ART

SILVER AND STEEL At first glance, William Fisk’s paintings seem to be realistic photographs: He paints using photorealist techniques, enhancing the light bouncing off of antique chrome objects. His latest exhibit features paintings from his Portrait Series. Selections include “Untitled No. 49” (2006), top, and “Untitled No. 48” (2006). Through Saturday, May 5, Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Forum Gallery, 745 Fifth Ave. at 57th Street, fifth floor, 212-355-4545, free.

A GRAVE MATTER Monya Rowe Gallery presents the opening of “130,000 Years of Last Tendencies,” a solo exhibit of works by artist Abigail Lazkoz. Ms. Lazkoz shows a series of large-scale works on paper that act as a site-specific installation. Upon entering the installation, visitors to the gallery are thrust into a cemetery where not only are the headstones visible but the inhabitants of the graveyard. Her drawings depict an array of characters in compromising arrangements and are suffused with the artist’s dark humor and existentialist references. Scientists have concluded that the first burial rituals by human were conducted about 130,000 years ago. Tomorrow, 6 p.m., opening reception, exhibit through Saturday, May 12, Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Monya Rowe Gallery, 526 W. 26th St., no. 605, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-255-5065, free.

DANCE

FRIENDS FOREVER The New York premiere of “Becky, Jodi and John,” choreographed by John Jasperse, is a piece that celebrates the friendship among Mr. Jasperse and dancers Becky Hilton and Jodi Melnick, who all met in the dance world 20 years ago. The work is a celebration of their varied senses of humor and their commitment to dance. Tonight through Saturday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Friday, 7:30 and 10 p.m., Dance Theater Workshop, 219 W. 19th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-924-0077, $25 general, $15 students, seniors, and members.

SELF-ANALYSIS Symphony Space begins “Gender Benders,” a threeweek series of performances that explores sexual confusion through contemporary dance. The series begins with a performance by the Keigwin Kabaret, whose work combines contemporary dance and burlesque performed as sitespecific work. Tomorrow through Saturday, 8:30 p.m., Symphony Space, Leonard Nimoy Thalia, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, 212-864-5400, $17–$25.

FILM

A COUNTRY AT THE BRINK Journalist Calvin Sims and filmmaker Ken Levis screen and discuss their latest documentary, “Struggle for the Soul of Islam: Inside Indonesia.” The film looks at how radical religious factions within Indonesia are challenging the country’s tradition of moderation, and how the nation is combating the fundamentalist threat while promoting democratic values. Participants in the post-screening discussion include a fellow at the Asia Society, Sadanand Dhume, and the director of the Liberal Islam Network, Ulil Abshar Abdalla. The film will also be screened on television as part of the “America at a Crossroads” movie series on PBS in mid-April. Tonight, 6 p.m., Asia Society, 725 Park Ave., between 70th and 71st streets, 212-517-2742, $15 general, $10 members.

MUSIC

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN Carnegie Hall hosts “Fred and Gene: The Music That Made Them Dance,” an evening of standards led by the artistic director of the concert, singer Michael Feinstein. For many, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly represent the Golden Age of Hollywood film musicals. Still, the gentleman hoofers were determined to remain distinguished from each other: Kelly took to incorporating less ballroom dancing elements and more athleticism into his footwork. Among the featured guests are Broadway performers Debbie Gravitte and Jeffry Denman. Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall, 54 W. 57th St. at Seventh Avenue, 212-247-7800, $82.

IVORY TICKLING The spring 2007 concert series at Columbia University’s Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America continues with a solo recital by pianist Blair McMillen. The program includes works by Joan Tower, Steven Stucky, and Barbara White, and Marco Stroppa’s “Passacaglia Canonica,” and the New York premiere of excerpts from “Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Goldbergs” by Stanley Walden, Mischa Zupko, Fred Hersch, and Derek Bermel. Tonight, 8 p.m., Columbia University, Italian Academy, 1161 Amsterdam Ave. at 118th Street, 212-854-1623, free.

A ROSE IN SPANISH HARLEM Makor hosts a performance by Kokolo, a band whose name is derived from the Spanish Harlem slang for devotees of afro music. The band performs songs from its album, “More Consideration.” Formed in 2001, the group blends social commentary, rhythmbased music, afro-beat, funk, and salsa. The members of Kokolo are firm believers that music can be an effective tool for social change in such causes as the crisis in Darfur and environmental protection – and still entertain. Tomorrow, 9:30 p.m., 92nd Street Y, Makor, Steinhardt Building, 35 W. 67th St., between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West, 212-601-1000, $10.

SINGING IN THE MOTHER TONGUE As part of the “Sing Into Spring Festival” presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Claudia Acuña Quintet performs a program of original works by Ms. Acuña, Violeta Parra, Victor Jara, and other South American songwriters. The evening’s Latin fusion selections are influenced by tropical rock, flamenco, and funk. Ms. Acuña leads the quintet on vocals and is accompanied by featured performers including Jason Lindner on piano, Juancho Herrera on guitar, and Clarence Penn on drums. Through Thursday, 7:30, 9:30, and 11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30 p.m., Sunday, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., JALC, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, 33 W. 60th St. at Broadway, 212-258-9800, $30.

POETRY

THE TALKING POEM The anthology “Conversation Pieces: Poems That Talk to Other Poems” (Everyman Library) is celebrated as part of National Poetry Month with readings by the book’s editor, Kurt Brown, and contributing poets. The selections look back toward the art form’s past and forward to its possibilities and include such classic pieces as Sir Walter Raleigh’s “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd.” Among featured readers are Harold Schechter, Kimiko Hahn, Star Black, and Karen Swenson. Tonight, 7 p.m., McNally Robinson Booksellers, 52 Prince St., between Mulberry and Lafayette streets, 212-274-1160, free.

COOL CAREER “Carl Sandburg: Modernist?” is a group discussion about the work of the poet who wrote “Chicago” in 1914 and “Prairie” in 1943. Sandburg’s work was considered to be modernist during the first half of the 20th century — he was championed by Ezra Pound as innovative and inspiring. But Sandburg’s early modernist work was forgotten during the later years of his career. As part of National Poetry Month, New York University hosts this talk on Sandburg’s work, featuring readings of his poetry. Participants include poets Edward Hirsch, Geoffrey O’Brien, Meghan O’Rourke, and Harvey Shapiro, and historian Sean Wilentz. The editor of the American Poets Project edition of “Carl Sandburg: Selected Poems,” Paul Berman, is curator of the event. Tonight, 6 p.m., NYU, Hemmerdinger Hall, 100 Washington Square East at Washington Place, 212-998-2101, free.

TALKS

PARTING THE PARKS “The Wars of the Moses” is a talk about Robert Moses and the controversies that swirled around him, including such issues as public parks and what can and should be built in them, race and class (as they affect parks), and the relationship of interested and disinterested parties to the decision-making process. The talk features the commissioner of parks under Mayor Lindsay, Tom Hoving, the founder of the Central Park Conservancy, Betsy Barlow Rogers, and the president of the Hudson Institute, Herbert London. Henry Stern is moderator of the event. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. at 103rd St., 212-564-4441, free.

INCLUSION CONFUSION “Turkey — or is it Europe? — at the Crossroads” is a roundtable discussion about the controversy posed by the potential of Turkey gaining full membership in the European Union. Panelists include a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Steven Cook; the ambassador and permanent representative of Turkey to the United Nations, Baki Ilkin; the director of the Remarque Institute at New York University, Tony Judt; the permanent representative of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association to the E.U. in Brussels, Bahadir Kaleagasi, and the ambassador and permanent observer of the European Commission to the United Nations, Fernando Valenzuela. The talk is moderated by the founder and director of NYU’s lecture series “Dialogues: Islamic World–U.S.–The West,” Mustapha Tlili. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., NYU, Cantor Film Center, 36 E. 8th St., between University Place and Greene Street, 212-998-8693, free, RSVP required.

ART ON A HEROIC SCALE As part of an ongoing series of discussions, the Public Art Fund and the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at the New School host a talk with painter Alex Katz. In 1977, Mr. Katz created one of the first projects of the Public Art Fund — a monumental frieze that featured multistory head shots of glamorous women, draped on the wraparound advertising space of a building in Times Square. The New York artist came to be known for his vibrantly colored canvases, many of which feature his wife and most famous subject, Ada. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., New School, John Tishman Auditorium, 66 W. 12th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-980-3942, $5 general, $3 seniors, free for all students.

DON’T SPEAK The Department of Art and Art Professions of New York University hosts a lecture by art historian Robert Atkins. Mr. Atkins is an editor of the recently published anthology “Censoring Culture: Contemporary Threats to Free Expression” (New Press). He discusses “Censorship in Camouflage,” in which he maintains that censorship scandals targeting supposedly blasphemous or obscene artists and artworks are press spectacles that mask the real causes of censorship today. Rather, Mr. Atkins says, voices are often suppressed because of impersonal forces such as neoliberal economic arrangements or the policing of the Internet. Tomorrow, 6 p.m. NYU, Einstein Auditorium, 34 Stuyvesant St., between 9th Street and Third Avenue, 212-998-5700, free.

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