ART OF ENGAGEMENT

ART OF ENGAGEMENT

Peter Selz, dean of California modernist historians, has always had a thing for political art. Raised in Weimar Germany, he wound up here thanks to one particular would-be artist who found politics a more fruitful calling. A champion of German expressionism, Selz has always spoken powerfully on behalf of those committed to art’s powers of persuasion. A survey of engagé art that emphasizes Germans and Californians, but includes New Yorkers, Parisians and, of course, Mexicans, serves nicely as a valedictory for the 80-something historian and critic. “Art of Engagement” devolves from a book, largely by Selz, just published by University of California Press to accompany a show (limited to California art) along the same theme up at the San Jose Museum of Art. The downstate show brings Robert Arneson together with George Grosz, Fernand Léger with Andy Warhol, Llyn Foulkes with José Clemente Orozco, Betye Saar with Rico Lebrun, and Hans Burkhardt with Masami Teraoka, Vija Celmins, Peter Saul and Rupert Garcia. It’s a survey of indignance, in all its forms and voices — and the timely urgency of its tenor honors Selz the more. At Jack Rutberg, 357 N. La Brea Ave., Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; thru Feb. 4. (323) 938-5222.  —Peter Frank

Don Felder and Friends Rock Cerritos for Katrina.

Need we say more? How about Alice Cooper, Dennis Quaid, Stephen Stills, David Foster, D.L. Hughley, Tommy Shaw (he of the tight satin pants of my youth, and Styx), Jack Blades (yes, Night Ranger), Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses, maybe he knows what the heck’s up with Axl), Adrian Young (No Doubt), Tre Cool (Green Day) and host Cheech Marin. I guess rocking Cerritos isn’t that difficult, but the excellent cause and the chance of seeing the singers of “Sister Christian” and “School’s Out” on the same stage could make for a classic rockin’ good time. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Dr., Cerritos; Wed., Feb. 1, 8 p.m.; $50-$200. (800) 300-4345.