maier-Aichen’s new works.

“MOCA Focus: Florian Maier-Aichen,” Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., Design Plaza G102, West Hollywood. Opens today. Free. (310) 289-5223.

* Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays; closed Mondays. Ends Sept. 30.

MUSEUMS

Spotlighting the abstract

Gordon Hampton was a California attorney who practiced in Los Angeles; he was also an avid art patron and philanthropist. His children, Wesley G. Hampton, Roger K. Hampton and Katherine Hampton Shenk, along with the Gordon F. Hampton Foundation, have donated 85 works of art, a number of which are second-generation Abstract Expressionist in style by such artists as Adolph Gottlieb, Al Held, Michael Goldberg and Lee Krasner, to Cal State Long Beach’s University Art Museum. The museum presents “Grand Gestures: The Gordon F. Hampton Collection,” a display of 35 works from the collection.

“Grand Gestures: The Gordon F. Hampton Collection,” University Art Museum, Cal State Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., University Art Museum, Long Beach. Opens today. $4; members, students and staff, free. (562) 985-5761.

* Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Ends Aug. 12.

FRIDAY

EVENTS

Art season gearing up

The Laguna Beach summer art season kicks off Friday with the opening of the Sawdust Festival and the Art-a-Fair. In 1966, some Laguna Beach artists organized their own festival and held it on a vacant lot. When they had to put sawdust on the ground just to keep the dirt and dust from covering them and their works, the festival got its name. Today, almost 200 local artists exhibit their work at the Sawdust Festival. Also dating back to the late 1960s, Art-a-Fair features an international roster of more than 120 artists and master craftsmen. This year’s fair will have a Venetian theme.

* Sawdust Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Opens Friday. Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Sept. 2. Closing time on July 4 will be 6 p.m. $3 to $13; 5 and younger, free. (949) 494-3030.

* Art-a-Fair, 777 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Opens Friday. Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays through Sept. 2. $3.50 to $7; 12 and younger, free with paid adult. (949) 494-4514.

MOVIES

The music of gypsies

Across 1,000 years and thousands of miles, the Romani diaspora spread westward across Europe and with it went the rich cultural influences of the Rom people. In the fall of 2001, five musical groups from Romania, Macedonia, India and Spain came together for a six-week North American tour and Jasmine Dellal’s documentary, “Gypsy Caravan,” inspires the same joy and sorrow inherent to the music.

“Gypsy Caravan,” unrated, opens Friday at Landmark’s Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. (310) 281-8223.

THEATER

Season for the Bard

From points north and south, two outdoor Shakespeare fests open this weekend. On tap for the 11th annual Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival are “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” and “King Lear.” The historic Old Globe Theatre has slated “Hamlet,” “Measure for Measure” and “Two Gentleman of Verona” for its 2007 Summer Shakespeare Festival.

* “Two Gentlemen of Verona”: Kingsmen Park, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. Opens 8 p.m. Friday. Runs 8 p.m. Fridays and Sundays; ends July 15. (“King Lear” runs July 20 to Aug. 5.) $10; reserved box seating, $50 to $65; free admission for 17 and younger. (805) 493-3455; www.callutheran.edu.

* “Hamlet”: Old Globe Theatre, Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, Balboa Park, San Diego. Opens 8 p.m. Saturday. (“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” opens 8 p.m. Tuesday; “Measure for Measure” opens July 7.) Ends Sept. 30. $19 to $62. (619) 234-5623. Repertory schedule: www.theoldglobe.org.

THEATER

Bradbury, up close

In “Ray Bradbury Live!,” the legendary storyteller -- who was given a Pulitzer Special Award this year “for

his distinguished, prolific and deeply influential

career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy” -- shares reminiscences, anecdotes, poems and more. The event is being held at the theater where Bradbury’s newest play, “Ray Bradbury’s Green Town,” is running.

“Ray Bradbury Live!,” Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena. 8 p.m. Friday; post-show reception. $20. (323) 960-4451. www.Plays411.com/raybradbury

SATURDAY

WORLD MUSIC

Songs that build bonds

With elements including Persian and Indian music and American pop and electronica, it’s no wonder the performances of the eclectic group Niyaz have been described as “world music for the 21st century.” The trio -- which consists of Azam Ali (vocalist/instrumentalist from the similarly versatile group Vas), instrumentalist Ramin Loga Torkian (from the group Axiom of Choice) and producer / mixer Carmen Rizzo -- performs as part of a program titled “Transcending Nationalisms: Can Art / Culture Bridge the Middle East & the West.” Also included: a panel discussion with writer / editors Reza Aslan, Nathalie Handal and Sholeh Wolpe and readings by actors Necar Zadegan and Herzl Tobey.

Niyaz, Fowler Museum on the UCLA Campus, 308 Charles E. Young Drive N., Westwood. 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday (panel and dramatic readings, 4 to 6 p.m., followed by performance). $10 to $30. (310) 657-5511 or (310) 657-5522.

MUSIC

Concerts with Vener

Conductor Victor Vener and the California Philharmonic will open their summer season with concerts at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. At both sites, Vener will conduct film music by John Williams, Copland’s “An Outdoor Overture,” Liszt’s “Les Preludes,” Wagner’s “Rienzi” Overture and the opening of Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra.”

California Philharmonic, Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $20 to $98. (626) 300-8200. www.calphil.org* Also, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 2 p.m. Sunday. $40 to $95. (213) 365-3500.

POP MUSIC

Paisley hits Southland

Brad Paisley is one of Nashville’s new breed of sensitive guys, but the Academy of Country Music Assn.’s male vocalist of the year and singer-songwriter-guitarist can liven things up with a swagger and a smile. Joined by Taylor Swift, Jack Ingram and Kellie Pickler, the West Virginia native brings his “Bonfires and Amplifiers” tour to the Southland, showcasing plenty of hits as well as songs from his new album, “5th Gear.”

Brad Paisley, with Taylor Swift, Jack Ingram and Kellie Pickler, Hyundai Pavilion, 2575 Glen Helen Parkway, Devore. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $20 to $49.75. (909) 880-6500.

GALLERIES

‘Decades’ discoveries

This fresh, young show stocked with up-and-comers shouldn’t rest entirely on the considerable hipster laurels of tagger-turned-art impresario Shepard Fairey. Sure, you know the ubiquitous Andre face like you know your mother’s at this point, but this show runs deep. Check out the dripping goth fantasia of Camille Rose Garcia and Dalek’s knife-happy mice. “Decades” also includes Richard Colman, Karr, Junko Mizuno, Mark Ryden and many others.

“Group Show: Decades” with Richard Colman, Dalek, Shepard Fairey, Camille Rose Garcia, Dean Karr, Junko Mizuno, Mark Ryden and others. Merry Karnowsky Gallery, 170 S. La Brea Ave. Opening: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. (323) 933-4408.

* Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Ends July 28.