ART

MONUMENTAL ART The City University of New York Graduate Center presents the opening of “Beverly Pepper: Drawings, Models, and Sculptures for Six Site-Specific Works.” The exhibit documents the evolution of six of Ms. Pepper’s works, created during a career of more than four decades. After years of painting, the 83-year-old shifted her focus to creating monumental outdoor sculpture. Many of her pieces can be seen in public spaces throughout Europe and America. Today through Saturday, April 21, Tuesday–Saturday, noon–6 p.m., CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave. at 34th Street, 212-817-7394, free.

DANCE

HEAR ME ROAR “The Tiger Situation,” a new piece choreographed by Anna Sperber, is an examination of stillness versus dynamic movement. Ms. Sperber is a native of Brooklyn and runs a performance space and studio in Bushwick called Brazil. Through Saturday, 7:30 p.m., 219 W. 19th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-924-0077, $20 general, $12 members.

FESTIVALS

FROM THE SHORES OF BRITAIN Wales Week, a celebration of the British nation in America, continues with a Welsh Daffodil Ceremony, a presentation of 1,000 Tenby daffodil bulbs to the British Memorial Garden by the First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan, to the president of the garden, Camilla Hellman. The Lower School Chorus of the Town School New York sings Welsh songs as part of the ceremony. Today, 2:30 p.m., Hanover Square, Water Street at Pearl Street, 800-959-2537, free. For more information, go to walesinny.com.

PAINTINGS

FROM SOUTH AMERICA Oscar Oiwa is a Brazilian artist of Japanese descent: His exhibit, “Fire Shop,” is his first New York showing. His multipaneled oil paintings feature landscape scenes of such locations as the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, the New York Stock Exchange, and the trinket street vendors in downtown São Paulo. Selections include “Devil SPA” (2006). Through Saturday, March 10, Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., P.P.O.W. Gallery, 555 W. 25th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-647-1044, free.

READINGS

DECLARATION OF FREEDOM The author of “The First Emancipator: Slavery, Religion, and the Quiet Revolution of Robert Carter” (Random House), Andrew Levy discusses the subject of his book. Carter was a Virginian colonial aristocrat who freed 450 slaves, the largest emancipation of slaves prior to the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Mr. Levy is a professor of English at Butler University in Indiana. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at 77th Street, 212-868-4444, $15 general, $10 students and seniors, $8 members.

SOIRÉES

VOLUNTEERING TIME New York Cares is a nonprofit volunteer organization that hosts reading and public beautifying services for New Yorkers and the surrounding environment. The organization holds a benefit party, featuring a silent auction and performances by the World Famous Pontani Sisters. Tonight, 7 p.m., Lotus, 409 W. 14th St., between Ninth Avenue and Washington Street, 212-228-5000, $105.

TALKS

TURN ON THE LIGHT The Cooper Union’s Feltman Lectures are dedicated to advancing the principles and benefits of lighting design through the exploration of the practical, philosophical, and aesthetic attributes of light and illumination. The series presents the namesake of James Carpenter Design Associates, who speaks about his company’s goals of combining ideas from the natural environment with light design for a creative take on light structure. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Cooper Union, Great Hall, 7 E. 7th St., between Third and Fourth avenues, 212-353-4220, free.

NEW YORK AND BEYOND The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts presents “Painting in New York City, Then and Now,” a talk held in conjunction with the exhibit “High Times, Hard Times: New York Painting 1967–1975.” The discussion focuses on how the legacy of painting in the city during that time period affects the visual arts today. Panelists include David Diao, Guy Goodwin, Mary Heilmann, and Dorothea Rockburne. An associate professor of art history and criticism at Hunter College, Katy Siegel, is moderator of the talk. Tonight, 6:45 p.m., National Academy Museum, 1083 Fifth Ave. at 89th Street, 212-369-4880 ext. 300, $5, reservations required.

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE The often-controversial author of “The Trouble With Islam Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith” (St. Martin’s), Irshad Manji, discusses her new PBS documentary, “Faith Without Fear,” which airs in April. The documentary focuses on the challenges of being a progressive Muslim woman and the need to voice her opinion even though it is often met with fierce opposition. A host of CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Lesley Stahl, leads the discussion, which is presented by the “Intersections” lecture series of New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. Monday, 5 p.m., Puck Building, Skylight Ballroom, 295 Lafayette St. at Houston Street, 212-981-5201, free.

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