ART

THE COLLABORATOR “Invention: Merce Cunningham & Collaborators,” an exhibit at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, offers a glimpse at the choreographer’s creative process, including four key discoveries. Mr. Cunningham’s manuscripts, designs, and computergenerated choreography are on view together with archival materials collected from a selection of artists and musicians with whom he has worked. Composer John Cage, and artists Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns figure prominently. The exhibit is presented by the library, the Cunningham Dance Foundation, and the John Cage Trust. Through Saturday, October 13, Monday and Thursday, noon–8 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Donald and Mary Oenslager Gallery, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, between 64th and 65th streets, 212-870-1630, free.

DRESS TO IMPRESS The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and the Nathan Cummings Foundation have partnered to present “Well Dressed,” a group exhibit documenting the cultural and physical impact that clothing has on society. Garments, as well as drawings and paintings comprise the exhibit. Selections include Mark Newport’s “Me and the Boys” (2005). Exhibit through Friday, December 14, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Nathan Cummings Foundation, 475 Tenth Ave., between 36th and 37th streets, 212-787-7300, free.

LETTERS TO A YOUNG ARTIST An exhibit of correspondence between an artist and his young colleague, “Painted With Words: Vincent van Gogh’s Letters to Émile Bernard,” show collects 20 letters and sketches written between 1887 and 1889, and offers a rare look at the life and creative process of a master of modern art. The letters chronicle van Gogh’s struggles, as he reached his artistic maturity in isolation in Arles and St. Rémy. Through Sunday, January 6, Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave. at 36th Street, Tuesday–Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday, 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., 212-685-0008, $12 general, $8 students, seniors, and children. For complete information, go to themorgan.org.

DANCE

THE GOOD EARTH Choreographer Tere O’Connor and his troupe dance his newest work “Rammed Earth,” a tribute to the bold new structures being erected in the world’s major cities. The work explores concepts of adaptability in contemporary architecture, and brings into focus the architectural references in dance. Audience members are incorporated into the production throughout the performance. Dancers include

Heather Olson, Matthew Rogers, Hilary Clark, and Christopher Williams. Tonight through Saturday, 7 and 9 p.m., Sunday, 5 and 7 p.m., the Chocolate Factory, 5-49 49th Ave., between Vernon Boulevard and 5th Street, Long Island City, Queens, 718-482-7069, $15 general, $10 members.

FAMILY

WINDY CITY The Metropolitan Playhouse stages “Tales from the Wind and the Sun,” a play about a lonely traveling puppet dragon who becomes entangled in a contest of strength between the wind and the sun. The tale features traditional narratives from Native Americas, African, European, and South American cultures. Featured performers include live actors, some in the guise of colorful handmade puppets. The theatrical work is developed by Diego Carvajal and Jon Levin, with original music by composer Jonah Bloch-Johnston. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m., Metropolitan Playhouse, 220 E. 4th St., between avenues A and B, 212-995-5302, $10 adults, $8 children.

PAINTINGS

GEOMETRIC PERSPECTIVE In his latest exhibit of paintings, “Tracts,” artist Lloyd Martin experiments with the geometric interactions of colors and shapes. They “appeal exclusively to our sense of scale and balance. In that sense, they approach the character of music,” critic Maureen Mullarkey wrote of Mr. Martin’s paintings in the October 19, 2006 New York Sun. Through Saturday, October 13, Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Stephen Haller Gallery, 542 W. 26th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-741-7777, free.

READINGS

A WINTER IN INDIA The interconnected short stories in author Nalini Jones’s debut collection, “What You Call Winter,” unfold in a small Catholic town in rural India. Ms. Nalini discusses the process of creating universal characters with her editor at Knopf, Carol Janeway. The cast of characters includes a woman who returns from America for her mother’s cataract surgery, and an older man who believes that he has seen his long-dead parent riding around town. The talk is featured as part of the “Author/ Editor” series at McNally Robinson bookstore. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., McNally Robinson, 52 Prince St., between Lafayette and Mulberry streets, 212-274-1160, free.

LET’S PLAY HARDBALL The exuberant host of the MSNBC network’s politically themed “Hardball,” Chris Matthews, reads from his new book, “Life’s a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success” (Random House). In it, Mr. Matthews charts his experiences with the broadcast’s most notable talking heads and pundits. He also exposes how the country’s influential elected officials, from Bill Clinton to George W. Bush, manage to ascend great political heights, including the tried-and-true tactics and tricks. Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Barnes and Noble at Lincoln Center, 1972 Broadway, between West 66th and 67th streets, 212-595-6859, free.

SECRET AGENT MAN A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper correspondent, Tom Weiner, discusses his newly published “Legacy of Ashes: A History of the CIA” (Doubleday). Mr. Weiner conducted hundreds of interviews with veterans of the Central Intelligence Agency, and pored through documents to uncover the inner workings of the secretive government agency. Mr. Weiner concludes the CIA is a bulwark for American liberty, but one that has suffered from flawed leadership. Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Strand Bookstore, 828 Broadway, between 12th and 13th streets, 212-473-1452, free.

SHOPPING

BET ON IT An annual shopping event, “Best Bets,” is hosted by New York magazine. The sale gathers a selection of the quality fashion finds in the city, many of which are regularly featured in the publication’s column of the same name. The event benefits the Fund for Public Schools, which is dedicated to improving school libraries through purchases of new books and technology. Participating labels include Uniqlo, INA, Albertine/Claudine/Leontine, and Loomstate. Today and tomorrow, 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Skylight Studios, 275 Hudson St. at Dominick Street,866-777-8932, $35 for one ticket, $50 for two tickets.

TALKS

LOOKING TO 2008 The Center for the Humanities at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York hosts “The Face of Presidential Politics,” a discussion about how gender and race are presented by the press and candidates for the country’s highest office. Panelists debate the symbolic versus the substantive meanings of race and gender, and how the current electoral races are being promoted to the black community and to women. The 2008 election is notable in that it may yield the first black president, in Senator Obama, or the first woman president, in Senator Clinton. Participants include an associate professor of political science at Princeton University, Melissa Harris-Lacewell, an assistant professor of performing studies at New York University, Tavia Nyong’o, and a columnist for the Nation, Gary Younge. A professor of political science at CUNY’s Graduate Center, Ruth O’Brien, is moderator of the event. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave., between 34th and 35th streets, 212-817-7000, free.

CANVAS CHAT As part of its “Artists Talk on Art” series, the School of Visual Arts presents “The Power of Art Criticism: New York’s Top Art Critics Speak,” a discussion about contemporary art criticism in today’s press. Panelists include The New York Sun’s Gary Shapiro, a critic for the New York Times, Phyllis Braff, and two writers for Art in America, Robert Berlind and Gerard Haggerty. Friday, 7 p.m., SVA, Amphitheater, 209 E. 23rd St. at Third Avenue, 212-592-2610, free.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.