A lot of possibilities this last week of April to get out and see some interesting shows. Wednesday comes out strong with a bevy of choices: the finale to the Sigh School Lecture Series with Lauren Marsden and Tony Discenza, more Kadist Foundation fun, and the second installment of the hottest new film activity in the East Bay - Cinematheque 123.

New shows open at SF Arts Commission Gallery, Creativity Explored, and Silverman Gallery

Kala Art Institute has their annual benefit auction, which is a fun way to lend support to a little-known locally, but nationally highly-regarded print and new media treasure.

Read these reviews below, and see you out there.

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New on Artcards Review:
- "Featured Artist: Clarisse d'Arcimoles" by Brent Birnbaum
- "Tracing the Unseen Border" by Helen Homan

Wednesday:
+ Performance: Bruce High Quality Foundation "Teach 4 Amerika" Rally at SFAI, presented by the Visiting Artists and Scholars Lecture Series at San Francisco Art Institute

+ Preview: "NERO magazine in redsidence" at Kadist Art Foundation

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+ Lecture: Lauren Marsden and Tony Discenza at Sight School

Thursday:
+ Benefit: "Spring Art Auction" at Visual Aid (Chronicle Books)
+ Amy Balkin, Chris Fox, Josephine Starrs & Leon Cmielewski, Makeshift, Rebar, Sergio De La Torre "2011 Sister City Biennial: San Francisco and Sydney" curated by Justine Topfer, Meg Shiffler at SF Arts Commission Gallery

+ John Patrick McKenzie "They are Full of Holy Nonsense" at Creativity Explored

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Friday:
+ Florian Schmidt, Volker Eichelmann at Silverman Gallery
+ Panel Discussion: "Brown Bag Lunch Discussion with Sydney artists" at SF Arts Commission Gallery

+ Jason Grabowski , Jason Morris, Jesse Schlessinger "From the Golden West Notebook" curated by Colter Jacobsen, Katie Hood Morgan at Adobe Books Backroom Gallery

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+ Preview: "Brightworks Opening Ceremony" at Brightworks

Saturday:
+ Open Studio: More than 150 artist studios "Spring Open Studios 2011" at the POINT (Hunters Point Naval Shipyard)
+ Jeanne Lorenz "American Vinyl" curated by Matt and Lena Reynoso at Compound Gallery

+ Auction: Binh Danh , David Maisel, Deborah Orapallo, Enrique Chagoya , Hung Liu, James Weeks, Jim Melchert, Nathan Oliveira, Squeak Carnwath "Kala-fornia: State of the Art - Gala Auction" at Kala Art Institute

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Wednesday, April 27

+ Performance: Bruce High Quality Foundation "Teach 4 Amerika" Rally at SFAI, presented by the Visiting Artists and Scholars Lecture Series at San Francisco Art Institute
Russian Hill: 800 Chesnut Street, 7:30pm

+ Preview: "NERO magazine in redsidence" at Kadist Art Foundation Mission District: 2401 Folsom Street, at 20th Street, floor 1, Free, 6-9pm

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"Serenity "Spring 2011"" at UCSF Center of Excellence In Women's Health
Western Addition: 2356 Sutter Street, Floors 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 5:30-7:30pm

+ Lecture: Lauren Marsden and Tony Discenza at Sight School
Oakland: 5651 San Pablo Avenue, Suggested Donation, $5 at the door, 7:30pm

12-5 Pm, 2011, 4-7 Pm, Alice G. McIntyre, Ann Beaver, April 27, April 27-May 7, Fuchsia Troutman, Gallery hours: Tues-Sat, Jordan Albaugh, Kat Martin, Kate Cahill, Lauren A. Toomer, Maria Villote, Markham Johnson, Nick Lake, Niki Savage, Participating Artists:, Reception Wednesday, Sarah Player Morrison, Sarah Schneider "Wednesday Night Club: Honors Studio Exhibition" at UC Berkeley (University of California)
Berkeley: 116 Kroeber Hall, Corner of Bancroft & College Worth Ryder Gallery , floor 1, 4-7pm

Thursday, April 28

Benefit: "First Exposures Benefit: Looking Forward, Giving Back" at SF Camerawork
SOMA: 657 Mission Street, floor 2, $25 Contributor, $150 Patron, $175 Champion, $250 Benefactor, 6-7pm VIP Reception, 7-9pm Main Event

+ Benefit: "Spring Art Auction" at Visual Aid (Chronicle Books)
SOMA: 680 Second Street, $50 for Preview Ticket, $100 for Premium Ticket with VIP Reception, Tickets available at the door, walk-ins welcome, 5:30-9pm

"The Lens Culture International Exposure Awards" at Gallery 291
Downtown: 291 Geary Street, floor 5, 6-9pm

+ Amy Balkin, Chris Fox, Josephine Starrs & Leon Cmielewski, Makeshift, Rebar, Sergio De La Torre "2011 Sister City Biennial: San Francisco and Sydney" curated by Justine Topfer, Meg Shiffler at SF Arts Commission Gallery
Civic Center: 401 Van Ness Avenue , at McAllister Street, 7-9pm

+ John Patrick McKenzie "They are Full of Holy Nonsense" at Creativity Explored Mission District: 3245 16th Street, 7-9pm

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Matt Gonzalez, Tom Schultz "Scissors vs. Brush" at a.Muse Gallery
Mission District: 614 Alabama Street, 6:30-9pm

Friday, April 29

Book launch: Paul Madonna "Book Launch & Art Exhibit" at Electric Works SOMA: 130 8th Street, 7-10pm

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Jon Carling, Dave Higgins, Obi Kaufmann, Alex Rosm "Celestial/Terrestrial" at Fivepoints Arthouse
SOMA: 72 Tehama Street, at 2nd Street, 7-10pm

+ Florian Schmidt, Volker Eichelmann at Silverman Gallery
Downtown: 804 Sutter Street, 6-8pm

+ Panel Discussion: "Brown Bag Lunch Discussion with Sydney artists" at SF Arts Commission Gallery
Civic Center: 401 Van Ness Avenue , at McAllister Street, Free, 12:30pm

+ Jason Grabowski , Jason Morris, Jesse Schlessinger "From the Golden West Notebook" curated by Colter Jacobsen, Katie Hood Morgan at Adobe Books Backroom Gallery Mission District: 3166 16th Street, 7-10pm

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+ Preview: "Brightworks Opening Ceremony" at Brightworks
Mission District: 1960 Bryant Street, floor 1, Free, 4-8pm

Performance: Blaze Gonzalez, Caleb Swann, Emily Chaves, Graham Strang, Hannah Kirby, Lauren Schatzel, Lindsay Laven, Maria Burr, Mike Figge, Nick Thomas, Ryan Wylie, Taylor Buttling, Travis Miller, Zach Wheaton "á La Node ~ An Evening of Electronic Performance" by students of SFAI’s ‘Signal to Noise’ class curated by Andrew Benson at A.T.A.
Mission District: 992 Valencia Street, $4, 8pm

Closing reception: Carmen Lomas Garza "With the Blessing of Corn" at de Young (Golden Gate Park)
Bernal Heights: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, 6-8:30

Cuong Ta, Cydne Kaye, Danny Dastrup, Janie Rose, Jennifer Fisher, John Stephenson, Julia Kirillova, Kimi Masui, Lucia Briggs, Margaret Grisz-Dow, Pam Zimmerman, Rikki Gill, Sabine Brunner, Sarah Gregory "Berkeley Potters Guild Gallery Opening & Spring Sale" curated by Cuong Ta, John Wood at Berkeley Potters Guild
Berkeley: 731 Jones Street, free, 7-9pm

Saturday, April 30

Matthew Kowalski "The Xyphoid Process" curated by Misho at Misho Gallery SOMA: 680 8th street, Suite 230, 1-4pm

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Sergio Lopez "Painted Roses" at Modern Eden
North Beach: 403 Francisco st, san francisco ca, 1st floor, 7-10pm

Matt Gil "Variety Pack" at Marx & Zavattero
Downtown: 77 Geary Street, floor 2, Free, 5-7pm

Kevin Cyr "Home in the Weeds" at 941 Gallery
Tenderloin: 941 Geary Street, floor 1, Free, 6-9pm

+ Open Studio: More than 150 artist studios "Spring Open Studios 2011" at the POINT (Hunters Point Naval Shipyard)
Hunters Point: Various Entrance at intersection of Earl Street and Innes , Multiple Buildings, Free, 11am-6pm

+ Jeanne Lorenz "American Vinyl" curated by Matt and Lena Reynoso at Compound Gallery
Oakland: 1167 65th st., Oakland, CA 94608, Ground floor, Free, 6-9pm

Addiam Tsehaye, Patrick Drayus "Worlds Apart" at FLOAT Gallery
Oakland: 1091 Calcot Place, #116, Free, 6-9pm

Mills College Graduate Students "Walking Backwards Forward" MFA Thesis Exhibition curated by Stephanie Hanor at Mills College Art Museum
Oakland: 5000 Macarthur Boulvard, Free, 6-8pm

+ Auction: Binh Danh , David Maisel, Deborah Orapallo, Enrique Chagoya , Hung Liu, James Weeks, Jim Melchert, Nathan Oliveira, Squeak Carnwath "Kala-fornia: State of the Art - Gala Auction" at Kala Art Institute Berkeley: 2990 San Pablo Avenue, $40 advance/$50 door, 6:30-9:30pm

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Sunday, May 1

Workshop: "CELL:15 - CELLspace's Birthday Party" at CELLspace
Mission District: 2050 Bryant Street, 12-5pm

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+ = Editor's pick
? = Opening not confirmed - check site for updates.