Three-day forecast

DANCE

Petronio, provocateur

One of postmodernism’s authentic provocateurs, dancer-choreographer Stephen Petronio returns to the Southland with the combination of new music, au courant visual art, contemporary fashion and often outrageous sexual politics that he’s been known for over the last two decades. At UCLA, three local premieres will showcase the range of his talents. “The Island of Misfit Toys” offers a surreal vision of New York City, with music by rock icon Lou Reed, sets by visual artist Cindy Sherman and costumes by Tara Subkoff of clothing label Imitation of Christ. Also scheduled: “City of Twist,” with original music by Laurie Anderson, and “Broken Man,” a solo for Petronio with music by Blixa Bargeld.

Stephen Petronio Dance Company, Royce Hall, UCLA campus, Westwood. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. $17 (UCLA students) to $45. (310) 825-2101. Also Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. in Campbell Hall, UC Santa Barbara. $25 to $30. (805) 893-3535.

POP MUSIC

A tribute to Harrison

Three days before what would have been his 61st birthday, George Harrison will be feted on Sunday in Griffith Park. “George Harrison Day” will include remarks by Billy Preston, who played with the Beatles and Harrison, a performance by Keith Chagall and the unveiling of a plaque at the base of the Canary Island pine tree planted two years ago in the guitarist’s memory. KLSX-FM DJ Chris Carter will emcee.

George Harrison Day, north end of the Griffith Observatory parking lot. Sunday, 3 p.m. Free. Parking available along West Observatory Road. Shuttle buses available at Western Canyon Road.

MOVIES

Swedish bachelors’ kitchens

In the 1950s, the Home Research Institute of Sweden sent trained observers out to study the domestic habits of single men in rural Norway in an effort to standardize and render more efficient household duties. The observers sat perched on high stools in the men’s kitchens mapping detailed accounts of their hosts’ daily routines. “Kitchen Stories,” a film by Bent Hamer, comically presents these tales of interaction between subject and spectator testing the bounds of objectivity and empathy. It makes you wonder if this is how IKEA came up with some of its designs.

“Kitchen Stories,” unrated, opens Friday exclusively at the Landmark Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A., (310) 281-8223. Also, Edwards South Coast Village 3, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 540-1970.

JAZZ

Eclectic repertoire

Grammy-winning singer Cassandra Wilson reminds many people of the late great Nina Simone -- not only because of the smoky timbre of her voice,

but because of her adventurous, eclectic repertoire. Like Simone, Wilson stretches the traditional jazz boundaries of the Great American Songbook by performing tunes not usually attempted by jazz artists as well as her own original numbers. That trend continues with Wilson’s latest CD, “Glamoured,” which features her musical take on Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay” and Muddy Waters’ “Honey Bee.”

Cassandra Wilson, Royce Hall, UCLA, Westwood. Monday, 8 p.m. $30-$45. (310) 825-2101.

ART

Portraits by the masters

The exhibition “Modern and Contemporary Portraits” contains notable works by John Graham, Lucian Freud, Richard Diebenkorn, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, David Hockney and others. But while works by the masters are included in the collection, the exhibition is organized thematically -- there are pencil drawings, paintings, even painted bronze and artists from around the world, representing the full range of portraiture styles.

“Modern and Contemporary Portraits,” Forum Gallery, 8069 Beverly Blvd., L.A. Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (323) 655-1550. Ends March 20.

MUSEUMS

Ahead of their time

Four Latin American sculptors, women who in their time -- they were born between 1933 and 1956 -- truly opened a door on a traditionally male-dominated art form. “A Woman’s Touch: The Sculptures of Margarita Checa, Isabel de Obaldia, Susana Espinosa and Peschel” is a group exhibition featuring works in clay, paper, wood, glass or a combination thereof. Their artistic styles vary from the surreal to realism, but Checa from Peru, Espinosa from Puerto Rico, Obaldia from Panama and Patricia Waisburd -- “Peschel” -- from Mexico, have this in common: Most of their works are studies of the lines, the infinitely varied volumes, the concaves, convexes and textures of the human figure.

“A Woman’s Touch: The Sculptures of Margarita Checa, Isabel de Obaldia, Susana Espinosa and Peschel,” Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach. Opens Saturday, with a panel discussion with the artists from 1 to 3 p.m. Ends May 30. Tuesdays to Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. $3-$5; children under 12, free. (562) 437-1689.

WORDS

Meet the ‘regular’ Osbournes

Given all the self-promotion, MTV hype, tattletale interviews and talk show chatter, it’s hard to imagine the Ozzie Osbourne clan as regular folks. Sharon and Jack Osbourne hope to illuminate with their book, “Ordinary People: Our Story,” which they will present and sign at a bookstore appearance tonight. Sharon writes about the ups and downs of being Mrs. Oz and about her bout with cancer. Son Jack bares his soul about life in a goldfish bowl and the situations that landed him in a drug rehab center.

The Osbournes: Sharon and Jack Osbourne, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 189 The Grove Drive, L.A. Today, 6 p.m. (323) 525-0270.

THEATER

Q&A; ... but no A

In his documentary theater work, “Question 27, Question 28,” playwright Chay Yew draws on testimonials, interviews and historical documents to tell the stories of Japanese American women who were sent to internment camps during World War II. The production is presented by the Mark Taper Forum’s Asian Theater Workshop in association with East West Players.

“Question 27, Question 28,” Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. 1st St., Little Tokyo, L.A. Today, Friday, Feb. 27 and Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Feb. 29, 3 and 7:30 p.m.; ends Feb. 29. $10. (213) 625-0414, Ext. 2237.

MUSIC

Defector plays at Disney Hall

One of the last artists to defect from the Soviet Union, 30-year-old pianist-composer Lera Auerbach has settled in this country, where she continues an active career. Her Concerto for Violin and Orchestra was commissioned by the American Youth Symphony, which will give the work its premiere. Alexander Treger will be on the podium. Philippe Quint will be the soloist. The concert will also include music by Mahler and John Williams.

Lera Auerbach, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. $15 to $35. (310) 234-8355.

POP MUSIC

Love burns candle at both ends

Friday will be a long day for Courtney Love (not even counting any judicial proceedings that might come up). Rock’s unrepentant hellion will start it off by chatting with fans and playing a few tunes on “Breakfast With Courtney Love” on Kevin & Bean’s KROQ-FM (106.7) show, and she wraps it up with a midnight show at the Roxy, where the former Hole frontwoman figures to bring some spit and snarl to songs from “America’s Sweetheart,” her raunchy and unruly solo debut album.

Courtney Love, the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Friday, midnight. Sold out. (310) 278-9457.