UCLA PRESENTS SOME OF THE BEST in arts and culture, community events, sports and entertainment. From film screenings to art exhibits, October is full of exciting experiences. For more UCLA events, visit community.ucla.edu.
OCTOBER 6 | 12 P.M.
UCLA First Thursdays; Westwood Village Spooktacular
Kick off Halloween early with the “Spooktacular” Block Party in Westwood. Beginning at 7 P.M., Broxton Avenue will offer a night of entertainment, food trucks and face painting, as well as the chance to check out Bruin creativity via the art department’s student pumpkin decorating contest. (Bonus: you can pick up a free small pumpkin to decorate yourself!) Stop by earlier in the day for the Westwood Village Farmers’ Market, where the joint efforts of the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center and “Be the Match” are providing everyone a way to give back by giving blood (no vampires allowed!). Both events are completely free and open to all ghouls, ghosts, goblins and general UCLA folk.
OCTOBER 22–23
A Thousand Ways (Part Three): An Assembly
Obie Award–winning experimental theater duo 600 Highwaymen presents A Thousand Ways (Part Three): An Assembly, which brings together a participating audience of 16 strangers to construct a uniquely intimate theatrical experience. Using a shared script and a stack of instructive notecards, participants create a timeless story that explores the line between strangeness and kinship. This profound and intimate assembly invites reflection upon how we consider one another individually and collectively after so much time apart.
OCTOBER 1–DECEMBER 31
In the art world, Pablo Picasso is as iconic as they come, but this new exhibition is devoted to a little known yet foundational aspect of his artistic practice. The show includes some of the artist’s most whimsical and intriguing works made on, and with, paper. These paper works will be on display alongside a select group of sheet metal sculptures. Rediscover the wonder and genius of Picasso through this Hammer Museum at UCLA installation.
OCTOBER 11–JANUARY 8
Bob Thompson: This House Is Mine
Bob Thompson: This House Is Mine offers a rich reconsideration of the visionary African American painter and borrows its name from a diminutive but exquisite painting created by the artist in 1960. Bringing together paintings and works on paper from almost 50 public and private collections across the United States, This House Is Mine centers Thompson’s work within expansive art historical narratives and ongoing dialogues about the politics of representation, charting his enduring influence.
OCTOBER 11—JANUARY 22
Opening less than a year after her death, Joan Didion: What She Means chronicles the simultaneously personal and distant evolution of Didion’s voice as a writer and pioneer of “New Journalism.” Organized by critically acclaimed writer and New Yorker contributor Hilton Als, the exhibition features approximately 50 artists ranging from Betye Saar to Vija Celmins M.A. ’65, with 250 works in media including painting, ephemera and footage from a number of the films for which Didion authored screenplays.
OCTOBER 13 | 12 P.M.
How to Avoid Burnout with Lucy Tseng ’12
Have you ever seen your car’s gas light come on and ignored it, confident that you could make it to your destination, only to end up stranded? There’s a fair chance similar warning signs in your life may signify imminent burnout if left ignored. Join Life & Resilience Coach and UCLA alumna Lucy Tseng for a Zoom session discussing burnout — how it manifests, how to proactively avoid it and how to mitigate the effects once it’s occurred. Tseng will also provide resources to help maintain productivity, key in steering clear of burnout. RSVP required.
OCTOBER 16 | 7 P.M.
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis remains one of the most influential figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, Grammy winner and Tony nominee is equally at home performing with symphony orchestras or sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead, but the core of his musical universe remains his famed Branford Marsalis Quartet. Come chill and listen to its original compositions and innovative interpretations of jazz standards and popular classics.
OCTOBER 20 | 4 P.M.
Horror Television of the 1970s: The House and the Brain
Shot on videotape, the highly atmospheric House and the Brain concerns a young woman (Carol Williard) trapped by a guardian (Hurd Hatfield) who compels her to lure victims to his castle for demonic purposes. The gothic work artfully combines elements of vintage paperback romance novels, the cult-classic daytime soap Dark Shadows and B-movie frights.
OCTOBER 21
57th Annual UCLA Art History Graduate Symposium: Figuring Space
The Hammer presents the 57th Annual UCLA Art History Graduate Symposium: Figuring Space. Figuring Space explores formulations of space and its revolutionary nature as a medium for indigenous, diasporic, gender-fluid and anti-racist imaginaries in art historical inquiries. The symposium, the longest-running of its kind in North America, will include research presentations, keynote speeches and complimentary food.
OCTOBER 23–29
Homecoming at UCLA invites students, faculty, staff and alumni to come together for events and gatherings in a weeklong celebration leading up to Bruin Family Weekend. After unpredictable times and closures, the Bruin spirit remains stronger than ever! Come reconnect with Bruins and participate in such fun and storied traditions as Paint the Town, Alumni Trivia Night and Run Homecoming. UCLA is thrilled to welcome you back to campus!
OCTOBER 28–29
UCLA Bruin Family Weekend is an annual, two-day family event jam-packed with exciting activities, reviews of campus resources and fun opportunities to see UCLA through a student’s perspective. Bond with fellow Bruins and meet other UCLA families in a weekend that includes presentations from top faculty, lunch with your student’s dean, parent and family workshops, and so much more. Don’t miss this chance to spend quality time with your Bruin students — and build your own Bruin family traditions.
