UCLA PRESENTS THE BEST in arts and culture, community events, sports and entertainment. Usher in the new year with a slew of unique and interesting experiences to enjoy. For more UCLA events, visit community.ucla.edu.
JANUARY 11 | 6 P.M.
Opening Celebration: The Fowler’s Fire Kinship
A central component that keeps California’s ecosystems burning bright is, well, fire. Before 18th-century colonization, California’s native communities used controlled fire practices — from small burns to larger, strategized blazes — to keep local ecosystems healthy. The Fowler Museum at UCLA’s second PST ART exhibition, Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and Art, counters the Western attitude of fear and illegality surrounding one of the basic components of native land stewardship, community well-being and conservation. Come and see a diverse collection of the baskets, ollas, rabbit sticks, bark skirts and canoes that were only made possible through the relationships between people, place and fire. Also on display: commissioned videos, sculptures, portraits, paintings and installations from contemporary Indigenous artists from Tongva, Cahuilla, Chumash and Payómkawichum ancestries.
And here’s a cool bonus. Join the artists and curators of the exhibition at the Fowler for an opening celebration. The evening begins with a welcome from a local California Indian community and is followed by food, dance and music, in addition to an exclusive first look at the exhibition. Admission is free; RSVP here.
JANUARY 17–19
“Going My Own Way”: Celebrating Ivan Dixon
To say Ivan Dixon made an impressionable mark on 20th-century television would be a bit of an understatement. From Perry Mason to The Twilight Zone and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., the actor, producer and director was part of a generation of Black entertainers who fought for more professional opportunities and for more nuanced portrayals of Black characters on screen. Best known for his role as Sgt. James Kinchloe on the sitcom Hogan’s Heroes during the height of the civil rights movement, Dixon was at the forefront of integration in Hollywood and advocated for representation in television, film and theater. “Going My Own Way,” a screening series from the UCLA Film & Television Archive, sums up the most impactful parts of Dixon’s career. Featured in this series is the world premiere of the 35mm restoration of The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973). Restored by the Library of Congress and the Film Foundation, the Dixon-directed action thriller/satire addresses civil rights and Black militancy in the 1960s. Filmmaker Christine Acham and Dixon’s daughter, Monathande Dixon, will talk about Dixon’s style of storytelling and production. Check the Film & Television Archive’s schedule and drop by the Hammer Museum at UCLA’s Billy Wilder Theater — no reservation required.
JANUARY 25–JUNE 29
Bending realities, altering perceptions of the self and confronting ideas of cultural belonging — Stockholm-based artist Lap-See Lam is always comfortable in the uncomfortable. Her animations, films, virtual reality and sculptural works bring mythology, popular culture and fiction together in a single (and brand-new) exhibition at the Hammer Museum. This exhibition features one of Lam’s most heralded works yet: the immersive video installation Tales of the Altersea (2023), inspired by the ruins of the Altersea, a dragon-shaped ship that Lam could see from her studio window in art school. The Altersea sailed from Shanghai to Gothenburg, Sweden in 1990, serving Chinese food to European customers across North Sea and Baltic Sea ports before eventually being abandoned. The ruins of the Altersea are the core of Lam’s expansive and dreamlike exhibition story of loss, memory and resilience. Come by the Hammer any time during operating hours to see the exhibition for free.
JANUARY 29–MARCH 2
Doors slam, sardines fly and trousers drop in Noises Off, a side-splitting British farce about a theater company desperately trying to get its act together. Onstage and offstage, chaos reigns for a troupe of floundering — yet trying — actors who are constantly plagued by forgotten lines, misplaced props and steamy romantic entanglements. A hilarious love letter to theater, Noises Off is the peek behind the curtain you may not have asked for but is certainly the one you needed. To see the show that must go on, get your tickets here.
JANUARY 1 | NOON
Women’s Basketball vs. Michigan
In November, the women’s basketball team achieved the No. 1 ranking in the nation. No big deal, right? (Of course it is!) Now the team takes on the University of Michigan Wolverines. This matchup is one of the most highly anticipated of the season. There’s no better way to ring in the new year than with the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion, along with customized jersey raffles and postgame autographs. Tickets here.
JANUARY 17 | 6 P.M.
If your New Year’s resolution is to watch more men’s hoops, then this match against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes is a great place to start. Beyond the always fantastic gameplay, take in performances from the UCLA cheer squad and dance team while enjoying delicious fare from south patio food trucks before the 6 p.m. tipoff. UCLA faculty and staff can purchase discounted tickets at the box office on game day with a UCLA ID. General tickets can be purchased here.
JANUARY 23 | 7 P.M.
Men’s Volleyball vs. UC San Diego
The national champions are back in Pauley Pavilion! Men’s volleyball has not taken its foot off the gas since its NCAA triumph last year. Come see the squad take on the UC San Diego Tritons in their first regular season game of the year. Look out for tickets here.
JANUARY 25 | 2 P.M.
For the first time ever, the Fighting Illini come to Pauley Pavilion in a regular season meet against the Bruins. It’s a matchup you don’t want to miss — the UCLA gymnastics roster features multiple Olympians and national champs, including the irreplaceable Jordan Chiles. This is sure to be another fantastic gymnastics meet at Pauley — full of energy, with plenty of music, cheering and electric choreography. Get your tickets here.
JANUARY 30 | 7:30 P.M.
See the ghosts of Pac-12 past, though the Bruins and the University of Oregon Ducks are a little bit bigger now. Men’s basketball takes on Oregon in Pauley Pavilion in one of the most competitive matchups in the Big Ten. Tickets are available here and UCLA Faculty & Staff can enjoy discounted tickets at the box office on game day with UCLA ID.
JANUARY 8 | NOON
Taking just 20 minutes out of your day for much-needed relaxation and calm can help set you up for long-term success. Register for an online guided meditation with Michal Rinkevich M.B.A. ’14, who has been practicing healing arts and meditation since 1995 and teaching since 2006. RSVP here.
JANUARY 15 | 6:30 P.M.
Alumni Appreciation Day: Women’s Basketball vs. Penn State
UCLA Athletics and the UCLA Alumni Association are proud to invite all Bruin alums to this Alumni Association Appreciation Day inside Pauley Pavilion. Visit the ticketing window to receive four free admissions to women’s basketball vs. Penn State. Don’t forget to bring your UCLA Alumni Association Member ID (or to print one beforehand). Go Bruins!
JANUARY 22 | 6 P.M.
Alumni Mentor Program Networking Night
Attend an engaging alumni panel about networking, mentorship and navigating within the Bruin community and beyond. Then, put your new skills to work as you meet other students and alumni from diverse career and academic backgrounds during speed networking exercises. Students and alumni will be able to move freely from station to station, chatting with like-minded Bruins based on interests and prospective occupation. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make new career connections — and even find an alumni mentor or a student to work with!
