As hard as it may be to tell in these parts, autumn is officially underway. The Torrance Art Museum notes this fact with a tribute to one of the most celebrated of autumnal vegetables, and Side Street Projects nudges artists back to school to get their sh*t together. Japanese people are encouraged to let loose, young artists tap into a burgeoning market in China, and someone cleans out Mike Kelley's closet in an effort to make something new.

But first, a bit of juicy Angeleno art scene gossip from our editor: Seems the much beloved blog, C-Monster.net, has been blatantly ripped off by the LA Times. The lazy, unimaginative newsrag just launched their knock-off version, Culture Monster. This concept may be lost on the average LA Times reader, but it's painstakingly obvious to the rest of the enlightened world. How rude!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Keiichi Nitta: I Think Japanese People Should Be More Open

Squeeze a peak at photographer Keiichi Nitta's first solo exhibition at the Constant Gallery. Nitta, who began his career as an assistant to Terry Richardson, employs all the "edgy" fashion photography conventions you can think of (gender-bending cross-dressing, erotic insinuations) and then some (orgies, Osama Bin Laden masks), all of which have the overall effect of making Japanese people seem pretty open.

THE DETAILS: Keiichi Nitta: I Think Japanese People Should Be More Open
Last day of Exhibition
The Constant Gallery
2673 S. La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310.430.9058
www.theconstantgallery.com

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1
Artist! Get Your SH*T Together

It's critical for an artist to be self-motivated, but sometimes it's nice to have someone else give you a kick in the...right direction. Touted as a fix for "artists who've been ‘emerging' longer than they expected," this 8-week course will help hone your presentation materials and teach you all the things you expected to learn in art school, except maybe how to draw.

THE DETAILS: Artist! Get Your SH*T Together
Course runs: 10/1 - 11/22, 8 Wednesdays + 1 Saturday
Call for cost and availability
Side Street Projects
The New Los Angeles Theater Center
514 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA
626.798.7774
www.sidestreet.org

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
Artist Talk: Eric Johnson

For his solo exhibition at the Torrance Art Museum, Eric Johnson has assembled over 300 brightly colored resin "kernels" creating a large-scale sculpture that stretches fourteen feet high. Johnson called upon friends, neighbors and collectors to each add personal touches to one resin "kernel," turning the making of the Maize Project into a modern day corn-husking bee.

THE DETAILS: Artist Talk: Eric Johnson
Talk begins 3:00 PM
Exhibition runs through November 1
Torrance Art Museum
3320 Civic Center Drive
Torrance, CA 90503
310.618.6340
www.torranceartmuseum.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
The Rising Tide

Robert Adanto's film, The Rising Tide investigates the exhilaration and chaos of a society in transition through the work of some of China's bright, young art stars. With western collectors watering at the mouth, Adanto takes a look at the way these artists handle the opportunities and pitfalls of a newly demanding consumer culture.

THE DETAILS: The Rising Tide
Screening begins at 8:00 PM
Pacific Asia Museum
46 North Los Robles Avenue
Pasadena CA 91101
626.449.2742
www.pacificasiamuseum.org

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
Martin Kersels

Los Angeles multi-media artist, Martin Kersels has often found inspiration in negotiating his 6-foot 6-inch 350 lb. body through the world. Going beyond body issues though, Kersels candidly explores ideas about scale, gravity, and physical power. This solo exhibition features new work and coincides with his career retrospective, Martin Kersels: Heavyweight Champion, at the Santa Monica Museum of Art.

THE DETAILS: Martin Kersels
Exhibition runs: October 4, 2008 - November 8, 2008
ACME
6150 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90048
323.857.5942
www.acmelosangeles.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5

Special Project: Mr. Peanut Haim Steinbach on Mike Kelley

Artist Haim Steinbach uses other people's stuff to make his artwork. For this exhibition, Steinbach has raided the proverbial closet of fellow artist, Mike Kelley. Re-contextualizing personal possessions, as well as pieces that have already played roles in Kelley's own work, Steinbach ponders the presence of an object and provides us with a voyeuristic opportunity to see what Mike Kelley hoards.

THE DETAILS: Special Project: Mr. Peanut Haim Steinbach on Mike Kelley
Opening reception: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Exhibition runs: October 5, 2008 - November 8, 2008
Overduin and Kite
6693 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323.464.3600
www.overduinandkite.com

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6
Artist Talk with Joey Kötting

At the invitation of the University Art Gallery, a series of Joey Kötting self-portraits hang on the exterior walls of the Mandeville Center. Kötting photographed his painted face, enlarged the images digitally and pieced them together to achieve their massive scale. Referencing street advertising and the process of wheat pasting, the images are intended to curl and fade in the sun, and eventually, disappear completely.

THE DETAILS: Artist Talk with Joey Kötting
Lecture: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
University Art Gallery, UCSD
9500 Gilman Drive
Mandeville Center
La Jolla, CA 92093
858.534.2107
uag.ucsd.edu

Story by Gwen Barba.