Get ready for this weekend (Culver City, Miracle Mile, Santa Monica Auctions)...

ARTWALK Culver City / Sat, May 30th 12noon - 8pm

This free, self-guided tour of local art galleries and exhibition spaces is sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment, 89.9 KCRW - the official Public Radio Sponsor - and LA Weekly with continued participation from The MOCA Contemporaries of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA). ARTWALK Culver City opens the doors of the area's art galleries to introduce a wider audience to the unique vitality of the artist spaces of Culver City. This event especially celebrates the Culver City Art District, a cluster of galleries exhibiting new and distinguished artists, which is located where Washington and La Cienega Boulevards intersect. The event will also feature live jazz, performed by the Los Angeles Jazz Collective, in the Culver City Art District. Dozens of restaurants and cafes will be open in Downtown Culver City and the Culver City Art District during the event and the Green Truck, serving healthy, gourmet organic food in a fast and efficient way, will be parked on the east end of the Culver City Art District.

Over forty galleries will be open from 12noon to 6pm and selected galleries will remain open until 8pm that evening. Culver CityBus will offer an ARTWALK Bus Pass and a special shuttle bus on the day of the event.

Please contact the Culver City Cultural Affairs Hotline at 310.253.5716 or log onto http://www.culvercity.org/cultural/artwalk.asp for more information on ARTWALK Culver City. The MOCA Contemporaries, one of Los Angeles's premier cultural support organizations, is MOCA's council for young professionals who raise funds and develop future leadership for the museum. For more information on The MOCA Contemporaries, log onto http://www.moca.org/contemporaries.

Art Walk 2009 / Sat, May 30th 12noon - 8PM

Muse, LACMA's membership group for young artists and art enthusiasts, in partnership with the Miracle Mile Art Walk, will present Art Walk 2009 on Saturday, May 30th. Enjoy free admission to LACMA, The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and the Craft and Folk Art Museum from 12pm-8pm, followed by a fantastic after party at the El Rey Theater featuring live music, dancing, and complimentary drinks.

For more information, with downloadable maps, a full schedule of events, plus tickets to the after party, visit lacma.org/muse.

Santa Monica Auctions Annual Live Public Fine Art Auction

Sunday, May 31, 2009 starting at 1pm

Robert Berman Gallery [Gallery C2 + D5] in the Bergamot Station Art Center @ 2525 Michigan Avenue in Santa Monica

The Santa Monica Auctions is holding it's 25th Anniversary Modern and Contemporary Art Auction on Sunday, May 31st, starting at 1pm at Bergamot Station Arts Center. Beginning in 1984, SM Auctions has been continuously offering important works for both the beginning art collector as well as the most sophisticated connoisseur collector. Santa Monica Auctions feature the work of both mid-career and established artists of all mediums including modern and contemporary painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, multiples and prints. Last year's sale was highlighted with unique works by Ed Ruscha, Banksy and Ed Moses. This year's collection is shaping up to include amazing works by Art Luminaries such as Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and Roy Lichtenstein. Highlights from this sale also include important works by historically important beat artist Wallace Berman, famed street artist Chaz, unique pieces by Chris Burden, a vast collection of very early and rare Raymond Pettibon original drawings from the 1980's-1990's, prints by masters Henri Mattisse and Pablo Picasso, and contemporaries Bruce Nauman and Shepard Fairey. Unlike other auction houses, SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS will take significant works for consignment right up until the date of the sale so there are always last-minute surprises.

Live previews are ongoing now in their galleries and the full catalogue can be viewed online at www.smauctions.com